From Dreamer to Slave

Have you noticed how quickly life can make a U-turn?  Everything seems to be going great when something happens to send your life in a different direction. This happens to all of us; a deal falls through, your marriage turns sour, your child becomes rebellious, or you get a life-threatening medical diagnosis. Such things are hard and test our faith.

One of the things I appreciate about the Bible is that it is about real life, real people who struggle with the kinds of problems we can identify with. When we left Joseph in Genesis 37, he had become the property of Ishmaelite traders, sold by his brothers for twenty pieces of silver. His future was changed by the convergence of his brothers’ desire to destroy him and the “coincidental” appearance of the traders on the way to Egypt. The “dreamer” had become a slave! Can you imagine what that was like for Joseph? God had given him dreams about becoming a leader but now he has become a slave.

Have you noticed who bought Joseph? How are they identified? They are Ishmaelites. Does that “ring a bell” for you? Ishmaelites are the offspring of Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar. Joseph, Abraham’s great-great-grandson has become the property of the progeny of Ishmael. What do you make of this? Is it possible that God is working through Ishmael’s family to keep His promise to Ishmael’s brother Isaac?

Reuben, the oldest son, had planned to return Joseph to his father to gain some favor with him. When he left the brothers, Joseph was in the pit but when he returned, he discovered his scheme shattered. Things have changed for Joseph, but the brothers need to concoct a story that sounds convincing to their father. Genesis 31-32 describes their plot to deceive Jacob.

“Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in blood. They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, ‘ We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.'”

By the time Joseph’s brothers get their story together and return to the father the traders have likely brought him past Hebron and are approaching Egypt. How did Joseph feel when he passed the familiar territory of his homeland?

Unaware he is being deceived, Jacob examines and recognizes the blood-soaked robe as the one he gave his favorite son. Genesis 37:33-34 tells us what happened.

“It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”  Imagine this scene; Jacob is holding the blood-dried, special robe he had seen Joseph wearing when he left home to find his brothers several days earlier. What was it like for Rueben and the others to watch the shock and grief of their father, knowing that Joseph was not dead? Here is what they saw,

“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days.” Genesis 37: 34.  Genesis 37:5 gives a graphic account of how the sin of deception leads to more deception to cover the first deception, ” All his sons and daughters came to comfort him…” One great deception has led to another, a lie to back up the first. As you will discover, this treachery will go on for years. Jacob will continue to believe Joseph is dead, no one has the decency, the compassion to tell him the truth.

But Jacob is so devasted that their words of “comfort” fall on deaf ears, “No, I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” Genesis 37:5.  Jacob does not know that God will use the evil of his sons to put Joseph in a position that will save his family and further God’s plan to save the world. God’s plan will not fail, He keeps His promises even when life seems to be going the wrong way.

While Jacob grieves, Joseph is sold to Potiphar, an official of the Pharoah of Egypt. Life has taken a U-turn for Joseph and his father but  God knows the road ahead and makes good come for those He has called to serve Him. Romans 8:28

Stay tuned, this story has lots more twists and turns!

Family relationships are vitally important. We need to keep them working as God intended.  I have two books I recommend that you consider to help you with parenting and marriage. Here are the links to my books https://www.cosdavis.com/product/marriage-is-what-you-make-it/ and https://www.cosdavis.com/product/parenting-with-a-purpose/.