By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
WHEN LIFE GOES TERRIBLY WRONG
Genesis 39:21–23; 40:5–8; 41:10–14
Despite major setbacks we may experience, God can still show His favor to us. (39:21–23)
Joseph’s life involves a series of dramatic rises and falls. He was in Potiphar’s house because his brothers had sold him into slavery, yet as a slave in the house of Potiphar, the Lord favored Joseph, and Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire house.
It is from this height that, because of a false accusation, Joseph falls to the low point of being indefinitely imprisoned. We can feel how utterly devastating such an experience would be. However, we see that despite this terrible circumstance, the Lord was with Joseph and showed him His love.
It is noteworthy that neither Joseph nor the text blame God for Joseph’s misfortunes. Instead, they emphasize the love of God and the work of God in the midst of misfortune and, as we will see in the following verses, that God can use our misfortunes to accomplish His purposes. God again gives Joseph favor — this time in the sight of the jailer — and the jailer places Joseph in charge of the entire prison.
God can use us in any situation. (40:5–8)
Here, Joseph is in prison and becomes an instrument through which God interprets the dreams of two men who had worked for Pharaoh but are now imprisoned. Despite Joseph’s circumstances, God still uses him and gives Joseph opportunities to serve Him.
These opportunities will be the instrument that God uses to bring Joseph out of his situation and elevate him to the second-highest place in all of Egypt.
When we face difficult circumstances such as those faced by Joseph, we often become angry at God and fail to see both the ways He might be wanting to use us in those circumstances and also the ways He might be using those circumstances to bring about His will in our lives.
The story of Joseph is thus a reminder to us to be faithful despite our circumstances and trust God to use them for His purposes and for our good.
Faithfulness to God, even in trying circumstances, can lead to greater opportunities. (41:10–14)
After interpreting both dreams, Joseph asks the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh, whose dream reveals he will be restored to his position, not to forget him when he returns to Pharaoh. But the cupbearer forgets about Joseph — at least until Pharaoh has dreams for which he seeks an interpretation.
The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph, and Pharaoh seeks him out to interpret his dreams. As a result of Joseph interpreting the dreams, Pharaoh asks Joseph what to do about the coming famine, to which Joseph provides a wise strategy of accumulating food during the time of plenty to sustain Egypt during the time of famine.
Pharaoh responds by putting Joseph in charge of this plan and making him second to Pharaoh alone in all of Egypt. It is this plan that will ultimately save the lives of Jacob and his family. Thus, these circumstances in the life of Joseph are used by God to save the people of God’s promise, the future people of Israel and all who will one day be saved through the Messiah of Israel.
The story of Joseph is a powerful reminder to us that when it may appear to us through our circumstances that God is not working, the truth is that He is always working and may even be using our difficult circumstances to bring about His greater purposes.
Share with others: