Storm Stories - Pt 3

There is a classic story of adversity that comes to us from the book of Genesis 37-50. The story details the life of a 17-year old boy by the name of Joseph. If you have been around in Church circles for some time this is probably a very familiar story. Joseph’s father was Jacob, son of Isaac & Rebekah and younger brother to Esau whom Jacob stole a birthright from. Jacob’s name meant “deceiver” and a deceiver he was. In fact, not only did he deceive but was also the recipient of deceit. We know that Joseph’s mother was Rachel, actually Jacob’s second wife, but first-love. Jacob loved Rachel and loved Joseph because he was the firstborn of his first-love.

Because Joseph was so favored by his father Jacob, animosity grew between Joseph and his brothers, some of which was deserved because Joseph had a tendency to be a bit arrogant. The story of Joseph shares how Joseph was given a colorful tunic or coat. Symbolically the coat he received carried with it a message of rulership. This idea was encouraged when Joseph shared with his family two dreams that proclaimed the day in which his family would bow down to him. This of course angered his family deeply especially his brothers who put into process a plan to get rid of Joseph for good.

· They throw Joseph into a cistern or well.

· They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites as a slave.

Joseph’s story has many twists many of which seem to have a very unhappy result. After Joseph was sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites, he was…

· Sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian Captain of the Guard.

· Accused of sexual assault on Potiphar’s wife and thrown in jail.

· Interpreted dreams of the Cupbearer and Baker and promised to be rescued from prison only to be forgotten for two more years.


By now you can imagine that Joseph was feeling a bit frustrated and discouraged and potentially wondering if God had turned his back on him or was even punishing him. However, as you will see this was far from the truth. Joseph’s circumstances were actually “God’s weaving of the tapestry of his life” (Boice).

“You may look at your life and see dark threads and wonder how God can possibly use those threads to produce a thing of beauty. But you should look to the life of Joseph and remember that God uses even the wrath of men to praise him.” James Montgomery Boice

Ever wonder what God was thinking when he allowed adversity to come your way.  I know Boice summed up a great deal of my own personal questions when he compared my adversity to the "dark threads" that make up this tapestry of "my life" submitted to "His will."  When we stand back and look at the picture the Lord has created it tends to make more sense when we see it from a distance.

Love to hear from you as far as your stories and connections to this issue.


Randy