The Continued Covenant through Joseph

Acts 7:9-16, Psalm 105:16-25, Genesis 50, Psalm 51

Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Now, if you don’t know the story of Joseph, he was greatly wronged by his jealous brothers. Joseph was sold into slavery, then framed by a wretched woman, and then thrown in jail. He then earns favor from the Pharaoh of Egypt by interpreting dreams that foretell great prosperity and great famine. Because of this, the land of Egypt prepares for the famine to protect its people from death. Joseph rises from the pits of slavery and jail to be the second in command of all Egypt. 

I can’t imagine how hard it was to believe in a good God when all the world felt against you. However, we see in Genesis, Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today.” Joseph saw the goodness of God moving through his life, even from the pits of the dark jail cell, he believed in who God claimed he would be and the covenant he had made with Abraham generations before him. How often do we forget God’s promises to us in the pits we live in? God shows up in the suffering. He draws near to the brokenhearted. He is with us in the darkness, even when we can’t see past our own pain and suffering, God can see, he can see how the refining process through hurt brings about beauty, a deeper healing, and a stronger trust in who God claims himself to be.

We often join the thrills of church planting and mission trips, but always seem to be knocked back when the adventure stops and suddenly we are in the trenches cowering for our lives. Jesus tells us to follow him by taking up our cross. The great commissions are to be fulfilled by people following Stephen and Joseph, who followed Jesus to hard, dark, and painful places. They did this because on the other side is true glory whether that be through suffering or death, God’s glory will be seen through the pain. 

Where are you trying to protect yourself from pain? 

Where are you jaded because of God allowing suffering in your life?

How can you experience both deep hurt and deep joy as you follow Jesus to the cross?