The view from the other side

Day 19

OT Reading: Genesis 44-45

NT Reading: Matthew 14:1-21

How do you think Joseph felt when he was in the pit...listening to his brothers above debate about whether they should sell him or kill him? How do you think Joseph felt when he was sold as a slave with no rights of his own? How do you think Joseph felt when he was wrongfully accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison? How do you think Joseph felt when he was forgotten by Pharaoh's cup-bearer?

The Bible doesn't tell us, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he faced times of frustration, despair, anger, resentment, apathy and confusion...just like you and I do. And yet now...years after being sold into slavery by his very brothers, Joseph stands before them and assures them that God set these events in motion for His own divine purposes.

Sure, when we're in the middle of trials and hard times (though I've never had a family member debating about whether to sell or kill me), we don't want the cookie-cutter answers that some people want to give us. But Joseph's example does give us one good thing to recognize. When we come out on the other side...that's when we can begin to see that God was working all along.