A character from the Bible that never fails to amaze and challenge me is Joseph. His life can be summarized in three words - Pitted, Potted and Putted.
As the 11th child of 12, he was his fathers favourite and did not have the wisdom to keep his mouth shut but boasted about the prominence that God will give him which was revealed to him in a series of dreams. Joseph's brothers were jealous and decided to kill him but his eldest brother Reuben intervened and they decided to put him in a pit instead. Thus he was pitted and later sold as a slave to the Midianites who then sold him to an Egyptian man named Potiphar.
In Potiphar's house Joseph did exceedingly well in everything he was given and Potiphar saw that God blessed everything that Joseph did and so he was put in charge of everything Potiphar had. Potiphar's wife made passes at Joseph and once grabbed him but he fled away but was wrongly accused of trying to rape her and was thrown in prison unjustly. He was thus potted. In prison, he helped interpret the dreams of the butler and the cup bearer but the cup bearer forgot him even after he was released. However, years later, the cup bearer remembered him when the Pharoah had a difficult dream that no one else could interpret. Joseph interpreted the dream and Pharoah was very impressed with Joseph that he was "putted" in a place of authority as the Prime Minister of Egypt!
Genesis 41:37-39
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
When his brothers were faced with a famine, Joseph was kind and helped them to come to Egypt and settle, provided for their needs and forgave them and did not pay back for their treachery. Joseph always did the right thing.
Joseph faced adversity after adversity and came out shining. His own brothers dealt treacherously and sold him as a slave. He was unjustly accused by Potiphar's wife and spent years in prison and the cup bearer whom he helped forgot him. But through it all, he never complained, never became bitter but continued to pursue God and did whatever he could to bless others and at the right time, God lifted him up. Joseph learnt humility, patience, resilience, faithfulness, obedience and did not tire in doing the right thing even if it cost him dearly. It took God yrs to prepare Joseph for being the prime minister of Egypt though his interview with the king just lasted a few minutes!
God is preparing you and me for something special. He may want us to go through adversity so that we have the wisdom and life lessons to be mature for that special place. What is our attitude as we are pitted and potted? What is our heart condition towards God, others around us and even towards ourselves? Let's not discouraged but be steady and faithful no matter what the circumstance is and we are sure to see victory and reap a harvest of blessing soon!
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I Cor 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
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