Israel, Joseph, and Tribulation
Israel, Joseph, and Tribulation
Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, had twelve sons. These sons would become the twelve tribes of the Hebrew nation of Israel, God’s chosen people.
Israel’s favorite son was Joseph because he had been born in Israel’s old age. One night, Joseph had a dream in which his parents and all his brothers bowed down to him. This upset his older brothers immensely, but it was a glimpse into what God had planned for Joseph and the Hebrew nation as a whole.
In their anger, Joseph’s brothers tossed him into a pit and intended to kill him. When a caravan of traders happened by, they decided instead to sell Joseph into slavery.
Things looked pretty bad for Joseph.
When the brothers came home without Joseph and told Israel that wild beasts had killed him, Israel was devastated and deeply grieved. Over time, Israel resigned himself to the loss of his favored son.
Things looked pretty bad for Israel.
Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken to Egypt where he was made a slave in the home of a powerful man named Potiphar. Joseph did very well there until one day Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. When Joseph ran from her she used the cloak he had left behind to frame Joseph and he was wrongly imprisoned.
Things looked pretty bad for Joseph.
While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had two disturbing dreams. No one could explain the dreams, but God gave Joseph insight into their meaning. When Joseph explained to Pharaoh that a time of great famine was coming, he was put in charge of preparing Egypt to survive.
Things looked pretty bad for Egypt.
As the famine set in, Israel and his family were also affected. In desperation, Israel sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. In Egypt, Joseph told the brothers that they had to bring their youngest brother to prove they were being honest about their intentions. The brothers knew this would kill their father, Israel. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to bow to Joseph’s wishes.
Things looked pretty bad for the sons of Israel.
In the end, Joseph and his brothers were reunited. Israel and his entire family were relocated to Egypt where they would have food. Their lives had been saved, just as God had planned.
Joseph said to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, NASB 2020)
We currently live in a “famine” bringing uncertainty, insecurity, and unrest.
We live in a seemingly desolate land filled with tribulation.
Things look pretty bad for us here in the valley of the shadow of death.
Saints, Be encouraged.
Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” (John 14:18, NASB 2020) and we know God keeps His promises.
Your Life in Christ is kept safely encrypted in God.
This world is bent on evil, but our God is bent on good to bring about God’s intended result. That every last person who is willing should receive eternal Life.
