Rescued from the Pit

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." Genesis 37:3-4, 11, 18-19, 21

Jealousy. False accusations. Anger. Betrayal. Intercession.  If we are honest, we have all experienced one of more of these at one time or another in our life, as the one who was the "accuser" and the one who was "accused."

Here in Genesis, Joseph is favored by his father and his brothers are jealous. It is not recorded that Joseph was skipping around singing, " I am the favorite, nanny-nanny-boo-boo." He is portrayed as a good 17 year old kid, obedient and caring, and one who sees the things of God (in dreams). And yet, his brothers could hardly stand it enough. The brother's jealousy came to the point of plotting a forever separation, a quick decision to put Joseph to death. The moment they saw him from afar coming to them (to care for them mind you), they were lock and loaded, ready to kill. If it weren't for big brother Rueben speaking up and taking action, Joseph would not have been spared. Reuben interceded on Joseph's and probably their Dad's behalf too knowing he was so favored. 

"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers listened to him." Genesis 37:23-27

Can you even imagine what Joseph must have been going through during all of this?! Righteous anger and deep grief fills my heart for him. How terrifying. He was innocent. He had come to check on his brothers and they betrayed him not just once, but twice! First, into a deep pit without water and you know he had to have put up a fight although the scriptures don't say, then thanks once again to big bro, he then escapes certain death and but is sold into slavery, which was obviously a divine appointment of rescue from God.

"The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. One day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice." Genesis 39:2, 11-14 

Sold to Pharaoh as a servant, he is once again betrayed, falsely accused! But another intercessor was there-God! He rescued Joseph from yet another pit. "And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Genesis 39:20-21 

They say words are a lamp into the soul. Look at Joseph's words here: "For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit." Genesis 40:15 His heart was pure, calm, innocent and trusting. 

"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." Genesis 41:14, 16  Pure, calm, innocent, trusting. I wonder if Joseph would ever be anxious anymore as God continues to rescue him from the pits he seemingly is a magnet for! Joseph was placed into this position of honor at the age of 30 years old. He had been held back in the pit for many long years and yet, look at his demeanor, his heart. I am not sure I would have been so calm or kind. His brothers betrayed him, desiring to kill him! They sold him to slavery. Yet he says, "I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews." Even in the face of what is absolute truth, he doesn't talk disrespectfully of his evil-plotting and jealous brothers. He doesn't slander or plot revenge. He could have easily been plotting his revenge on his brothers for the moment he was able to ever escape and be free. 

"But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love." First, put in a pit. Then sold as a slave. Praise God? Would you have seen that as rescue? Then falsely accused of sexual immorality and put back into the pit. Praise God? It was there in the pit God used him as His spokesperson. Would you ever consider a trial as evidence of God's rescue from something bad to something better? Joseph doesn't know what's on the other side of those brick walls, but he experiences God's steadfast love through it. If there was ever someone who had just cause to get even, plot revenge, be angry, gossip about the injustice brought onto him, it was Joseph. His anger did not cause him to sin. He trusted God brick wall after brick wall. And then, his dreams/prophesies are fulfilled and the brothers are now standing unaware, before the brother they hated. The youngest, hated, Daddy's favorite baby boy was standing before them as their "Life Giver." Once in a place of victim, now Joseph stands in the place of rescuer. The tables have turned to say the least! Two things could have happened, a fleshly opportunity for revenge or a righteous return of God's mercy and rescue. 

"Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Genesis 45:1-5 

We have two choices when we are thrown into our "pit." We can use that time to plot evil in our flesh, be angry, anxious, grow bitter...doubting God is actively working on our behalf or we can rest in God's steadfast love, trusting by faith His Love, knowing He has a greater plan for us on the other side of the bricks. Believers are not immune to illness, persecutions, trials. The Bible is clear that we all face everything but that we as Believers can walk in peace, comfort and hope, as we remember the faithfulness and enduring strength we have the choice to claim as ours, in Christ Jesus. 

Perhaps you are guilty of sin, and the Lord is disciplining you out His great love for you...be quick to confess your sin, repent and turn from it and stop falling deeper into your "pit." Receive the intercession of the Holy Spirit Himself who may also move through someone else to bring you out of your pit. God gives us each other to help, intercede and encourage so that when we face a trial, we are reminded that we are not alone. What a reminder for us to be aware of those in "pits" around us. Maybe God is sending you to be their rescue. Are you one who sees the things of God and walks in the confidence of Him?

Whatever you are facing, praise the Lord, keep your heart pure, calm, trusting that even though you may be innocent, He is working out something better. He will send you rescue even if it might not look like rescue and you are put in one "pit" after another, seeing only glimpses of sunlight. Can we still praise Him? Will your heart turn from God or toward God? His blessing and recuse for your obedience is near. You will find peace despite your illness, your betrayal, your reputation, your seemingly failures. It may come in the way of an earthy rescue but it may not come till The Refuge of your Soul holds you in His arms in Heaven. Is there anything more we could desire than intimacy with God Himself? A heart fuller of the things of Him? Sweet fellowship with God Almighty, our Fortress and Strength. Here on earth, sanctification will be a journey of pits and valleys, mountains and streams. How will you go through them? 

"See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19

God , rescue us from our pits and may our lips praise Your Precious Name regardless of how many bricks capture us. We want to trust You without waver. Give us Your strength and mercy that we might endure in our faith. God, we surrender our hearts to You, mold them and shape them to be like Yours, calm, pure, honest, innocent and pure. Our hope is in You, no matter. We trust You, no matter. God, help us hear You clearly when You speak. 

Thicker Skin

I LOVE being out in the nature of God!! His glory is on display at every glance. There are glimpses of His mightiness in the trees and unshakeable boldness in the mountains, His consistency and strength in the waves of the oceans, His kindness and care in the smallest of detail on the flowers and creeping little critters.

 

There is so much beauty to be seen!!! I have hundreds of pictures from my time outside. One thing I have observed is the amount of thorns scattered amongst the beauty.
I was enjoying a day outside and as you can see in the photo with my sock, there are pokey things digging in like needles into my skin. I got these painful pokes during a walk with a friend. I couldn't take it anymore and I had to stop and remove these needles in my foot!! My friend laughed at my "tenderness" as she felt nothing from the few in her own sock. "How can that not hurt you?" I asked. She replied, " I guess I have thicker skin." I must agree...on many levels! LOL
God brought back that moment a few days later when I was upset. We look at other people and wonder how they can experience pains and seem unaffected by it while our heart feels like it is literally breaking into pieces. We will not all respond the same way to every situation. God did not create humans to be robots. We were created and fashioned differently. The truth is, what's true for me may not be true for you. We are His masterpiece, wonderfully made to think, feel, and live!

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

The way we think and respond (while rooted in the truth of Christ) to trials will vary. A harsh word spoken to me may be like a dart thrown at my heart while a harsh word spoken to my friend may be like throwing a spear at her heart. I may fall down but you can be sure my thick skinned friend would rise up before you, surely standing taller than you!! An illness or trial that falls upon me may cause my heart to fear while the same trial for another may gird them up in anticipation for a good, Holy fight. I may crater, while they rise up. We are not all the same.
It's easy for us to go about our day thinking our reality is the reality for everyone else, but I would dare to say there is a pridefulness within us that says "Our ways are right." "This is truth for me and therefore it must be the same for you." We begin to judge and possibly shame or condemn others when they don't respond just like we would in their situation. What makes us think we are so right?!
I am challenged today to check my pride and exercise mercy and compassion towards others knowing that what works for me and what I think is right may not be their right. (Obviously I am not discussing the absolutes of God's Words and commands. But considering the heart and soul of others.)
May we look at the Creation of our World and remember that we too are each created with a specific design. May we remember that God's Truth is the Only Truth to consider as absolute. Our roots and our fruits may be the same but the type of bloom we are is as diverse as the flowers of the fields!!

Challenge:
* Next time you hurt, know it's okay if it's hurting you. You may just have tender skin compared to another. And really, who's comparing? Our truth is Christ alone.

 "I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways." Psalm 119:15 

* And if another expresses hurt, extend mercy and love, believing their hurt to be real even if you don't think it's valid. 

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:15-16

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-14, 21-27