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Jacob and Joseph By Robert Berendt God's calling and purpose is sure. Through trials and suffering, we learn to trust God and build character, just as the patriarchs in the Bible did. They trusted God to guide their lives and followed Him through all circumstances in life in order to gain their reward of eternal life.
here are some great and wonderful stories in Scripture -- but perhaps none more moving than the story of Jacob and Joseph. We read these marvelous tales and reread them to learn the many lessons they yield. Almost all who read the stories miss some fragment of great truth. That is the beauty of the Holy Scriptures, you cannot glean everything from them in just one reading -- actually a lifetime of reading and study will show a person that there is more to learn. In Genesis 37:29-35 we read that Joseph was "dead," as far as Jacob was concerned. Jacob mourned the death of his son for the next 16 years. Every parent who has lost or almost lost a child can immediately understand the agony and unending sorrow Jacob wrestled with during those years. Sorrow and suffering
It is a great exercise in thought to visualize God's position in all of these events. God heard Jacob's anguished cry for years in his prayers. The sorrow and weight carried by the brothers is also clear. Joseph, in the meantime, was also in prayer to God in all of his trials. Every night God heard Jacob's lament and pain. God allowed him to suffer and believe that Joseph was dead for about 16 years. All of the family suffered for this length of time. Joseph eventually had a little more encouragement from God through his dreams and the unfolding of events. He also knew his father and brothers were alive when he was sold into slavery. The acts of his brothers, though, would weigh heavily on him for years. That was, without doubt, one of the reasons Joseph handled their first appearance before him with care. He needed to know how they now felt. By the time Joseph's brothers came to Egypt, Joseph knew the reason God had let him be sold into slavery and reassured his brothers (Genesis 45:5). Like all people with whom God has concerned Himself, Joseph had trials and tests of faith and trust.
This is also the purpose for the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God allowed them for your sake and mine (John 3:16-17). He suffered so we could have life everlasting (Luke 18:28-30). Our calling and purpose The people of God have a similar calling and purpose. They, too, suffer in Satan's world while trying to live a godly life. Their purpose is to save this world and give life to it. In Matthew 24:22, Jesus states because there are people who follow Him and willingly suffer to obey God, life will be saved on this earth. The time of greatest danger lies immediately ahead of us all. Mankind will be looking for a Helper and Redeemer. God is preparing a people for the return of Jesus Christ in the near future. This world is standing on the brink of disaster and death without recognizing the "Joseph" that is waiting in the wings.
God allowed Jesus to be "perfected" by what He suffered (Hebrews 5:5-10,14). We too, must understand the awesome wisdom of God in allowing us to suffer. The process of preparation and refinement belongs to God. He is the Potter; we are the clay (Romans 9:21). Suffering builds character -- both good and bad. God's intention is that righteous character be built in His people. Just as Joseph grew in stature and wisdom through what he suffered, even so, we, too, must endure and continue to grow to be more like God. Endurance, patience, care for others, strength, resilience, toughness, perseverance -- all are developed through what we experience in the hard knocks of life. Jacob and Joseph experienced the fulfilled promises and purpose God had in mind. Jesus, too, knew the purpose of His suffering and accepted it (Luke 22:42). We have a life to live and a life to give. It is a challenge, and there is a purpose and goal. As the heroes and heroines who went before us, we, too, need to learn to trust God to do His part as we live our lives and accept our part. God is the author and finisher or our faith and of our lives (Hebrews 12:2). Copyright 2008 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Origin of article "Jacob and Joseph"
Keywords: God's care Jacob and Joseph suffering trials character
God's faithfulness: