Early Days
View daily reading plan: Genesis 37.1-2
Before Joseph takes centre stage in Genesis chapter 37, he had shared a variety of distressing experiences which must have moulded his character. His infancy was spent in a very poor family for his father was just a stockman and manager for his father-in-law Laban; he had no property of his own and had anxieties about providing for his family (Gen 30.30). Then, in a “rags to riches” situation he “increased exceedingly” (v.43). In that family Joseph had to learn how to handle both poverty and riches, and both have their dangers. Hence the prayer of Agur, “Give me neither poverty nor riches” (Prov 30.8).
His experiences in the school of God were training him for later life when to an even greater extent he would face rejection, slander and hardship over a considerable period of years. It is only with the benefit of hindsight he would see that the ways of God with him were for his good. It is what Paul called, “the things which happened unto me”, seeing in them the hand of God effecting His purpose (Phil 1.12). In the same letter he expressed his contentment with these circumstances; “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil 4.11). Let us all have the grace to acknowledge God in our lives and see Him as the Great Potter who is moulding us into the men and women that He wants us to be.
Wednesday, 24 January, 2024