The Glorious Middle

I’ve been reading through Genesis (the first book in the Bible), and although I’ve read these chapters before, one story from Genesis 37-50 is hitting me in a fresh way.

You may have heard of the main character of this narrative – the favorite son, a dreamer, has a coat of many colors, and despised by his eleven brothers. Yep, I’m talking about Joseph. At first glance, it seems like this guy is a little bit too much on his high horse after telling his brothers and father, Jacob, about two dreams he had in which they were all bowing down to him. His family wasn’t too fond of this interpretation – and I got to say, if one of my sisters told me it was in my future to bow down to them, I would think they were crazy, too! But only Joseph knew and trusted these dreams were from God himself; he just didn’t know how they would play out in real life.

Isn’t that relatable, though? We all have desires, promises, goals, and longings we know are from God, yet we have no clue how He will bring them, if any, to pass on this side of Heaven.

Unfortunately, Joseph’s brothers took their anger too far. After initially planning to kill Joseph one day out in the fields, their oldest brother, Reuben, persuaded his blood-hungry younger brothers throw him in a well instead. However, unbeknownst to Rueben, while he was gone, the other brothers decided to sell Joseph to traveling Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt.

Imagine being in Joseph’s shoes – through no fault of his own, almost killed by his family, thrown in a ditch, and driven into slavery by the pure hate in his brothers’ hearts. On a human level, this kind of injustice breeds bitterness and a slow drift away from a steadfast trust in God. Although the scripture doesn’t say, I assume Joseph had many low moments, especially after he is falsely accused of sexual assault by the wife of the captain of the palace guard, and then thrown into prison for two years where he was quickly forgotten.

But in the middle of Joseph’s story, there was always one still, yet powerful presence that kept him moving forward, even in a prison cell:

“But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love.”

Gen. 39:21

Have you ever been betrayed, heart-broken, disappointed, forgotten, abused, or confused at where life has taken you when you thought God’s plans were supposed to be good, filled with hope and a future?

This is where we all breathe a sigh of relief and know we do not walk alone through the valleys that take us off guard and threaten to knock us off our solid Rock.

Like my nephew, Joe, told me when I asked him his thoughts on this story, “Joseph is the most underrated brother fr fr” (for those who don’t know the latest Gen Z lingo, “fr” means “for real for real”). But I honestly couldn’t agree more.

Yes, I’m sure he had moments of doubt, depression, hopelessness, and distrust in the God who was sovereign over all the events of his life; but He kept getting back up, kept hoping, kept trusting, all with his eyes on the One with him in the ditch; walking with him as a slave; sitting with him in a prison cell; and eventually – through a series of events only God could orchestrate –  leading him when he became the ruler of Egypt after interpreting Pharoh’s dreams. Yes, you read that right, but don’t take my word for it:

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are…I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.'”

Gen. 41:39,41

Woah, what a God moment!

Cue major redemption shift in Joseph’s story. None of the heartache was wasted in his journey. Neither is yours; neither is mine.

From a painful family dynamic to Potiphar’s palace, to prison, to the most powerful authority in Egypt next to Pharaoh that built a bridge of reconciling with his brothers.

This is the faithful love of God.

I wish I could dive into every aspect of this story because there is so much more, but I urge you to read it yourself and pay close attention to the faithful love of God in Joseph’s life but more importantly in your own story.

It’s not about getting all we ever wanted and prayed for; no, it’s about deep and enduring connection to the Author of every story, the One who gave His life for ours and who will never leave us alone or disappointed because even when it doesn’t feel hope-filled or good, He still is both these things and abundantly more.

I’m convinced by reading glimpses of Joseph’s life that remembering who God has been is essential to persevering through what we don’t want or understand now. God is actively showing His trustworthiness, even now, when life feels like it’s crumbling and there’s no sign of light coming.

Where do you see the sovereign, perfect love of God in your life right now?

I hope you will take time to listen and jot down where you see Him in the glorious middle. I sure will be…

Much love,

Dee