Genesis 37:21–28 ‘Come let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites.’ (v27)
Previously we have considered pride; today we see the fall that followed – and what a fall it was. Joseph had set off in his robe, with status and a meal for his brothers. His brothers plotted his demise while eating the meal that Joseph had brought to them. Later he ended up with no status, no power, beaten and thrown into a cistern and then, to add insult to injury, he was sold as a common slave to passing traders.
How his fortunes changed, and how quickly. Where were his dreams now? Somewhere at the bottom of the cistern, lost and in tatters.
Joseph lost everything: his status, his power, his home, his security, his freedom… nothing was the same as before. What have we lost in our lives? How has that loss affected our relationship with God? Do we have lost dreams? How have we handled the disappointment? What happens to our faith when faced with difficulty.
Philippians tells us that we can have peace that passes all understanding if we keep our eyes on Jesus. Easier said than done in these circumstances, and yet that peace is available to us nonetheless.
A Prayer to Make:
‘Lord, in times of difficulty, help me to keep my eyes on You and know Your peace deep in my heart. Amen.’
An Action to Take:
Take time to reflect on the questions above and then read Psalm 121 and think about how the questions and this psalm can be reconciled.
Scripture to Consider:
Ps. 121; Prov. 3:3–6; Job 1:17–22; Phil. 4:4–7; Jas 1:2–6
