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The Joseph Process:The Pit
By Janine Scott-Lowe, MD.
Genesis 37:19-20, 23-24: "Here comes the master-dreamer," they exclained. "Come on, let's kill him and toss him into a pit and tell father that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we'll see what will become of all his dreams!" ...So when Joseph got there, they pulled off his brightly colored robe, and threw him into a pit..."
Genesis 37:28: When the traders came by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to them for 20 pieces of silver, and they took him along to Egypt.
The pit. What do I say about the pit? Have you ever been going along just fine in your life, and somehow, something happens, and you end up in a pit? Maybe as a result of your own doing, or maybe because someone else threw you in there--either way, you're there just the same, and there seems to be no way to get out. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about as I've been in many pits in my life--some of my own doing, and some not. Both ways, spending time in the "pits" of life hurts just the same.
What it means to be in a pit can be different for different people. What is the pit for you? Is it a pit of despair or depression? A pit of marital/relational discord? A pit of family problems? Or a pit of financial woes? Whatever it is, why are you there?
Is it because, like Joseph, people around you are jealous of you and or the blessings and dreams that God has given you in your life? Or is it because of some error or mistake that you made--a bad choice or wrong decision that has landed you in trouble?
For whatever reason you may be in your own particular "pit" today, be encouraged. As the title of this series says, the pit was NOT Joseph's FINAL destination--it was PART OF THE PROCESS. He did not REMAIN in the pit, but was eventually RESCUED and MOVED on to the next part of his life--Potiphar's house. What I like to see here is that the pit did NOT KILL Joseph or his dream. God remained in control, and used even this LOW point in Joseph's life for his GOOD and God's GLORY. The pit was just ONE POINT on the way to the FULFILLMENT of Joseph's PROMISE.
As it was with Joseph, so it is with us. God has decreed a word over our lives. The Bible says that God "watches over His Word to perform it." What God has said over us WILL come to pass, no matter WHO or WHAT opposition or struggles or pits we may have to face. Isn't is good to know that we may have been thrown into our pits by the actions or intent of others, them thinking that they have the last word over our lives, bringing our dreams to an end, BUT (as Joseph reminds us in Genesis 50:20), they are NOT sovereign over God...they may have meant our pit for EVIL, BUT GOD means it for GOOD. As Romans 8:28 says, God will work ALL things, EVEN OUR PIT EXPERIENCES, together FOR THE GOOD of them who love Him and are called according to His purposes.
So, again, BE ENCOURAGED today. You may CURRENTLY be in a pit, but this time WON'T LAST. Keep your eyes open and be alert to who or what God uses to bring you out of your current circumstance. Your deliverance may not come in a way or by whom you may expect, but, GOD IS FAITHFUL, it WILL come. Hold on, your time in the pit WON'T KILL YOU. Use it to DRAW CLOSER TO YOUR GOD. Call on Him. Be in His Presence. Wait on Him. Keep your expectation IN HIM. Your help IS on the way!
Next stop...Potiphar's house!
God Bless!
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