Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.
(Proverbs 3:13 NLT)
In the last few days, my Bible Recap readings have focused on the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph, who had a dream that he would one day reign over his brothers, was sold by them to traders and eventually became a slave in Egypt at the age of 17. There’s much more to his story, but I’ve written two paragraphs in response to parts of it.
First, in Genesis 41-45, we see Joseph’s journey from being a naive, arrogant teenager who caused resentment among his brothers, to a young man who worked hard and earned favor in Potiphar’s household—only to be falsely accused of rape. After spending time in prison, where he again found favor, Joseph’s character matured over twenty years. By the time he was 40, he had grown into a man who could forgive his brothers and recognize God’s hand in everything. This painful process of growth took over two decades.
I’ve certainly had my own long seasons of painful growth. Maybe you can relate too.
Secondly, the part of the story that troubled me was Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, which led to Egypt storing up grain. Pharaoh became incredibly rich through Joseph’s strategy, but at a cost. First, the people bought grain from Pharaoh’s stores. Then, when they ran out of money, they gave Pharaoh their livestock, their property, and finally themselves as slaves. By the end, Pharaoh owned almost everything in Egypt. This bothered me because it seems like people with power and wealth can easily exploit those who have neither. (Sound familiar?)
Yet, in Genesis 50:20 (NLT), Joseph tells his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” It’s a great blessing that God used Joseph to save his family during the famine, positioning him at the right time and place. But what about the other people of Egypt? Was it right for Pharaoh—who was already viewed as a god—to end up controlling almost everything in the country?
Sometimes Bible stories raise more questions than answers. (Do you ever feel that way?) Today, I don’t have a clear answer for my question, but I know Who to ask.
God also reminded me of two passages where the people received understanding directly from Him. In Nehemiah 8, the people hear the Word of God read and explained to them for the first time. In verse 12 (NLT), it says, “So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.”
In Luke 24, we read about Jesus on the road to Emmaus with two disciples who didn’t recognize Him. In verse 45 (TPT), it says, “[Jesus] supernaturally unlocked their understanding to receive the revelation of the Scriptures…” In both stories, the people rejoiced because they understood.
Today, let’s seek the One who knows all, sees all, understands all, and reveals His truth to us. Let’s bring our questions to God, expecting answers. And let’s trust that the Source of all Wisdom will supernaturally unlock our understanding and fill us with great joy.
God,
Thank you for the story of Joseph and for reminding us that you use difficult circumstances to mature our faith. We are grateful for the questions your Word stirs within us, sparking a hunger and thirst to know you more. We pray that you would supernaturally open our hearts and minds, granting us understanding so we can know your Truth and find answers to our questions. Fill us with great joy, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.