The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Ps 10:17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Joseph was the favorite child of all of his brothers. His father made him a special robe to wear which created more strife between Joseph and his brothers. In addition, Joseph had dreams from the Lord he shared with his brothers that portrayed them bowing down to him. The brothers could not say a good word about Joseph, and they call him the dreamer. Joseph’s father had sent him to check on his brothers, but as they see him approaching, they plotted how to kill him.
23–24 When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn’t any water in it. 25–27 Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, “Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. 28 By that time the Midianite traders were passing by. His brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who took Joseph with them down to Egypt. 29–30 Later Reuben came back and went to the cistern—no Joseph! He ripped his clothes in despair. Beside himself, he went to his brothers. “The boy’s gone! What am I going to do!” Genesis 37:23-30 / The Message
Place yourself in the story as Joseph. You are crying, bruised and seem to be in a hopeless situation. Where is God? Is he helpless? Does he hear my cries? Has he forgotten about me? I believe if I were Joseph, I would have been asking all those questions.
Maybe you feel like Joseph today and it seems like the Lord is unaware of what you are going through. But is that really true? We read in Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through deep waters, Iwill be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
In a real sense the Lord is our Father the good shepherd. As a parent there is nothing that hurts us more than seeing someone hurting one of our children. When you are hurting it also hurts the Lord.
Where in your life do you need to turn over your hardship to the Lord? Come to him; he is waiting.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30