He sent a man before them -
Joseph - who was sold as a slave.
They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the LORD tested him.
Psalm 105:17-19
Patience, process and purpose are the three streams which flow into God’s plan to perfect us. Joseph was sold to Potiphar’s house by his brothers, then thrown into prison and then, remarkably, assigned a chief position in Pharaoh’s palace. He didn’t throw himself a pity party (well, okay, he was human so maybe he did once in a while). He didn’t turn against God in a fit of passion. He didn’t stop pursuing God nor did he let go of the dreams God had given him; and even in the midst of all his bitter experiences (which stretched on for years), he remained compassionate towards his fellowman, encouraging the downhearted, remaining a perfectly polite gentleman even amongst a bunch of ruffian prisoners.
Joseph was an outstanding personality of great character. Like his coat of many colours, Joseph developed into a multi-dimensional individual who met life’s perplexity with unusual poise. He walked in faith, courage, compassion, righteousness, purity and perseverance. His soul was coloured with all the qualities that impress God. He may have felt as if he was spinning on the same spot, going nowhere, when in fact he was spiraling upwards, moving resolutely to the place God has pre-destined for him. Life took him on a roller-coaster ride with deep dives, scary bends and heart-pounding action. In the end, he emerged a refined product, fit to be Egypt’s second-in-command. From his life, we learn that:
• God rewards those who remain faithful despite life’s surprises
• Life’s suprises do not surprise God
• God’s plans for us are “yeah and amen” – sure to happen
• God is always after one thing – producing character
• Sometimes big purpose means meeting big problems
• God is as present in the pit as He is in the palace
• Our spiritual posture and perspective pen our tale’s end
• God allows imperfect situations to prove and perfect us
Joseph had an unusually tough life, but it built toughness inside of Him. He was not crushed by the pressure of His outward circumstances because His faith in God created a natural buffer against them. In the end Joseph was richly rewarded because, though life is not fair God is always just. The process to perfection may mean passing through perplexity and sorrow, but in the end it takes us to the peaks of personal refinement and pleasant rest in God’s perfect peace, pleasure and purpose. Joseph’s coat of many colours was a picture of God’s favour promising to prove and promote. His tale ended in a rainbow arching into a golden pot of joy and rich reward.
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