16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers.
23 Then Israel arrived in Egypt; Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. 25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.
26 But the Lord sent his servant Moses, along with Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28 The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go. 29 He turned their water into blood, poisoning all the fish.
30 Then frogs overran the land and even invaded the king’s bedrooms.
31 When the Lord spoke, flies descended on the Egyptians, and gnats swarmed across Egypt.
32 He sent them hail instead of rain, and lightning flashed over the land.
33 He ruined their grapevines and fig trees and shattered all the trees.
34 He spoke, and hordes of locusts came— young locusts beyond number.
35 They ate up everything green in the land, destroying all the crops in their fields.
36 Then he killed the oldest son in each Egyptian home, the pride and joy of each family.
"Don't complain...it's a test of your character."
David offers a great perspective of Joseph being sold into slavery. "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character." I find this very curious. don't you? First of all, until "whose" dreams were fulfilled? And...why did God test Joseph's character?
The first answer isn't that simple. Historians and theologians disagree whether these dreams were the dreams Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh...or the dreams God had for Israel. I'm inclined to believe it's the former because we could hardly consider God's dreams for Israel were fulfilled through their slavery in Egypt. More likely, Israel's slavery in Egypt had more to do with testing Israel's character...just like He did with Joseph.
The second answer is intriguing. After all...why test Joesph's character? It's not like God didn't already know Joseph's character. So...the test had to be for Joseph's benefit. God knew that in order for Joseph to accomplish what was about to come, Joseph had to have unwavering confidence in his ability to affect the outcome.
I vividly remember getting a call from my friend Dan. I was at Goodfellow AFB and Dan was in Saudi Arabia for the kick off of Desert Storm. His call was one of desperation. He said "chaplain Thompson. I need you to pray for me. I'm flying my first combat mission tomorrow and I'm scared to death. I don't know if I can do it." I'd known Dan since he was in my youth group in Hawaii. You know I prayed as hard as I could. I left nothing on the table. I prayed until I couldn't think of anything else to say. Before we hung up I asked him to call me when he finished his mission.
Dan called the next day. No fear. No panic. "How did it go?" I asked? "Nothing to it!" he responded. "They shot three missiles at me and I juked all of them." He was an entirely different person.
Dan's character had been tested in the crucible of battle and he found out he could perform honorably and faithfully. I imagine he has not been the same since. It's what happens when our character is tested. When we pass the test we are changed forever. However, it wasn't just Dan's confidence in his own ability that was fortified. It was his confidence in God as well. I've seen his spiritual growth since 1991 and I will testify that his faith in God is unshakable.
But it didn't come without a test of his character.
So, when we read the amazing story of Joseph's rise to power and influence, we attribute it to the test...not to the man. The test gave Joseph the courage to obey God.
A couple questions and an observation come to my mind:
When did God test your character? What did you learn?
The observation: We will be far better off if we regard adversity as a test of our character, rather than the consequences of serving a whimsical God.
Live boldly out there today...
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