Josephs faith in bad circumstances
Genesis 39:19-21 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. 20 Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
I complain a lot more than I should. My recent trip to New Orleans showed me that I have nothing to complain about. People down there lost everything, I have more than I need. People in N.O. lost their families and friends. I have more than I know what to do with. I wonder what Josephs attitude was like. I wonder if God would have blessed him if he was a complainer. Or was God's blessing him unconditional? Old Testemant writers were notorious for leaving out the fine details, but I guess our Bible is big enough huh? I would imagine in the night Joseph would voice his "concerns" about his life to God. But when day came maybe Joseph had wrestled with God enough to trust him...with that day. Maybe it's like arguing with your best friend, you will go toe to toe with them over something but at the same time you would give your life for them.
Which reminds me of what David said:
PS 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
PS 22:2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
PS 22:3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.
PS 22:4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
PS 22:5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
And what Jesus said:
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
MK 15:35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."
MK 15:36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
MK 15:37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
I pray that no matter what my circumstances, I will not complain, that I will honor God, and that I will be worthy of receiving Gods blessing.
