One of the characters in the Bible that has always interested me is Joseph, the son of Jacob in the book of Genesis. Joseph's story is found starting in Genesis 37 with a story about a dream. In two of Joseph's dreams he sees "We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (Gen 37:7) The second dream is much like the first except it is the sun, moon and eleven stars which were bowing down to Joseph (Gen 37:9). Joseph's brothers are already jealous of Joseph because of the attention and love that Jacob has for him and these statements fuel even more anger. So much so, that they decide to throw him in a cistern to kill him and then sell him into slavery for 20 shekels of silver (Gen 37:28) How's that for a dysfunctional family!
This could have been the very end of Joseph's short life, but God is up to something in this story. Repeatedly, though bad things happen to Joseph the Bible says things like "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. . . ." (Gen 39:2) It is not that God caused his brothers to act out in anger, but that God would use these circumstances to mold and make Joseph into a tool that he could use. The Joseph who dreamed dreams in Genesis 37 would be forged through the crucible of trial to become a man that God could use. God still does the same thing today.
I noticed this when I was on crutches several years ago due to a hurt knee. The doctor told me that I was not to put any weight on my knee for several weeks to allow it to heal. I noticed that those who had also experienced being on crutches would often be the ones who would ask if they could help me or hold the door for me. Those who had not the same experience would often just walk on by without a thought about the struggle I was having. It's interesting how that adversity made those who had experienced it more sensitive to others. Could God be using you in the same way to be sensitive to others pain?
Another time in 1995, I got sick with pneumonia. In total, I was sick for about 6 weeks though I was not hospitalized. At one point, I was running a fever of 103 and started to have problems with my memory. I remember my wife asking me how I proposed to her and I could not remember. My short term memory was shot and I was confused. I remember going to a book store and looking at all the books wanting to buy something but could not even remember what authors or books I had read and which I had not. I had dinner one night with my in-laws and afterward could not tell you who they were. That experience lasted about 3 days where I had confusion, but then that fog went away and I was able to remember everything. That experience with memory problems helped me to be more compassionate, so that when God made me a chaplain in a nursing home for about 2.5 years I was able to relate to the residents struggles.
Moses also went through a time of waiting and trial in the wilderness. Though I am not putting myself in the same place as Moses, but simply saying that God often uses trials and adversity to prune us. The first time that Moses attempts to save another Hebrew from an Egyptian it results in Moses running for his life from Pharaoh and living for 40 years on the back side of the desert. (Exodus 2:15). God allows Moses to lead sheep around the desert for many years before he is ready one day to do more. On that day and not before, God appears to Moses (Exodus 3:1-6).
There are a number of passages in the Bible that talk about how God's children are tested through adversity. In Romans 5:3 Paul says, 'Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5). In much the same way as Joseph, Paul learned that when he was weak that God was strong and that God's grace was sufficient for all of his needs. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Going back to Joseph, by the time he is given the interpretation of Pharoah's dream in Genesis 41 and put in charge of Pharoah's household he is a different man. He has learned things like trusting in God, patience, faith and somehow to trust God even though things have not gone well for him for a long time. He is able to say to him brothers "it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:8) Yet, he does not blame God for his adversity, but understands that God was using it to bring about a deliverance for the 7 years of famine. This is all the more remarkable in that Joseph did not have the Bible or even know the name of God at this point, yet he trusted him.
Some other verses on trials and difficulties:
James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, becauseyou know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful."
