Read: Genesis 37:1-24
Come now, let us kill him . . . and we will see what will become of his dreams. (v. 20)

If Joseph had written in his diary as he was being carted off to Egypt, what might he have said? DIARY: Was it my fault Dad always liked me best? Was it my fault he gave me that cool robe? Was it my fault God sent me those awesome dreams? There I was, minding my own business—and following Dad’s orders to go check on my annoying brothers—and what did they do? They stripped off my beautiful robe and threw me in a pit! I thought they were just messing with me, but the next thing I knew I was on my way to Egypt as a slave! I knew my brothers disliked me, but who knew they’d stoop to this?

If Joseph had written in his memoirs years after this experience, what might he have said? MEMOIR: In retrospect, I guess I was kind of a brat. I probably shouldn’t have told my brothers about the dreams. And while the robe Dad gave me was beautiful, I can understand why my brothers resented it. It still stings that they hated me so much that they went to such lengths to get rid of me. But looking back on it, I can see God using their hatred and my arrogance to prepare the way for our salvation. I’m not glad it happened—but I am glad God is so good at turning lemons into lemonade.

Prayer:
Help us to trust your providence, God, even when we are in the midst of excruciating situations.

Author: Carol Bechtel