3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 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.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it. (Genesis 37)
You might have experienced it. God gave you a vision of a wonderful future. You felt blessed. You felt you had everything. You’ve got the world in the palm of your hands.
Then suddenly, a catastrophic change happens. You lose everything you have. You’re alienated even from your own home. You lose your riches. You lose your freedom. You lose everything you have held on to and gave you happiness. Why must such things happen?
My friend, when such things happen, know that God isn’t cursing you. God isn’t taking good things away from you by whim, but because of His higher wisdom.
Joseph had to lose everything so he may know whom to really trust. Joseph had to know he was blessed not because he was handsome or favoured or good. Joseph was blessed because of God’s grace alone. And when everything seem to have been taken away from him, he learns such things are not as important as his faith in God, for God alone has the power to give him all blessings, and to bring back more than what was lost.
In that way, your joy is secured. Nothing of real value could ever be taken away from you, for in God, you will always have everything you need.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. (Genesis 45)
Find hope in your darkest hour.
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4 replies on “Why Joseph Had To Lose Everything Before He Reaches His Dreams”
Truly God is our Provider…You are having your own Joseph experience and I’m sure you’re finding this so true in your life. 🙂
Hi Joyce,
Great collection of biblical quotes. I agree when bad things happen learn from the experience as best you can and then pick yourself up, dust yourself off and take what you’ve learned and begin anew.
@Corinne – The insight you have is God-given, Corinne. I’m really having a similar experience, and I trust that God’s plan for me will prevail through all the ups and downs and through all my weaknesses and doubts.
@Angela – We do learn from the bad experiences we have, sometimes, we even learn more from them than the fun and happy times we experience. They give us wisdom and strength to face life and live it to the full!