There are chapters of our lives that simply do not make sense while we are living them. Joseph certainly had some. The pit did not make sense. Being sold into slavery did not make sense. The false accusation did not make sense. Prison did not make sense. Being...
Some hurts are easier to forgive than others. A careless word or misunderstanding may pass quickly. But what about the wounds caused by people who knew exactly what they were doing? Joseph knew that kind of hurt. His own brothers had hated him, thrown him into a pit,...
Joseph woke up as a prisoner but before the day was over, he would stand before Pharaoh. For years, Joseph had waited. He had been betrayed, falsely accused, forgotten, and confined. There was no indication when he woke up that morning that this day would be any...
Waiting has never been one of my strengths. Like most people, I enjoy seeing progress. I like when prayers are answered quickly, problems are resolved, and doors open without long delays. Yet as I look back over my life, I’ve come to realize that some of God’s...
I think that one of the greatest misconceptions in the Christian life is the idea that obedience always leads to immediate blessing. Sometimes we assume that if we are faithful to God, everything else will naturally fall into place. Joseph's story reminds us that...
We live in a time when character often seems to be in short supply. Every week brings another story of a leader who compromised, a public figure whose private life was exposed, or someone who sacrificed integrity for pleasure, power, or personal gain. Our culture has...
Have you ever found yourself asking, "Lord, why is this happening?" Most of us have. We experience disappointment, broken relationships, unexpected setbacks, or seasons that seem completely opposite of what we believed God was doing in our lives. Joseph certainly...
Have you ever sensed God leading you toward something but had no idea how He planned to get you there? That is where Joseph's story begins in Genesis 37. As a teenager, Joseph received dreams that pointed toward a remarkable future. God was giving him a glimpse of...
Have you ever sensed God leading you toward something but had no idea how He planned to get you there? That is where Joseph's story begins in Genesis 37. As a teenager, Joseph received dreams that pointed toward a remarkable future. God was giving him a glimpse of...
In the middle of describing these conflicts, Daniel 11 includes a powerful statement about God’s people: “The people who know their God shall be strong.”