#bottomofthewell

Linktober Day 14 - Bottom of the well

Have you ever had an experience where you have looked up from where you were and asked, “Why me Lord?” While you ponder the many times this question has passed through your mind, I want to tell you a story of a young man we meet early in God’s story who discovered that it was in his moments of doubt where he heard God’s voice the clearest. The young man I speak of is Joseph, son of Jacob, who gifted Joseph with a coat of many colours. Joseph was the second youngest and to know his story is to discover that Joseph was a spoiled brat. This might be a surprise for some but God does work in mysterious ways. The real mystery as some might say is how does this spoiled brat become the Governor of Egypt? The answer to this question is found at the bottom of a well. When there is no place to look but to look up is where you will sometimes hear the voice of God.  

It is in the book of Genesis (c.37 – 50) where you will find the story of Joseph, the young man in need of hearing God’s voice. Joseph came to his brothers; “Listen to this dream I had; 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. 37:6-7). Joseph is daddy’s favourite, and now he struts before them in his coat of many colours and tells his brothers that the God of Heaven has chosen him for something great. Now this is where Joseph needs to listen for God’s voice and not simply assume that he hears God. We cannot deny the legitimacy of the dream or dreams. There was a second (see Gen.37:9-11) that God uses to prepare Joseph to be a vessel through which God begins to lay down his path for your salvation. This is why Joseph finds himself at the bottom of the well; his brothers were angered by his arrogance and sought to get rid of their brother (ref. Gen. 37:19-36). It is also here at the bottom of this well that the pride of Joseph is humbled so that this young man might better hear the voice of God. Sold by his brothers to a band of Midianites, who profited by selling Joseph to Potiphar one of Pharaoh’s high officials. Now in Egypt, Joseph sees a little hope gaining favour of his new master; he ascends to become the head of the servants. In the house of Potiphar, Joseph became the Mr. Carson to the Earl of Grantham for the Downton Abby fans. He served as head over all the household servants; this was a little glimpse of greatness that drew Joseph back to his dreams. Just when things look good for Joseph he finds himself in prison again this time for standing for his moral integrity (see Gen. 39)

The point I look to share in this journey to become better listeners for God’s voice is that out of circumstance Joseph’s heart is humbled so that he is better able to hear the voice of God. He was thrown into a well by his brothers, sold into slavery by his brothers, then put into prison by one who trusted him Joseph needed to hear God’s voice. Joseph hope of in God’s faithfulness is rekindled when God uses him to explain the dream of Pharaoh, which readies the land of Egypt for seven years of bountiful crops and seven years of famine. God had placed in the heart of Joseph that something great was to come of his life and something did. When we look to the life of Joseph we are often drawn to the high points in his life, for example; his integrity to resist the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, his gift of interpreting dreams, his ability to lead a nation in a time of plenty to prepare it for a time of famine, and his maturity to say to his brother’s “I forgive you” (Gen. 50:19 – 21). On the other hand, when Joseph found himself at the bottom of a well, or imprisoned in Egypt can we be so certain that Joseph in his circumstances didn’t begin to doubt? Can we be absolutely certain that Joseph did not look up from the bottom of that well or from the dark prison cell and cry out, “Why me Lord – Why?” Sometimes our need to hear God’s voice is when we find ourselves in our moments of doubt.

God used Joseph, a once spoiled brat, not only to save a family but to save a people, the descendants of Israel through whom the nation of Israel comes. The nation through whom the saviour of the world would come. At the end of Genesis, we see the brothers reconciling, restoring a broken relationship, and confessing as; “Joseph said to them…Don’t be afraid…. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:19-20). At the end of Genesis we see in the life of Joseph and his brothers God’s purpose to his plan, to reconcile the whole of humankind from the sin that separates. You might not always understand why you are looking up from the midst of a circumstance asking “Why me Lord?” However, if your heart is listening you will hear God’s voice leading you through. If you have a story of how God led you through a dark circumstance and would like to share, please find me at [email protected].

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