Genesis 37-50 recounts the story of Joseph. It is the story of transformation and growth through crisis.
Joseph, the spoiled son of Jacob--hated by his brothers for his father's overt favortism--is victimized and thrown into a pit to be sold into slavery (crisis #1). He ends up in the home of the captain of the guard where he is honored by God and elevated to control of the household--only to be unsuccessfully seduced by Potipahr's wife. She "sets him up" and he is thrown into prison (crisis #2).
He flourishes there as well and is put in charge of the prison where he interprets the dreams of some of the inmates, but when one is released with the promise to tell Pharaoh of his plight, he forgets (crisis #3). Finally, when Pharaoh has a dream, the former inmate remembers Joseph and Joseph comes to interpret Pharaoh's dream and for doing so, he is elevated to a position of second-in-command, and moves to the palace.
The prophesied famine revealed in Pharaoh's dream comes to pass and Joseph's brothers appear before him for food (crisis #4). Here is his chance to get even; instead, he feeds them and calls for his father. He and his father are reunited, and later, his father dies and his brothers, thinking Joseph's favor to them is only because of their dad, are fearful about what Joseph will now do to them (crisis #5).
The fitting climax is revealed in Genesis 50:20 where Joseph observes, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good." Joseph has grown through crises from a spoiled and arrogant teenager to a faithful and humble servant of God. dispersing the same grace given to him by God in the midst of crises, to his family.
God moves Joseph from the "pits" into a palace, and uses him for the good of a nation.
We would like to skip the "pits", but if we do, we may miss a palace God has in mind for us.
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