He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. - King David(1)
Do you ever feel like you’re in a deep, dark pit with no way out? Maybe God spoke to you about doing a particular task or ministry and you’ve been faithful to Him; however, you now feel trapped in some bad situation or life circumstance, and you’re eagerly awaiting the day of your deliverance.
You might be asking God why He’s allowed such bad things to happen, and you might even doubt that He hears you. I want you to know that there’s hope and encouragement found in the Word! I also want you to realize that you’re not the only faithful follower of the Lord who’s fallen into a pit!
David hid from King Saul in the deep, dark cave of Adullam (1 Sm 22:1-2); Elijah fled and hid in a cave in order to escape Queen Jezebel’s wrath (1 Kgs 19:1-18); the prophet Jeremiah was thrown into a well that was full of thick, sloppy mud (Jer 38:6); Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused to bow down to an idol (Dn 3:8-25); and Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God (6:10-23).
Each of these men had a vision given to them to bring glory to the name of the Lord through their faithful service, and none of them were able to do so without entering a pit. However, I said that there’s hope, and the hope we find in the examples of these faithful servants of the Lord is that each of them climbed out of their pit to go on and fulfill the calling that God placed on their hearts.
Joseph is an Old Testament character who had a vision granted to him by the Lord, and who experienced numerous difficulties in seeing his vision realized. His calling was delayed when he was thrown into a pit on two separate occasions. However, as a result of his faithfulness during those circumstances, Joseph was delivered from the pain and drudgery of his pit experiences to go on and live in a palace!
In the account of Joseph are found some important lessons on faithfulness that will help us behave in the cave, endure our pit experiences, and climb out to fulfill the calling that God’s placed on our life. In tonight’s message we will see how the Lord intends to move us from the pit to the palace.
God Gave Joseph a Vision (37:5-8)
Joseph had a vision given to him by the Lord. In the Bible, the word “vision” has “the meaning of gazing wide and open-eyed at something remarkable; awed by the beauty and filled with joy. It varies in meaning from being a very real, tangible experience to simply a mental perception.”(2) Joseph’s vision was revealed to him in the form of a dream. Let’s look at Geneses 37:5-8:
Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words (Genesis 37:5-8).
I’m going to equate the word “dream” with the word “vision.” When we receive a vision from the Lord it’s a glimpse of what God is able to do in the lives of other people if we’re obedient to follow that vision. It’s a picture of God’s will for our life. If the Lord lays a strong desire or burden on our heart to serve Him in a particular way then that could be our vision and calling, and we need to do all we can to strive towards the fulfillment of that vision.
Now, our vision might not be as clear as we would hope. Joseph’s vision was pretty strange with all this talk about bundles of wheat bowing down. However, it appears that Joseph sought from his brothers some guidance on the interpretation of his vision. Maybe his choice of counsel was unwise, but he still gained some good insight. His brothers very quickly and unhappily concluded that his dream meant that they would one day be bowing down before Joseph in the future.
Just as Joseph sought counsel, we too can learn a lot from seeking the guidance of other believers, especially those who know our heart. Henry Blackaby says that one way of discovering God’s will is through the Church, or through other believers.
Joseph Was Cast into a Pit (37:18-20)
The Lord had shown Joseph a glimpse of the future, and provided him with the hope and calling of becoming a great leader. Soon afterward, he was cast into a pit. Let’s look at Genesis 37:18-20:
Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” (Genesis 37:18-20).
Joseph had been given a vision and purpose for his life, but we find him in a potentially life-threatening situation. As we read ahead we see that his brothers took him to a well, possibly hoping to drown him, but thankfully there was no water inside (Gn 37:24). Most of his brothers plotted how to kill him, but Judah persuaded them to sell him to some slave traders instead (37:26-27).
Can you imagine how you would feel if God had said, “I have a good plan for your life,” and you were immediately hurled into trials or persecution? You would probably question the Lord and become anxious. As far as we can see from his first pit ordeal (cf. Gn 37:12-36), Joseph remained calm, for the Bible doesn’t mention Joseph saying anything at all.
So, why did Joseph have to go through this ordeal? The Bible doesn’t come right out and say why, but James tells us that trials produce the fruit of patience (1:2-4). Trials serve to build character, and God was likely preparing Joseph for a position of responsibility that lie in his future. That upcoming task was to first serve as the overseer of Potiphar’s household (Gn 39:1-4), and then to become second in command of all Egypt (41:40).
God will sometimes rake us over the coals to toughen us up before He’ll give us greater responsibility in His kingdom. He wants to build courage and resilience within us so that we don’t run from responsibility once we’ve received it. God is in the character-building business!
God Was Always With Joseph (39:1-4)
When we find ourselves in a pit we might have the tendency to think we’re all alone, but we’re not! The Lord told Isaiah, “I will be with you . . . when you walk through the fire” (Is 43:2). When we’re going through times of difficulty God is still there with us. The Lord was also with Joseph. Let’s look at Genesis 39:1-4:
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.
So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority (Genesis 39:1-4).
Joseph went from the pit to a very nice household - the house of Egypt’s captain of the guard, Potiphar - and he was made overseer of that household. I wish to emphasize something that qualifies a believer to move from the pit to the palace, and it’s seen in the statement, “The Lord was with Joseph” (Gn 39:2-3).
The Hebrew word for “with” can also be translated as the preposition “in.” This statement could be read as, “The Lord was in Joseph.” In another place, the Bible specifically says in reference to Joseph, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Gn 41:38).
God was indeed inside of Joseph, and He dwelled in him through the Holy Spirit. Joseph was promoted because the Lord was with him at all times, living inside him, even while he was in a deep, dark pit.
So, how can we find God’s favor while in the middle of a pit? What results in the Lord’s presence being with us? John said, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1 Jn 3:24). If we’re faithful to the Lord by keeping His commandments, then the Spirit of God truly lives inside of us.
If we strive to live for Jesus and seek to serve the Lord by setting an example of the love of Christ, even in the midst of a pit, then the Lord will certainly be with us. God’s Spirit is free to abide within those who are faithful to keep His commandments, and it’s evident by our lifestyle that God is truly within us. Joseph set an example of godliness by his actions, and it was his faithfulness which led to his promotion.
We need to be aware of how we act in the presence of unbelievers. Many believers who enter the pit will gripe and complain, giving Christians a bad reputation and setting a terrible example of the love of our Savior. God won’t promote us if we are unfaithful while in the pit, and if we fail to glorify Him while we’re there. If we wish to be promoted then we must remain faithful to keep God’s commandments and set a good example of the love of Jesus Christ at all times.
Joseph Remained Faithful to God (39:7-9)
The Lord was truly inside Joseph as he walked in obedience, and as he lived a life of integrity before God and others. His faithfulness to the Lord was tried and proved as Joseph overcame one of the biggest temptations a man can face. Let’s look at Genesis 39:7-9:
And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9)
Here we find another good lesson on moving from the pit to the palace. Joseph was living in style when he was managing Potiphar’s household, but God had something even greater in store, and that was the palace! However, Joseph didn’t know that the palace was where he would be living in the near future.
Remember, the vision Joseph received was lacking in detail. He had never before seen such luxury as when he was living with Potiphar. He could have easily become satisfied where he was and assumed that since he had “arrived” he could slack off in his devotion to God. There are two questions which present themselves here, and they are: 1.) How do we handle abundance? And 2.) will we be faithful to God when things are going our way?
First of all, when we’re living in luxury we can sometimes forget about God. During times in which we’re suffering we tend to draw near to Him. When we’re in need we’re forced to rely on God for our provision; and during these times we can see the Lord come through for us time and again, and this builds our faith and trust in Him.
However, when we’re well off, then we can easily act like we don’t need God anymore. We might get the notion that we’re self-sufficient, or that we’re the one “bringing home the bacon.” If we have very little, then the Lord is all we’ve got; but should we become well-to-do, we may devote ourselves to our possessions or our own interests.
Joseph had an opportunity to take advantage of Potiphar’s wealth, but especially to take advantage of his wife. He could have committed adultery with her. Potiphar was never around long enough to even know what he owned, let alone know if his wife were being faithful. However, we read here that Joseph was fearful of sinning against God (Gn 39:9).
Joseph could have gotten away with a lot without anybody ever knowing about it; however, he realized that God was always watching. There are believers who slack off at their job because they think that no one sees them, but they fail to consider that the Lord is watching; and they wonder why they’re never promoted.
Networking with other individuals goes a long way in securing positions; however, in the end God is the one who’s in charge. People don’t promote us, and we’re not promoted by our own hard work. When we receive a promotion in the kingdom it’s because God’s favor is upon us, and the Lord’s favor rests on those who are faithful to Him in both the small and the large tasks, and in want or abundance.
Joseph Entered the Pit Again (39:17-20)
Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. There can be consequences for our obedience. Keep in mind, though, that the final outcome of one’s obedience is life (Heb 5:9). We should never settle for temporary pleasure in lieu of eternal gain. Joseph realized this fact and remained faithful to the Lord; and as a result, he was hurled into another pit. Let’s look at Genesis 39:17-20:
Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison (Genesis 39:17-20).
Joseph’s faithfulness didn’t get him promoted immediately. In fact, he suffered greatly. Potiphar’s wife was upset that Joseph wouldn’t commit adultery with her, and she likely figured that if she couldn’t have him then no one else could. She lied to her husband and said that Joseph tried to take advantage of her, and then Joseph was locked in prison.
Whenever we stand for our faith we can expect to be persecuted. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you . . . A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (Jn 15:18, 20). We shouldn’t be surprised if we stand for what’s right and then we become temporarily demoted, for Jesus said this would happen. We must remember that when we’re “demoted” for the sake of Christ, that we’re actually being “promoted” in the kingdom.
Let’s not become so attached to abundance that we’re afraid to sacrifice it for the sake of Christ. We must strive to be faithful to the Lord no matter what the consequences. Now, you might be saying, “But I have a family. What about the consequences to them?” If your family members are walking closely with the Lord, as a result of your leadership, then they should respect your decision and be ready to take a stand for God with you.
In looking ahead at Genesis 39:21, we read of Joseph, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Joseph remained faithful to the Lord, therefore God’s favor continued to rest on him at all times, even during his adversity.
In reading ahead, we also see how the keeper of the prison gave Joseph authority over all the prisoners there (Gn 39:22-23). God continued to open doors of opportunity because Joseph remained faithful to Him; and as before, Joseph was faithful in the little things, for we read that he directed some of the prisoners to seek the Lord when they needed help with the interpretation of a dream (40:8).
Let’s remember not to complain when we’re in the pit, but let us remain faithful where God has placed us; and in time we will be promoted when the Lord sees fit.
Joseph’s Vision Was Fulfilled (41:38-41)
Joseph suffered for His obedience; however, his persecution served to work out something far greater in the end. While he was in prison he received an opportunity to interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams (Gn 41:1-36), which allowed him to leave the prison from time to time and enter the palace. Joseph’s opportunity eventually resulted in his freedom, and the fulfillment of his calling. Let’s look at Genesis 41:38-41:
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:38-41).
Pharaoh was so impressed that God’s power rested with Joseph that he made him second in command of all Egypt! He made it “from the pit to the palace.” Joseph’s vision of his brothers bowing down before him was eventually fulfilled, for his brothers had to enter Egypt and bow down to Joseph in order to request food from him for their families during a time of famine (cf. Gn 42-45).
Time of Reflection
We have seen that if God gives us a vision or calling after which to follow, that no matter what happens to us, we must remain faithful to believe that what the Lord has promised will come to pass.
There could be times of great hardship in which we will feel as though we’ve fallen into a deep pit with no way out. There might even be times of abundance that could fool us into thinking we’ve reached our destiny or destination. How we react during these times will determine whether or not we are able to finally reach the place of our calling.
Will we remain faithful to the Lord at all times, in both the large and small tasks, and in want or abundance? If we will remain faithful to the Lord, then He will fulfill the vision that He’s placed on our heart!
NOTES
(1) Psalm 40:2.
(2) Tim Gibson, “How to See and Hear God’s Will,” posted 1999, Online Bible Searcher: timshen.faithweb.com/bigpic/Topic4.htm (Accessed November 30, 2009).
