The life of Joseph, as told in Genesis, is an Old Testament “type and shadow” of Jesus Christ. The character represents Him and foreshadows His earthly walk—another way that God foretold His plan of salvation. Just as we learn from the life of our Lord, we can gain something powerful by studying more closely the life of Joseph.
We should not simply go through the valleys, the “pits” of life, but we should GROW through them. In the negative or bad times, we have unique opportunities, possibly some of the most valuable times in our lives. What did Joseph actually experience, and can we relate to his trials?
First of all, young Joseph was rejected, slandered, hated, misunderstood, and ultimately abandoned by his own family. When he was shipped off to a foreign country, that actually put him on the trajectory of his destiny, though he didn’t know it at the time. Foreshadowing the suffering of Christ, that of Joseph ended in the rescue of a people. God worked good out of bad.
Joseph was not just rejected and abandoned; he was sold into slavery. He lost everything he had known, lived among foreigners in unpaid hard labor, and then he spent 13 years in prison, falsely accused. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. By following God’s ways (he was Abraham’s great-grandson and so had been taught) and refusing to have an affair with Potiphar’s wife, he went to the next level of challenge.
It takes courage to follow the Lord. It will cost you.
The pit is where you learn to trust God and not man. You learn to look not only at circumstances but to see what is physically unseen with your spiritual eyes. Light is required for natural optics to work. Likewise, the light of God’s Word is required for you to see things in the spirit realm.
In the depths of the dark valley, you uncover your true self. When pressure mounts and you feel the strain, what resides within you will inevitably surface. With this newfound clarity, you can learn to crucify your flesh, an essential step to truly follow Christ and adopt His way of living, rather than being swayed by worldly influences. The separation found in the pit aids in this transformation.
The pit is where God can “pour steel into your soul.” Just as the same sunshine that melts butter can harden clay, the difficulties faced by one individual can fortify them and serve as a stepping stone. Conversely, the same trials can become a stumbling block for another, leading to unforgiveness and bitterness.
It’s important to cultivate a hardened heart towards the devil while softening it towards God, irrespective of circumstances. This is a deliberate choice—it won’t simply happen. This is the decision Joseph made, and as a result, the Lord empowered him, instilling resilience in his soul for the journey ahead.
The pit teaches you to sing a song even in the midnight hour. When Paul and Silas found themselves imprisoned, bruised and bloodied, they chose to pray and praise God. This act prompted an earthquake that expanded their ministry in unforeseen ways. Their steadfast choice paved the way for a divine movement that might not have occurred otherwise. This is a vital lesson to remember during times of potential loss.
Your reaction to the challenges faced in the pit can influence the duration of your stay, I believe. Some individuals may never emerge. Choosing to praise and worship amidst hardship is one of the most powerful responses. The devil cannot withstand it. It serves his agenda far better if you succumb to murmuring, complaining, and blaming. Reflect on this.
Remember that the pit is not your destination. Like Joseph, the palace is where you are destined to go. Joseph didn’t know the end of his story, but we do. That should help us make the right choices along the way, as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through the dark valley into the dawning light.
Start by counting your blessings. Your salvation is the greatest blessing you could ever receive. Responsibility, controversy, and adversity come with your status as a child of God.
But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 2 Corinthians 2:14 NLT
DIG DEEPER
- Genesis chapters 37-50
- 1 John 3:15
- Genesis 50:20
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
- Psalm 119:130, Psalm 36:9
- Galatians 2:20
- Romans 12:2
- Acts 16:25
- Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 30:15
- Psalm 34:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Psalm 34:19
- 2 Corinthians 2:14
PRAY
- Thank God that He brings to your attention exactly what you need to hear and see, by His Spirit, as He floods your heart with light through His Word.
- Ask God to prepare you for your next degree of trial, as you grow more Christ-like.
REFLECT
- Can you remember times when you let the circumstances get you down, even crush you temporarily?
- Can you remember times when you let the circumstances get you down, even crush you temporarily? How did you overcome?
- Can you see how Joseph’s example can help you to not just survive but to thrive in the pit?
