The Journey

I’ve been re-reading the story of Joseph recently in an effort to look at it from a different perspective because I believe that Hebrews 4:12 is true in saying that the word of God is living and active.

We usually read the story of Joseph with the outcome in mind, but what if just maybe, the real story is in the journey? The Joseph that had the dreams in Genesis 37 was not the same Joseph who was put in charge at the end of chapter 41. There was a process that he had to go through, not because the blessing was in the making, not because it needed to be tweaked a little, or because it needed to bake a little longer in heaven’s oven of miracles and wonders, NO. The process was to prepare Joseph for the coming chapters that God had already written.

It is my belief that his time in Potiphar’s house introduced him to Egyptian culture as well as gave him some insight on stewardship and leadership. Later, in jail, he continued practicing his much-needed leadership skills. Of course, we know that years later, he was made second in command, but I’m not just telling you a nice story. I want to point out that the journey which led to Joseph being a leader was just as important as the outcome. It was not a pleasant path. He was sold into slavery, harassed, wrongfully accused and imprisoned. However, note that despite the many attempts to knock him off course, he was pushed in the right direction. Again with Potiphar, it seemed Joseph was knocked off track when he was accused and jailed but that only got him closer to where he would eventually end up. In each step, there was a lesson or a skill to be learned. Each event was a piece to the puzzle of an outcome that God had previously designed.

Joseph’s story reminds me of one of my favorite songs to listen to during my quiet time with God: Waymaker. The words to the song speak of how God wipes tears, mends hearts, lights the way and works miracles, all in an effort to clear the path toward the blessing that He has already prepared for us when our story was written. There are 2 important facts to take note of here:

1. If He’s mending hearts, it’s because they may break along the way. If He’s wiping tears it’s because they will be shed. If He’s lighting the way, it’s because dark times will come.
2. If He’s paved to the way to the blessing, then He’s already been there, which confirms that it is ready and waiting and that, like the Bible says, He is THE way.

Dear friends, I don’t know what dreams God may have placed in your hearts and what struggles you may have found along the way, but what I do know is this: our stories have been written and the road to our blessings have been paved. Let us take a page from Paul’s book and rejoice in our struggles because they are mere stepping stones which will help prepare us for what’s to come. Keep the words of Deuteronomy 31:8 near your heart and be encouraged because our Heavenly Father is with us. He goes before us leading the way.

Let these words inspire you to also help others along the way with the gift of salvation. Wield words of hope into your daily conversations and let these be woven into the eternities of all who hear them. Let them be floating lanterns which pierce the darkness as they drift away, and let them always shine a light on the true protagonist of each and every one of our stories, Jesus.

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