Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character. [Psalm 105.19]
Ever wonder why God would test Joseph's character?
Does it not stand true that the Almighty All-knowing God of this universe knew everything that could possibly be known about Joseph? Of course, it does.
God did not test Joseph so He (God) could know what was in Joseph. Rather, God tested Joseph so he (Joseph) could know what was in himself!
God had big plans for Joseph. However, Joseph would never have accomplished those plans had he not had an assurance deep in his heart that could do it! It could be argued here that Joseph had failed to comprehend what God was doing with his life as a young man and so God did him a favor in testing him so he could comprehend his purpose.
Question: could Joseph have become the great leader he was without the testing? My faith, and everything I understand about faith, tells me "yes." However, what "can" happen, and what "does" happen are quite different things! I have the faith to move mountains according to Jesus, but I don't... why is that? Perhaps I am not fully convinced of faith's potential! Or, perhaps there are ugly faithless things dwelling in my heart that even I do not recognize - things that prevent faith from working. About the only thing I can think of to alert me to those hidden ugly things is testing! ...Testing so "I" will see what is in me (God already knows).
The nice thing about testing and trials is the humbling effect they can have on us. Humility is the beginning of repentance. Without repentance, faith is of no consequence. Perhaps the wholesale lack of repentance in the Church is exactly why the Church today is so powerless compared to our Lord Jesus! (Let's be clear here that faith without works (power) is dead. No matter what we say about "faith," it is the works of faith that validate it!)
The thing is, God spoke to Joseph early in his life about his future. And what did Joseph do with that knowledge? In his immaturity, he went and blabbed it to his family, and, naturally, it did not sit well with any of them. Why? Because Joseph had not proven himself to them. In fact, Joseph had not proven himself to himself! Joseph had some hard lessons to learn about himself. God knew that apart from just raw obedience from Joseph, it would require testing of a more severe nature.
Everything in me believes that Joseph "could" have learned the lessons directly from God in humble prayer without all the trials. But, it seems Joseph liked to talk more than he liked to listen at first...
Father, help me to listen with intensity!
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