Lessons Learned in Joseph's Pit

Joseph is such a unique Bible character in that he experienced suffering and rejection from his own family, employers and inmates! Although Joseph could have given up in despair when he was in his pit of loneliness, he didn't, because he knew Who was in that pit with him. So let's take a look at the lessons that Joseph learned about dealing with loneliness and rejection and some encouraging Scripture verses:

• You are not alone – God is always with you!

Genesis 39:2  The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.

Deuteronomy 31:8  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

• No matter where you are in life, God can use you!

Genesis 39:20b-23  But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Psalm 37:23-24  The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he has made firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

• When others turn against you, God is still protecting you!

Genesis 37:23-28  So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe – the richly ornamented robe he was wearing – and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, ‘What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.’ His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Psalm 41:1-3  Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.

• What seems to be harmful, God can use for good!

Genesis 50:19-21  But Joseph said to them (his brothers), ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Jeremiah 29:11-13   ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you , plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’

 Question to think about: How will God help you climb out of your pit of loneliness?