Tested By The Word
Devotions for Growing Christians
Tested By The Word
Psalm 105:16-21 - "He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They afflicted his feet with fetters, he himself was laid in irons; until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of people, and set him free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler over all his possessions."
The story of Joseph is one of the most captivating and challenging narratives in the entire Old Testament. Joseph is one of the few biblical characters about whom nothing negative is written. From his teenage years in Genesis 37, until his death at age 100 in Genesis 50, Joseph's exemplary life convicts us - and encourages us. Joseph is an excellent model for every believer to follow!
Consider Joseph's steadfast faith. The Bible contains no record of Joseph complaining or wavering in his faith - even though he was betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused of rape, cast into prison by his employer, and forgotten by those he helped. And - unlike us - young Joseph didn't have the benefit of the Word of God, or the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit! He didn't even have the story of Joseph to encourage him! Would any of us have maintained an unwavering faith under such conditions?
The Providence of God
What was the secret of Joseph's unwavering faithfulness? It was his unquestioning understanding and acceptance of the providence of God! Joseph knew that "our disappointments are God's appointments." Many years after they sold him into slavery, when Joseph finally revealed his identity to his brothers, he told them, "And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance" (Genesis 45:5-8).
After his father Jacob died, Joseph again stated his lifelong conviction to his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph knew that all the events of his life, even all the terrible wrongs that were done to him, were within the sovereign plans and purposes of God - for ultimate good. God was not the source of the evil perpetrated against him, but Joseph knew that God was in complete control. He knew that God was working through the awful experiences and ungodly people to bring about His purposes and His providential design.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Joseph didn’t know Romans 8:28, but he lived its truth more than we often do! If only we could trust God as Joseph did. Too often we say that we believe that God is in complete control of all our circumstances, but do we really believe it? If we really believed it, we would accept life as it comes to us without complaining. How steadfast is our faith and trust in the providence of God? Does it measure up to the faith of Joseph?
The "Proving Process"
The life of Joseph is also a great example of what the testing of our faith is all about. All the unpleasant and unhappy experiences in Joseph's life were a test of his trust in God. Joseph was not "reaping what he had sown" from mistakes he had made, nor was he being disciplined for sins he had committed. No - Joseph's faith in God's word to him was being tested. About Joseph, Psalm 105:19 says that "the word of the Lord tested him." The same Hebrew word that’s translated as "tested" or "proved" is used in Psalm 12:6 and Psalm 66:10, where the testing process is likened to the refining process of silver or gold. The "proving process" refines and tests the value and purity of the precious metal. (See also Judges 7:4.)
In Joseph's life the "proving process" took place over about 20 years! Joseph had been given word from the Lord when he was only a teenager. He realized that his dreams about the future were communications from God. That's probably why he shared the dreams with his family (Genesis 37:5-11). If Joseph was convinced that the dreams were sent from God Himself, then it was his responsibility to share them with his family, even though he probably suspected that the news would add fuel to the fires of his brothers' hostility. This word from the Lord tested Joseph for more than 20 long years that were filled with tragic betrayal, severe disappointments, and very little hope for the future. Joseph passed the tests - and the tests demonstrated the value and purity of his faith.
When Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar's household, it seemed that there might be some good days ahead - but his hopes were dashed by false accusations (Genesis 39:1-20). Can you imagine Joseph’s disappointment when he was thrown into prison? This test of faith would have been particularly painful. No doubt he was eagerly looking for some sign of how God would fulfill the dreams He had given. Joseph may even have worked out some scenarios in his mind. Maybe if he continued to work hard, God would arrange for him to gain his freedom and become successful in Egypt, the greatest nation in the world at that time. Then if he became prosperous he would return home for a visit, where his amazed family would have to acknowledge that the dreams had been from God! Both he and (more importantly) God would be vindicated! But this was not God's plan! How disappointing! Would we have passed this test of faith?
Another great test of Joseph's faith came in Genesis 41, when the cupbearer finally remembered him, and Joseph was called before Pharaoh. If we had been in Joseph's place, and we knew we could interpret Pharaoh's dreams, would we have used our gift to bargain for freedom? Would we have taken the credit for ourselves? Or would we have done as Joseph did - not even mentioning himself, but giving all the credit to God? Would we have been more concerned about the implications of the dreams and the preservation of life than about our own life and freedom? Joseph entrusted his life and his completely to God! As a result he passed the test of faith with top grades. By the way, how is our "grade point average"?
As the word of the Lord tested Joseph, the word of the Lord tests us. Do we really believe that "God works in all things for the good of those who love Him"? Do we really believe that God will guide us in the decisions of life, as He promised in Proverbs 3:5-6? We can be sure that our faith will be tested. Disappointment is not a sign that we're failing the test, but doubt and complaining are!
A Perfecting Process
The question is often asked, "If God is omniscient, and not only knows if we have faith, but also the strength of our faith, why does He test our faith?" The Bible answers that question. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." God wants His children to be overcomers - strong and mature in their faith. He wants us to be people who can face a challenge and stand firm! The testing process accomplishes this.
In addition, God allows various kinds of suffering to come our way in order to develop the qualities that are necessary for His servants: humility, obedience and an unselfish attitude. God wants to develop the servant attitude in us - the attitude we see so clearly and beautifully portrayed in the life of our Lord Jesus, who "learned obedience by the things He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).
1 Peter 1:7 gives us another purpose for testing and trials: "that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." Trials refine and purify our faith, and a purified faith brings greater honor to our Lord. When we pass our tests of faith, God is pleased - and Jesus Christ is honored! Just knowing this should help us to stop complaining and questioning God's ways.
A Picture to Appreciate
The life of Joseph is not only a God-given model for us to follow, but also a God-given picture of Christ for us to appreciate. The person and life of Joseph is an Old Testament picture or illustration (or "type") of the Person and life of the Messiah to come. Although the New Testament never specifically refers to Joseph as a type of Christ, Stephen's sermon in Acts 7 seems to draw a parallel between Joseph and Jesus Christ. Stephen mentions the unfair treatment, persecution and betrayal by the unbelieving "brothers," followed by the vindication and exaltation by God of Joseph and Jesus Christ (see Acts 7:9-10and 51-53).
There are so many parallels in the life of Joseph and the life of Christ, it's logical to conclude that God wants us to see and appreciate the picture. Like Joseph, the Lord Jesus was the special object of His Father's love (Matthew 3:17, John 3:35 and John 5:20). Like Joseph, He was sent by His Father to seek and ensure the welfare of his brethren. Like Joseph, the Lord was hated and rejected by His own people (John 1:11-12 and John 15:24-25). As Joseph's brothers especially hated his prophetic dreams, so the Jewish leaders hated the Lord's claims to be their Messiah and King (Luke 19:14). And as Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him, so the Jewish leaders plotted against - and killed - their own Messiah (Matthew 21:37-39, Matthew 26:3-4 and John 5:18). Furthermore, as the brothers callously ate a meal while Joseph was suffering, so the merciless Pharisees prepared to eat the Passover seder as the Lord was crucified (John 18:28).
As Joseph's moral character was tested and proved by temptation and false accusation, so the moral perfections of Christ proved flawless when He was tested with temptation and false accusation (see Matthew 4, Luke 4, John 18:30, Luke 23:2-5, Mark 14:56-59 and Matthew 26:59-61).
In addition, the word of the Lord in Old Testament prophecy tested the life of Jesus and proved his qualifications as the Messiah. As Joseph did not defend himself when he was falsely accused, so the Lord Jesus "did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7) when He was falsely charged and put on trial (Matthew 27:12-14, Matthew 26:62-62, Mark 14:60-61, and Mark 15:4-5.) As God vindicated Joseph and raised him to a place of supremacy over all Egypt, so "God raised Jesus from the dead" (Colossians 2:12) and "exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow....and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
As Joseph's brothers repented for their sin of rejecting and betraying Joseph, and acknowledged him as their superior and savior, in a coming day the Jewish people will repent for their sin of rejecting Jesus, their Messiah. They will acknowledge Him as their Lord and Savior (see Zechariah 12:10-14). And as Joseph graciously forgave his repentant brothers and reconciled with them, so the Lord Jesus will forgive and reconcile the repentant and believing nation of Israel to Himself (see Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 11:15, 25-26.)
All of these parallels - and more - between the life of Joseph and the life of Christ are worthy of study. There are too many to be coincidental. The Lord Jesus surely included the story of Joseph as He talked with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: "Beginning at [the writings of Moses and all the Prophets, He explained what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Him" (Luke 24:27). No wonder the disciples' hearts "burned within them" as Jesus opened up the Old Testament Scriptures and revealed Himself in them!
May the life of Joseph convict us - and encourage us - as we encounter tests of our faith. We will be tested by the Word, just as Joseph was. May our faith, like Joseph's, "be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
- Dave Reid