NEW SERIES: Tumwater Chapel of Grace Study for Sunday 05/08/16 WHAT ARE YOU THINKING JOSEPH?Chapter One The Pit By Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

PASTOR CECIL A. THOMPSON

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Tumwater Chapel of Grace 

Meets each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Services are held at  

5725 Littlerock Rd. S.W., 

Tumwater, Washington

THE SCRIPTURE PORTIONS AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY APPLY TO EACH WEEK’S SERVICE. THEY ARE PRESENTED FOR PREPARATION TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TOO DIRECT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO SEE WHAT THE LORD WANTS TO SHOW US FROM HIS WORD. IF IT TAKES SEVERAL WEEKS TO COVER ONE VERSE...SO BE IT. IT IS FAR BETTER TO MOVE WITH THE SPIRIT RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET THE SPIRIT TO FOLLOW

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING JOSEPH?

By Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

Chapter One

The Pit

I wonder if I have any broken bones. I hurt all over. This pit is so deep I could have been killed when they threw me in. It all happened so suddenly and violently. I cannot believe the murder that was in their eyes as they grabbed me and talked of killing me. It was only Ruben who saved my life.

I was expecting my brothers to treat me with jealousy or indifference, but not the hatred that I saw in their Eyes. Instead of being welcomed they ripped off my colorful coat which my father gave me and stood gnashing their teeth at me. I am not sure if my life is still hanging in the balance.

I can hear them up there laughing as they enjoy a meal and talk about how much they detest me. I remember the time when I was tending the flocks with my half-brothers, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. They neglected the flocks and when I told my father about it they were reprimanded. They roughed me up after that incident and from that time on they were more like my enemies than my brothers.

It was not just these four brothers who hated me. All of my brothers treated me with contempt. It was very clear that I was my father’s favorite son and they resented the way he showed preference to me above them. All of my brothers had a deep resentment of me.

This resentment increased dramatically when I had my two dreams! I didn’t make those dreams up, but I am sure they thought I had. The dreams were so real that they almost seemed prophetic in nature.

In my first dream my brothers and I were out in the field binding sheaves of grain. Suddenly my sheaf stood upright and my brother’s sheaves surrounded mine and bowed down to it. I had no idea what that meant, but it was so real that I felt like I was actually out in the grain field with them.

After that came the second dream. This time the sun the moon and the stars bowed down to me. Even my father was angry about that one.

I am not sure why I revealed these dreams to my family, but it seemed that I was compelled to do so. It was not from pride, but I felt that God wanted me to share them with my family and He would reveal the interpretation in His own good time.

My brothers seemed very indifferent to spiritual matters and often teased me for taking the things of God seriously the way I did. In fact they always found that anything I did was wrong and their eyes. It became even worse when my father gave me that finely embroidered coat with all of the various colors.

My father, Jacob, and I were very close, much closer than he was to any of my other brothers. He often told me about how God had spoken to him and how he had wrestled all night with an angel. The angel changed his name from Jacob to Israel. I wonder if my brothers know the full story? It seems like I came closer to God because of what my father told me about his relationship to God.

My father also spoke openly to me about his past conflict with his brother. He too had faced the anger of his brother and feared for his life, but the God of his Fathers was always there beside him. He encouraged me to always call out to God in the pit of despair and know that God will hear. I need to do that right now.

I want to pray right now at the bottom of this pit: “God of my fathers, please hear me right now. I am in the deepest pit of my life. I do not know what is going to happen to me. I may die at the hands of my own brothers, or they may choose to leave me here to die of starvation. Only You can do something about my situation. Please hear my plea and come to my aid. Amen.” 

I have called up to my brothers so many times since they threw me into the pit that my voice is almost gone. They only laugh and tell me to be quiet and that I’m lucky they haven’t killed me yet. I wonder how long I have to live?

Wait a  minute! Something is happening up above me! I can by my brother’s voices that they are seeing something in the distance. I hear my name mentioned and know that somehow I am involved. Suddenly they throw a rope down and angrily tell me to wrap it around me. I feel the rope tighten around my chest as they raise me up out of the pit.

The bright sunlight blinds me temporarily, but then I see a caravan. Some of my brothers are speaking to the merchants and counting out money. The   approach me and roughly push me toward the caravan. They laugh a sinister laugh and tell me; Good riddance!” It is only then that I realize that they have sold me as a slave. My brothers have taken my coat and I am left with only a loincloth.

I have no idea what the future holds. Perhaps my prayer is already being answered.

Chapter Two

The Caravan

My mind is in a whirl. All that has happened to me seems like a bad dream. I have gone from being a favored son, to facing the threat of murder by my brothers, to now having been sold as a slave with an unknown future.

My father told me of his perilous life and how many uncertainties he faced. I must learn to depend upon the God of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of them faced uncertain circumstances at some point in their lives, but God was always there to bring about good as they learned to depend on Him. I will make every effort to keep my eyes on God and be faithful in everything I do.

One of the first things is to begin taking note of what is going on around me. As soon as I am able to secure writing materials I will keep a careful record of my thoughts along the way.

We have just begun our journey and I feel naked and exposed. As soon as we are out of sight of my brothers a young man approaches me. I am apprehensive and wonder if he intends to taunt me or torture me.

It is just the opposite. He introduces himself as Jalam. He is about my age and is anxious to talk with me. He asks why my brothers would sell me into slavery. I am surprised that he speaks my language so fluently.

He says that one of the most important things a person can do is learn as many languages as possible. He speaks Egyptian as well and offers to give me instruction about how to learn a new language.

Jalam tells me that this caravan is carrying trade goods such as spices, balm and myrrh to Egypt. I am the only slave and he says they will treat me well on the trip. When I ask him how he knows I will be treated with kindness he says that his father, Abdeel, is the owner of the caravan.

When we stop for the night at a small oasis the Midianites do not tie me up. I am sure they know that there is no where I could go even if I tried to escape.  Jalam brings me a robe to wear. It is such a kind act. I wish there was some way I could return his generosity. I will make sure that I remember this act and if I am ever able I will repay him.

I am introduced to Abdeel and his helpers, Tema and Kedar. They laugh when I eagerly partake of the food they give me. When I tell them my brothers refused to give me food or water while I was in the pit, they seemed to be sympathetic. Not only did they give me food and water, but they laughed and enjoyed watching me eat as much as I enjoyed eating.

This first night on our journey is unreal. I have left my family and the things that I have known these seventeen years of my life. I have no idea what lies ahead, but I have a calm assurance that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is leading me.

I walk a few steps from the campfire and lift my eyes to the heavens. I cannot see how God can use this for His glory, but I here and now make a commitment to live my life in such a way to honor Him.

As I make this commitment I can hear the birds in the palm trees singing their sweet night sounds. A Frog starts to croak and soon the oasis is filled with a raucous chorus.

It seems like my head just rested against my arm when I smelled the fragrant aroma of breakfast. Tema is standing by the fire as I walk over to him. He hands me a round of warm soft bread and several dates. It tastes wonderful!   

Jalam and I become very close friends on the ten-day trip to Egypt. In fact all of the men on the caravan treat me better than my own brothers have treated me. Jalam teaches me several Egyptian words and again encourages me to learn the language as soon as possible.

I cannot believe that the trip is drawing to a close.  Jalam tells me that his father, Abdeel, is a friend of the Captain of Pharaoh’s guard. An officer named Potiphar. It is Abdeel’s intention of taking me to this Potiphar and see if he will purchase me. Abdeel feels he man is a good man and that he will treat me well. It will be in my best interests to have someone like him purchase me rather than someone who may abuse me.

As we make our way to the market where the caravan will be unloaded I can feel eyes of the people staring at us. A caravan is a welcome sight and the people are eager to see what goods have been brought from far away.

Since I am dressed in the same way as the other men in the caravan they do not look at me as if I were a slave. I am sure they are thinking that I am merely one of the servants who are assigned to this task.

I am enjoying helping to unload the camels and setting up the display of the goods that we have brought. The market stands are soon loaded with the various spices, balm, and myrrh.

People are soon crowding around and the haggling is beginning. Abdeel is in his element as he negotiates prices with potential buyers. Even with the few words of the Egyptian language that I have learned, I am able to follow process of buying and selling. I want to store some of these words in my mind.

I notice an official of some sort coming out of the crowd. He is surrounded by men in military uniforms. At first I thought they were going to arrest Abdeel, but now I see them in animated conversation.

Suddenly Abdeel calls my name. It is now that I surmise that this official is none other than the Potiphar that Jalam mentioned to me. The man sizes me up and down and asks a few questions of Abdeel. I feel like some of the goods that people have been purchasing.

I notice money exchanging hands and both Abdeel and Potiphar are smiling broadly. Jalam, who is standing next to me gives me an embrace and says the deal has been made and I am now the property of Potiphar. He promises to see me the next time they bring a caravan to Egypt.

My short life on the caravan has ended and I am now entering the unknown. As I walk behind the guards and their horses I cannot help but wonder what plans God has for me in this strange new land. “I will be obedient to you my God, come what may!”