Character

Scripture

But He had sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold into slavery, where they thrust his feet into fetters and clamped an iron collar around his neck.

~Psalm 105:17-18, REB

Quote

Character comes from the forge of suffering.

~Harry E. Fosdick

A couple of thoughts we sparked by today’s verse; well, actually three: God’s amazing ability to make bad things turn out good, the way He uses suffering and even trauma to forge character and His incredible wisdom in making some men great and other ordinary. I’m going to be frank, I would go ballistic if someone put and iron collar around my neck. Slavery is bad enough and I have no affinity for fetters on the feet but the iron collar is over board. Granted, Joseph did beg his brother not to sell him into slavery [Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.” Gen. 42:21]. Hey, I would have shown them more than anguish and you bet your last dollar, I would have done some serious begging but to be honest with you, I can see Jack pouting all the way to Egypt: angry with God and everyone else. Joseph had one flaw: he was arrogant and God used his incarceration to refine him. Mrs. Potiphar and prison humbled Joseph.

Secondly, God has the amazing ability to make bad things turn out good. Josephs outlaw brothers lied to their daddy who would grieve for 20 years for a son who was not dead. What these hooligans did was despicable. These brother were as sorry as dog squat: there is nothing good about them and they sold their own brother out of jealousy and hate. When Joseph gets to Egypt, it is the victim of more lies and yet it all turns out so beautifully. Right now this world is in a mess but God will make it turn out wonderfully–just wait and see.

Last but not least [you’ve probably heard me say this before but only Jason will remember]; I so much want to be Joseph in this story and in my youth I was convinced that I was Joseph but the years and the Spirit opened my eyes, I am not Joseph. I am one of those sorry brothers; one of the hoodlums. These low life’s that called themselves brothers, cheated, deceived, raped, murdered and then became the recipients of GRACE. They get forgiven. Everyone of them should have been impaled on a sharp pole where their sorrow flesh could have been consumed by vultures, if the vultures could stomach them.

I am a sinner folks, I have accepted the fact; I am not a savior. I am neither great nor noble in spite of the fact I would like to be one of the two. I stop beating myself up three decades ago. I sound like a Reform but I am convinced that if God had intended for me to be great, I would be great. Remember what Tevye, the Jewish milkman in Fiddler on the Roof said, “God, you must love poor people…You made so many of them.” The same can be said with common people, ordinary people: there are a lot more of us than there are of them. There were two million Israelites and one Moses. I am convinced that God has not ordained every person to be great; besides, who is their right mind would want to be Moses