Seven Years of Famine--Applying the scriptures to our lives Part II

I was reading in Genesis today about Joseph.  I read about his brothers selling him into Egypt, and about Potipher's wife falsely accusing him of forcing himself on her, and about his time in prison.  I continued to read about how he interpreted dreams for his fellow prisoners and how, when the Pharaoh had dreams that no one could interpret for him, he called upon Joseph to interpret his dreams.  Pharaoh describes his two dreams, in the one the seven fatfleshed kine are devoured by the seven thinfleshed kine, and in the other, the seven withered ears of corn devour the seven full and good ears.  Joseph interprets the dreams, explaining that the land will see seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.  He instructs the Pharaoh to spend the seven years of plenty preparing a storehouse to allow for provisions during the seven years of famine.  After which, Pharaoh makes him ruler over all of Egypt.  Of course, during the famine, Joseph's brothers come to buy grain from the Pharaoh's storehouse.  At which point, Joseph provides for them, even returning them their own money and giving them even more.  Finally, he reveals to them his identity and they rejoice in their reunion.

Oh, the many marvelous lessons there are in these few chapters.  As I read this account, my first thought was about how we pass through times in life of spiritual plenty and famine.  And how we need to spend our times of spiritual plenty, filling our souls with spiritual food so that we might withstand the times of spiritual famine, when they come.

I thought also about the character and trials of Joseph.  Here is a man, whose own brothers plotted his murder and then sold him into slavery.  Does he live in bitterness?  Does he curse God for not stopping this from happening?  No!  He lives the law of the Lord in such grandeur that he gains favor in the sight of his master, Potipher, and is given dominion over all that Potipher has.  Then, again, Joseph is betrayed.  This time by Potipher's wife and consequently thrown into prison.  Again, does he live in bitterness?  No!  He serves his fellow prisoners and even gains favor of the prison guard and is given reign over the prison.  By serving his fellow prisoners as an interpreter of dreams, he is made known unto the Pharaoh.  And, then, again gains favor and is given dominion over the entire kingdom.  Then, does he seek revenge, in his powerful position, against Potipher's wife or against his brothers?  Does he even withhold anything from them?  No!  He gives his brothers all they ask for and even returns their money unto them and goes on to give them a place to live in Egypt where they will be better provided for!  And, after revieling to his brethren his identity, when his brothers cry at his feet begging forgiveness for what they did to him, he not only shows forgiveness, but tells them that it was the Lord's plan:

"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life". 

As I reflected on Joseph's character, it occurred to me that any circumstances of life can be made a blessing by the Lord, if we but choose to live as He has taught us.  We can choose to face our trials and think "woe is me" for having to endure them.  Or, we can choose to really "endure" them well--to serve those around us, no matter whom they may be.  And, if we do so, we will be blessed.  Perhaps not in the way we might want (Joseph's trials were not taken from him), but in ways far greater (Joseph was able to use his trials to save the lives of likely thousands of people as well as gain dominion over the kingdom).  Joseph truly was a wise steward--a wise steward of the land, a wise steward of his family, a wise steward of his time, a wise steward of his agency, a wise steward of his circumstances, a wise steward of his knowledge . . . .  I hope that I can become a wise steward like unto Joseph, so that I might endure and provide during the seven years of famine I face in my life.