Joseph was dearly loved by his father. He was the firstborn child to Rachel and Jacob loved Rachel. He had other sons, but there was something special about Joseph.
So, when Joseph's brothers retuned one day and handed their father a bloody coat that was ripped and torn, no other explanation, only the coat, Jacob took that coat at face value and declared his son dead, torn to pieces by an animal.
But, Joseph was not dead. He was very much alive and on the course of fulfilling the dream he had that had angered his brothers to begin with.
What they had meant as harm for Joseph, God meant it for good.
So many times we look at people and see only a portion of their circumstances and from that portion we make up our mind the state the person is in. We decide if they are alive....or dead.
But, the only evidence we have is a bloody coat.
Riding along the other day it was His voice I heard, His voice reminding me that all isn't always what it seems.
What if the person is not dead, but merely somewhere outside of safety, hurt, bleeding, and in need?
What if the person is in a situation out of their control, but not out of His?
What if the only thing we have to go by is something someone else came up with and we just take it as truth?
In 1983, Juan Roberto Melendez-Colon was convicted of murder, mostly due to the testimony of two felons. With no real physical evidence, the jury found Melendez-Colon guilty and sent need him to death.
Out of jealousy and misunderstanding the brothers of Joesph came up with a plan to rid them of their brother. And, I am sure Jacob would have never thought about his own sons contriving such a thing against Joseph.
But, Joseph's story was far from over. He was alive and living out God's purpose for him.
And, when the day came for him to be reunited with his brothers they feared him due to his position and power, and what they had done to him.
Joseph knew God had meant it for good, for now HE would be able to save his family.
Lord, I have felt like Joseph, cast out and in the midst of trials and troubles, some of which I had no control over. I'm giving You praise today because when others looked at my life and only saw the bloody coat, You had a plan for me. Thank You for helping me never to let go of the dream You gave me, even in the worst of circumstances.
