May 3rd 2023.

PROCESSED IN THE WILDERNESS Pt.5

Exodus 2:14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known”(NIV).

CHARACTER REFINERY (C)

Anytime I study Joseph, i'm intrigued. At a very young age, he had a dream that was prophetic in nature.

He told his parents and brothers about it but his brothers became bitter. They conspired against him and sold him into slavery.

We know how he ended his life by becoming the prime minister in Egypt. I have heard some preachers blame Joseph for telling his brothers about his dream.

They insinuated that if he had kept his dream to himself, he wouldn't have passed through that ordeal.

I use to believe that not until I came across Psalm105:19 where it was clearly stated: "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character"( NLT).

It is so clear that God knew about his ordeal. In fact, the verse reads in KJV: "Until the time that his word came, the word of the LORD tried him".

In contemporary English, that sentence could be rendered as: Before the fulfilment of his dream: God permitted him to pass through challenges.

It was not his brothers that orchestrated his ordeal, they were only instrumental to what has been designed. If they didn't sell him into Egypt, Joseph would still find himself there.

Joseph himself acknowledged this truth in the presence of his brothers in Genesis 45:7-9.

So why did God allow Joseph pass through those challenges? I think it was to refine his character.

Mr Joseph was loved by his father, in other words, he was pampered. His mother died when she gave birth to Benjamin(Gen35:16-18). His mum was the favourite wife of his father and he was the first for his mother.

Jacob felt all he could do to honour his late beloved was to pamper this boy, so he made a coat of many colours for him (Genesis37:3). His brothers saw that preferential treatment and they became angry.

His brothers were farmers but Joseph stayed at home. As long as He was tied to his father's apron, he couldn't fulfil destiny.

God had to allow Mr Joseph pass through those painful experiences to refine his character, mature him and prepare him for the throne.

Character development is more important to God than ascending the throne because He want you to last on the throne of your destiny.

In your wilderness season, ask the Lord to show you the character he want you to drop and the ones He want to develop in you. It is crucial If you will move out of your wilderness season.