Genesis 37:33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
Today’s verses bring to mind James 1:2 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…) because these verses set off a chain of events that leads to the eventual maturation of Joseph as a godly figure and the eventual salvation of Joseph’s family (for they would have died of starvation years from now had Joseph not ended up where he does).
Genesis 37:34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
Romans 8:28 says, basically, that God can use all things for our good and His glory. We don’t want the trials of life, but having the perspective that God is using those trials to shape us into the people He needs us to be helps me to hold on to hope. It doesn’t make those trials any easier, just helps to show there is a bigger picture in the making, one that I cannot see but that God is in control of.
Genesis 37:35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
Precious Savior, Thank You that through Your sovereignty and grace You can take something painful and give it purpose, You can take something heartrending and use it to remake us into who You need us to be. Give us hope and peace as You work through our circumstances. Amen.
Genesis 37:36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
Have a blessed day.