This Can Be Your Story - Part 1

There are several characters in the Bible; the first one we are introduced to is Adam. There are several others that stand out due to the mark they’ve left in history. However, among them, a character that has left me in tears is Joseph. The story of Joseph starts in Genesis, chapter 37 onwards, and I’ve sobbed and wept every time I’ve read Joseph’s story. 

The first few chapters of Genesis details the creation to the great floods at the time of Noah. However, suddenly the light falls on Abraham, and it is from Abraham that the rest of the story continues. However, Genesis chapter 37 to 50, which is almost 13 chapters, completely focuses on one man, Joseph. When the Holy Spirit introduces each character, they are portrayed in their most vulnerable, raw, and human self - often detailing their sins, struggles, disobedience, sexual transgressions, and such. There has been no kind of censoring or filtering when portraying them. 

God is an extraordinary God, but he uses ordinary people. If you look at Joseph, you will not see any deep character flaws. There are very few people in the Bible with very few character flaws. One other example is Samuel, where there aren’t any details about the sins he committed. That’s not to say that Samuel was a perfect man; it just means that he did not have any major or profound character flaws within himself. Daniel is another example where even his enemies could not find fault with him. 

We must understand that the words written in the Bible and the characters portrayed in the scriptures are as raw as they can be - they are all there for us to learn something from so that we may not commit the same sins they did. These characters are portrayed as they are in their worldly self, with human desires and iniquities so that we never have to be like them or taste the sins of the world to win over them ultimately. We have to banish any misconception that - in order to win over the world, we have to be like the world or that we need to experience failures in order to succeed. The Bible is written the way it is - so that we can keep ourselves clean and not indulge in the sins of the world.

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Holy Spirit narrates the story of the Israelites. It is clearly written that everything written in the Old Testament is a shadow, indicator, or warnings for us. 

Let’s dive into the similarities between Joseph and our lives. It is possible that we may have gone through the same situations as Joseph did. Joseph is also an example of how God uses your situations to teach you, to help you grow and will ultimately take you to your destination.

Genesis 37: 2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. 

In several places in the Bible, when God appears in front of people, he often says, ‘I’m the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, constantly referring to these three generations of Godly men. Often it is believed that if three generations are part of a church or a congregation, then they are assumed to be established within that community. Whenever God referred to the three generations, he said it with a lot of pride and joy. 

The Holy Spirit writes our Biography. He orchestrates your life and ordains the different seasons of your life to ensure you reach the final destination. He is our leading Spirit and our guiding Spirit. He is an eternal Spirit/ God. 

He is invisible and many times, we might not feel Him. But if you are walking in alignment with the Holy Spirit, be assured that he’s got your back.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Joseph’s history starts at the age of 17. As a young boy, he tends to the flocks along with his brothers and brings to his father a bad report about them. We can see that the children of Bilhah and Zilpah are not good characters. They tend flocks and could be away for months, and during their journey, they commit several sins with which Joseph was not aligned, and he reports on them to Jacob. This is how Joseph’s story begins. 

This can be your story as God wants to build your life. Stay tuned for more on this series.

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