OCTOBER 8, Genesis 37:28-35

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This is a popular question posed to youngsters but never have I ever heard the answers to be: “A servant!”, “A maid!”, or even “A slave!” Try giving one of these answers when you are asked about your ambition and look at the inquirer’s reaction.

Nobody wishes to be a slave for you would be at your master’s beck and call, without wages, without freedom to what you wish to do and would be worked to the bone. Today, slavery is abolished but not during Joseph’s time. Joseph was sold as a slave.

Poor Joseph was sold to the Midianite merchants who were also slave traders. Most probably he was taken to a slave market where all the slaves were paraded and sold to wealthy people. All this while, Joseph must have prayed and looked to God to protect, watch and guide him. Perhaps he prayed for a good master and Potiphar, an important Egyptian official, came and bought Joseph to be his slave.

Meanwhile, his aged father Jacob mourned for him. The brothers showed him the coat of many colours, which they had smeared with the blood of a baby goat. When Jacob saw it, he wept and thought that his son Joseph was killed by a wild beast. The brothers kept quiet. Their trick had worked. They had deceived their father. They simply stood by as their father rent his clothes, put on sackcloth and refused to eat or drink.

Jacob could not be comforted no matter how his sons tried. He had great sorrow that no one could take away. When we suffer, look to God for He cares. Joseph did. Jacob the father also found his comfort in God and God alone.

What was the most recent unpleasant or sad event that had happened to you? Was it the passing away of a loved one? Or perhaps your father lost his job? Or maybe you did badly in an assessment although you put in effort? Things like these can happen. The Lord allows difficulties so we can grow stronger in our faith by learning to look to God for strength and comfort.

Thought: God is always present to help me in times of trouble.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me that You are always present with Your children whether we are going through happy or sad times. Especially when the going gets tough, teach me to continue to trust in You and pray hard, for You will surely help. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.