Charles Swindoll Joseph

As the back cover of this book states

“In a world where faith is fading and integrity is rare, the life of Joseph shines like a brilliant star in the nighttime sky, showing us that God brings hope even in the worst of circumstances.”

After hearing the story of Joseph told countless times in my life, I must say I was expecting yet another story of Joseph. I read this book as if it was an old western, couldn’t put it down. Swindoll opened my eyes to the REAL story of Joseph.

Joseph’s story should inspire the reader to accept life as it is, trusting that the Lord our God is with them, understands the heartache, the pain, and will somehow glorify himself in the process of breaking ones heart.

Many of us in life, are hurt, and instead of lashing out at the world and the aggressor, we need to find the good in the situation, we need to get to the end of the problem, and say with gladness in our heart, “what you may of meant for pain, God has used for his Glory”

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 45:4–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

We should also learn that life is not meant to be comfortable, with the mountains come deep valleys, and its during those times that we should learn to be so ever dependent on our Lord. I’m sure Joseph was full of pain heartache when his flesh and blood wanted to kill him, when they sold him into slavery, when he did the right thing with the Potiphar’s wife, when he interpeted the dream for the cup bearer, but through it all, “HE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD’, I believe this can only mean that because he had integrity, and trusted in the Lord, the Lord bestowed favor on him.

Although in the situations with Joseph, he didn’t necessarily committ sin to get into those situations, his brothers did, and that should teach us that God may use our sin and our bad choices to in the end continue his plan.

This book has become my favorite possession, one that I can relate to on so many levels. Unlike Joseph I did not trust in God when I was stuck in the valleys, I ran the other way, I made my own path, but in the end, God still used that brokeness to bring me into a relationship with him, and used my past as a testimony to others