Testing of Character

Psalm 105:19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

Many times when God places dreams in our hearts and we purpose in our heart to fulfill it and seek after it, we encounter many obstacles along the way.  Our scripture today tells us that the Lord is the one who tested Joseph’s character.  Do you remember all of the things that Joseph encountered before Joseph’s dreams had been fulfilled?

Let us first recount Joseph’s dreams.  His first dream (Genesis 37:6) is that he is in a field with his brothers, tying up bundles of grain.  Suddenly his bundle stood up, and his brothers’ bundles all gathered around and bowed low before his.  His second dream (Genesis 37:9) was that the sun, moon, and eleven starts bowed low before him!  These dreams signified that Joseph would be ruler.

Now let us revisit the obstacles he encountered before his dreams came to past.  First, his brothers sold him into Slavery. (Even as a slave to Potiphar, God was with him and still gave him success in everything that he did) Second, Joseph was put in prison because Potiphar’s wife lied on him. (Still the Lord was with Joseph in prison and made him a favorite with the prison warden.)

One day Joseph was called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dream.  After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the entire land of Egypt!! Dream fulfilled!

No matter what obstacles you are facing.  Remember that they are just stepping stones to get you where you need to be.  This is just a testing of your character.  The obstacles will only make you a better person and you will be better equipped when the time comes for the dream(s) to be fulfilled.

I imagine that Joseph became more patient throughout the process and even developed a better relationship with God seeing as how God continued to give him success even when his circumstances weren’t that great!  I imagine that this caused Joseph to give God even more praise and glory!  Joseph gave credit to God for everything that had happened. Genesis 45:5-8 NLT states “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place.  It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.  This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.  So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh-the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all of Egypt!”

So today if you’re encountering difficulties while working toward fulfilling your God-given dream, remember that its only a testing of your character and you will be better for it!  God’s plans are for your good and to give you hope and a future. (Read Jeremiah 29:11)

Prayer:  Father in heaven, we honor and praise your holy name today! You are Most worthy of all of our praise! Sustain us during the times when our character is being tested.  Give us strength and help us to not lose sight of what you have in store for us! Things that we can’t even imagine!  You are so great to us and your faithful love endures forever and ever! In Jesus name, be our strength, Amen.