After viewing the 2000 DreamWorks grown-up animated movie
(based on Genesis 37-48), Joseph: King of
Dreams, I realized that both this patriarch and I had one big thing in
common (though we both lived very different lives). God decided to alter the
life path we were on for some other greater purpose.
In my case, my 2009 cancer caused me to retire from
long-term career with the federal government. As a result of that, the blog you
are reading came into existence. In Joseph’s peaceful life with his family was
tragically changed when his (half) brothers sold him into slavery.
This story ends well with the Hebrew Joseph being placed
as viceroy of Egypt. He was now second in command to Pharaoh, and was tasked
with the job of safely bringing his surrogate country through both the seven
years of bounty and seven years of famine.
In Joseph: King of Dreams, the Hebrew Joseph (Zaphenath-Panea in Egyptian) makes this plea to his
Heavenly Father: “God, why are you
doing this to me...What have I done to deserve this?” [i] I had similar
thoughts to these when our eight miscarriages occurred, or I was diagnosed with
Lymphoma. Have you ever felt like this? Have you drawn closer to the Almighty
in your personal life “storms,” or pulled away? (God has never left your side
in the midst of all of this.)
Isaiah
43:1-3 (MSG) makes this promise to all of us during our times of trial: “…Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called you by name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there
with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re
between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – Because I am God,
your personal God…”
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| Young Joseph in his coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3) made by his father, Jacob. |
[i] Quote
abridged from the movie, Joseph: King of Dreams
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