Joseph’s Devastating Loss

When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, it was like the blow of a two by four right in the chops. No, much worse than that. A man might well recover from a blow to the face. But this? His life was over.
 
How do you think Joseph felt when he was on that camel? He wasn’t stupid. He knew very well what happened to slaves. He knew he was finished. There was no way out of this deal. Who would rescue him? He would never see home or his family again. He had been viciously betrayed, and his life was ruined beyond repair.
 
Isn’t that how you would have felt?
 
You’ve probably been through your own storms. Or perhaps your pain is not in the past tense, it’s in the present.  You’re living right now in the shock of devastating loss. If that’s true, then you have a pretty good handle on what Joseph was feeling on that camel ride to a life of slavery.
 
Maybe it never crossed this young man’s mind at the moment, but in spite of the shock and pain Joseph was feeling, it was amazing that he was still alive. The brothers had fully intended to kill Joseph, and would have done so except for the fact that the providence of God stepped in—just in the nick of time.

What Joseph needed at that moment was for God to save him from being murdered. If the providence of God hadn’t shown up at the exact right moment, he would have died. If God had been just fifteen seconds too late, it would have been too late to save him!
 
But that will never happen.
 
God is never early, and He is never late. He is always right on time. Sometimes we want Him to be early. And as you wait for Him, you see the clock ticking and begin to panic. But He will show up precisely at the right moment.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong, with his new book Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times soon to be released. Learn more at SteveFarrar.com.