“So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner," that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.” (Genesis 39:19-23, NKJV).
If anybody knew about unfair treatment, about a false accusation, about being an innocent victim on the receiving end, it was Joseph.
First, he received unfair treatment from his family. His brothers hated him, wanted to kill him, but sold him into slavery instead. Next, his circumstances were unexpectedly restricted. He became a slave in a land where he didn't even know the language. One minute he was a seventeen-year-old boy with his whole life before him, and the next he was totally at the mercy of---actually the property of---some stranger. Following all that, he was falsely accused. After earning the favor of his master, Potiphar, the master's wife tried to seduce Joseph. When he didn't submit to her wishes, she lied and said, "This slave tried to rape me." As a result of her lies, he was unjustly put in prison and abandoned.
Remember those words from Isaiah's pen as he repeats God's message?
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Look carefully at the contrasts. There is a vast difference between “My thoughts” and “your thoughts” says the Lord. “My ways” are not like “your ways.” They are higher; they are far more profound, deep, mysterious---and I would add, surprising.
Our human ways are based on what seems fair. We firmly believe that when someone does what is right, rewards and blessings result. When someone does what is wrong, there are serious consequences, even punishment. But that's our way, not necessarily God's way. At least not immediately. He's been known to allow unfair treatment to occur in the lives of absolutely innocent folks---for reasons far more profound and deep than they or we could have imagined. How slowly He steps in!
2 comments:
As much as it hurts WE (I) have to accept that sometimes we are falsely accused and God has a purpose for that. Someone is still accusing me of something that is not true, but I have had to learn to just turn it over to God. It seems like the post you post on here always speaks to me. and I know to others too. thank you for your post.
maryb: I know how you feel; I am being falsely accused as well; our only true source of comfort is in the Lord.
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