Forgiveness: Pit to Palace

May 21, 2012

(This is the first of a three-part series on forgiveness.)

Genesis 37:19 (KJV) And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

     Joseph of Canaan grew up with 11 older brothers. He was a shepherd in the fields of his father, Jacob. Joseph's big brothers didn't like him much, because their father spoiled him. One day, Joseph told his siblings that he had a dream in which they all bowed down to him. That went over well! They all teased him, calling him "The Dreamer."
   Following his father's request, Joseph visited his brothers in the fields and brought them supplies. Conspiring together, the older boys threw him in a pit, then sold Joseph off to a nomadic tribe passing through, and told their father that a wild animal had killed the young shepherd. The nomads sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt, where he became a servant to a wealthy family.
     As if all this wasn't jolly enough, Joseph was unjustly accused of rape and sent to prison. Even though his life was not at all what he had pictured, Joseph stayed faithful to God. After languishing in jail for several years, he heard that Pharaoh, the leader of Egypt, was having troubling dreams. A former inmate recommended Joseph to Pharaoh as an interpreter of dreams. This is the point where Joseph's life makes a huge turn.
     After warning Pharaoh of a devastating plague, Joseph was rewarded with a position of power in the kingdom. During the worst part of the famine, Joseph's brothers traveled from Canaan to beg for food and supplies in Egypt. They did not recognize him, but Joseph knew his brothers right away. He took care of his family during the plague and wept tears of forgiveness at their appearance.
     It seems like Joseph would have a hard time forgiving his brothers of all the heartache they caused. He realized, though, that God had placed him in Egypt at that time, for a greater reason. And he forgave. Not because it didn't matter what his brothers did to him, but because God made a bad situation into a good one. God took that pit, and turned it into a palace.

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I had a PET scan at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita last week. It's a very complicated test that shows if you have cancer anywhere in your body. I will get the results back sometime this week. I'm going back to St. Francis this week, for a second opinion on treatment with Dr. David Johnson, oncologist. Next week, The Hubster and I will head to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Chicago for a third opinion. As always, I will keep you apprised.

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Female in Motion Exercise Update: I did three one-mile walks last week and added three 20-minute yoga workouts. My surgeon released me to resume normal exercise, except for aerobics.

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Notable Quote:

Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.