Have you ever wondered, in the midst of some difficulty, “Is God testing me?” Does God, actually, test His people, and, if so, is testing punishment or something else? And what does God do when we fail a test?

As we continue the Genesis story, Joseph will be faced with a test. How would he respond to the brothers who thought about killing him and, eventually, sold him into slavery? And his brothers will face some testing of their own, including the fear that God was punishing them for what they did to Joseph and how Joseph might retaliate.

Today we’ll look at how all that played out and see how it might help us with the tests we face.

Welcome to Soul Survival where I blog through the Bible in a Year along with Bible studies and other Christian living posts. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each Bible in a Year post. And … this year I’m also reading through the Bible on YouTube. You can check out my channel here. The daily emails now have a link to both the Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up.

Today’s Readings:

Genesis 43 & 44
Psalm 11.1-7
Proverbs 4.10-13
Matthew 14.22-36

Is God Testing Me?

Genesis 43 & 44:

Pharaoh’s Dreams

If you’ve been following along in Genesis, you know that Joseph has been falsely accused and thrown into prison … as if being sold into slavery was not enough. While there, God gave him the interpretation of two men’s dreams. Their dreams revealed that one, Pharaoh’s cupbearer, would be released and the other, his baker, would be executed.  He implored the cupbearer to remember him and his plight when he got out.

It appears he said nothing until two years later when Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams which none of his magicians and wise men could interpret. Genesis 41:

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.¹¹ Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. ¹² Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. ¹³ And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”

Joseph’s Testing Had an End

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

¹⁶ “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Gen. 41).

Joseph’s testing in this area had come to an end. He was ready to step unto the world stage.

The interpretation was a warning to Pharaoh of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. God, not only, gave Joseph the interpretation but gave him so much wisdom that Pharaoh put him in charge of managing a program to prepare for the famine. His plan was so successful that as the famine wore on, people from surrounding areas came to buy grain, including Jacob’s brothers (Gen. 42).

You Are Spies!

In an incredible turn of events and in the sovereignty of God, Joseph’s brothers unknowingly stand before the brother they sold into slavery so long ago. Genesis 42:

⁶ Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

¹⁰ “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

¹² “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

¹³ But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

¹⁴ Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! ¹⁵ And this is how you will be tested … 

I don’t know what was, actually, in Joseph’s heart when he first saw his brothers after so many years. The text says he remembered his dreams, but he, also, must have remembered the hurt and the wrong they had done.

Whatever the reason, Joseph was testing his brothers.

More Testing

How would Joseph respond to the brothers who plotted his death and then sold him into slavery? How had God worked in his heart? And what about his brothers? Had God changed them?

¹⁸ On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. ²⁰ But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

But they feared God was punishing them for what they had done to their brother.

²¹ They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”

It seems obvious that their sin against Joseph had haunted them. Even many years later, they feared they would pay for what they did. Yet, what choice did they have but to go home and return with their youngest brother, Benjamin?

Back Home

Time passed. Simeon, one of the twelve, was sitting in jail, probably wondering if anyone would return for him.

Jacob had not been willing to deal with the situation. The thought of losing Benjamin was too great for him, but his hand would soon be forced by the continued famine.

God & Famine

While few of us will suffer from actual starvation, God often uses famine of one kind or another to move or test us, too. Sometimes, because we have become too content where we are, fearing failure or change. Other times, we have selfish desires, hidden idolatries, or sinful patterns that need to be exposed and dealt with. Or we may not know the strength and ability we have in Christ until we face a test.

At times we fail miserably, but if we belong to Him, God will keep working with us. Usually, He does so by testing us once again. He may give us another opportunity to act sacrificially, another opportunity to speak the truth, or another chance to confess sin and make restitution.

Back to Our Story

In Genesis 43.15-34 the brothers have returned with Benjamin. They have pleaded their case, and strangely, have been brought to the home of this high-ranking Egyptian official for lunch! And things are getting really weird!

It shouldn’t be surprising that they didn’t recognize Joseph. He would have looked and dressed like an Egyptian. And remember they believed he was dead.

Joseph’s steward brings Simeon out to them and, incredibly, they’re seated from the oldest to the youngest. When they’re served lunch, Benjamin is served five times what the others receive. The last sentence of Genesis 43.34 says, “So they drank and were merry with him.”

Have you ever had someone take you out to dinner and wine you and dine you while you wondered what they wanted? I don’t know what Joseph’s brothers were thinking. The text doesn’t tell us exactly. But I imagine them trying to smile and enjoy themselves, all the while wondering what would happen next and how this man knew so much about them.

And Joseph was, indeed, up to something. According to John MacArthur, Joseph was testing his brothers’ devotion to Benjamin and to see how they would respond to all of this.

Testing Judah

In chapter 44, Joseph sent the brothers off again, but this time he hid his cup in Benjamin’s sack. When it’s “discovered,” Benjamin is arrested and brought back. Though the rest were free to go, all the brothers returned with him.

When Judah came before Joseph, he told him about his aging father and offered to take Benjamin’s place. The brother whose idea it was to sell Joseph into slavery was now offering himself as a slave.

In tomorrow’s reading, the brothers will finally learn that the “Egyptian” official is really Joseph. Judah and the others had passed a great test, but as we’ll see in the rest of the book of Genesis, they would struggle to embrace God’s grace shown to them for the rest of their lives.

But for now, let’s consider God’s purposes when He’s testing us.

Testing: Punishment or Something Else

While God can and does discipline His children (Heb. 12.5-11), when we go through a test, it’s not punishment. Jesus took all the punishment we deserve on the cross. Tests are training. They are moments of decision that can propel us deeper and closer to God or reveal to us those areas where we are not like Christ. If we will admit to and repent of sin and un-Christlike behavior, we can change and grow as a result. That is God’s intention in our tests.

But Satan, also, uses our tests. He uses them as an opportunity to tempt us to doubt God, to doubt his goodness, and in an attempt to get us to sin.

¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (Jas. 1.12-15).

So, let’s not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Instead, let’s trust God to give us the grace we need to respond rightly when a test comes our way.

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 11.1-7:

Jesus is Still on the Throne

With everything going on in our nation and the world, verse 4 is a great verse to remember:

The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven …

I have a friend who, when something difficult happened, would say “Well, Jesus is still on the throne!”

Whatever you’re going through, whether it’s the loss of a job, the violence in the world, a teenager who’s rebelling, a marriage that’s difficult, or something else, remember, the Lord is still in His Holy temple. Jesus is still on the throne!

And He is not up there wringing His hands wondering what He’s going to do or how He’s going to take care of His children. He’s on His throne whether your child is rebelling or not, even if your marriage is difficult, whether the economy is weak or strong, no matter what political party is in power, and no matter what happens. Trust Him. He is trustworthy and He is in control.

If you missed it and would like to read more about this subject, you might want to read yesterday’s post: “Trusting God When Evil Seems to Triumph.”

Proverbs 4.10-13:

Take Firm Hold of Instruction

Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life (v. 13).

If we’re to live godly in this world, we need God’s help and guidance. We need His Word. We need to study it and make it part of our lives. Then we must obey it and not turn back.

Matthew 14.22-36:

Look to God Not the Circumstances

Peter walked on the water!

Don’t let familiarity with that story, dull its impact. Yet, when he began to look at the waves, the text says, he started to sink.

Some of you may feel like you’re sinking. Whether the issues are personal or something else, you may find yourself worried and anxious.

But as we face tests and trials, let’s turn to God and His Word. Let’s meditate on His truths and promises.

While we live in the world and are affected by circumstances (Matt. 5.45), we can still trust the faithfulness of our God. He has promised to provide food, shelter, and clothing, and with these, we can and should be content (1 Tim. 6.8).

But there is another important thing to note. It says Peter began to sink. When did you ever see anyone step into the water and merely begin to sink? Even when Peter’s faith faltered, God was still in control!

Closing Thoughts:

Is there some area of life where you need to trust God more?

Are you spending more time rejoicing over the promises of God or commiserating over the state of our nation, your health, your finances, your family, your marriage, or whatever might be troubling you?

Are you being tested in some area? What is God revealing? What step of faith or trust or obedience do you need to take?

Coming Up:

In the coming days, I’ll talk about handling betrayal, responding when others hurt you, parenting, sleeping with frogs, and what to do when you try trusting God and things get worse.

I hope you’ll join me and, if you haven’t already,  take the challenge to read through the Bible with me this year. Even though we may do it imperfectly or miss a day here and there, I find when we set it as a goal, we read far more of God’s Word than we would otherwise. I know we all get far too much email these days but having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day can serve as a general reminder to get into God’s Word. It goes out at 6 a.m. MST.

You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, and now listen on YouTube. Just click on the social media icons or go to my YouTube channel.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year
since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout
those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about
the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says,
“God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but
that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the
Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for
the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the
Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.