Tried By The Word
“and He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, until the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him” Psalms 105:17-19
Joseph was tested and tried in many ways but his greatest trial was the word he had received!
At only 17, he was stripped and cast into a pit to starve to death. His cold-hearted brothers laughed at his pleas for mercy and sold him to Ishmaelite traders who took him by caravan to an Egyptian slave market and sold him as a common slave.
Yet Joseph’s greatest trial wasn’t his rejection by his brothers or even the human indignity of being sold into slavery or being cast into prison.
What confused and tried Joseph’s spirit was the clear word he had heard from God!
God had revealed to Joseph through dreams that he would be given great authority that he would use for God’s glory. His brothers would bow before him and he would be a great deliverer of many people.
But for many years the circumstances in Joseph’s life were just the opposite of what God had put in his heart. He was the servant, he had to bow! How could he believe that he would one day deliver multitudes when he was a slave himself?
He must have thought, “This doesn’t make sense. How could God be ordering my steps into prison, into oblivion? God said I was going to be blessed but he didn’t tell me this was going to happen!”
He served in Potiphar’s house but in the end, he was misjudged and lied about. His victory over temptation with Potiphar’s wife only landed him in jail. During such times he must have wondered: “Did I hear correctly?
But thanks be to God that our trials don’t last forever.
Note the word “until.”
“Until the time that his word came”, the same word which tried Joseph in due time set him free!
If the Lord permits in his will to keep us in prison there we must remain, until he sends a warrant for our liberation, and then all the devils in hell cannot hold us in bondage for an instant longer!
In that trouble look entirely to God, whose word is the word of power.
Remember, when He speaks, it is done!
He may have led you through the trials but he will also speak comfort to you.
That trail has an expiry date, therefore look to him to deliver you from it and He will. Your word will come! The word that sets you free!