Ripple Effect: spreading, pervasive, and usually unintentional effect or influence (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
Have you ever paused to think about how one action changed your life, or someone else’s? How that single event or action set off a series of reactions, leading to a chain of events with far-reaching consequences? It essentially created...a ripple effect. This was the case with Joseph (Jacob’s son) in the Bible. The jealousy of his brothers set off a chain of events no one anticipated. And yet, it was a chain of events guided by the will of God and loving kindness of our Lord and Savior.
Joseph’s Journey
Romans 8:28-29 (NLT) says, And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Such was the case with Joseph. His journey began as a young boy, the second youngest of twelve brothers, who was highly favored by his father Jacob. One day, Jacob gave Joseph a multicolored tunic. When his brothers saw this favoritism, they hated their brother Joseph and wouldn’t speak kindly to him. Another time, when Joseph dreamt several prophetic dreams, which indicated that his brothers would one day somehow bow down to him, and then shared those dreams with his brothers, they hated him even more - setting into motion a ripple effect.
One day, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers while they were working in the fields. Seeing Joseph approach, wearing his multi-colored tunic, his brothers plotted evil against him. They threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave, for twenty silver shekels, to a caravan of Ishmaelites and Midianites who were passing by. To cover their deed, they tricked their father into believing Joseph was killed by an animal. To do this, they dipped Joseph’s tunic in goat blood and gave the blood-stained tunic to their father.
In the meantime, Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of the royal guard for Pharaoh. Despite being a slave, the Lord was with Joseph and God blessed him with His favor. Potiphar trusted Joseph and placed him in charge of his household. Potiphar's wife, attracted to Joseph, tried to seduce him. Joseph refused and fled, but she falsely accused him of mocking and assaulting her, leading to his imprisonment.
Even in prison, the Lord was with Joseph. The warden showed him favor and put him in charge of all the prisoners. While in prison, Joseph accurately interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, who were also incarcerated. He asked them to remember him when they were released. Later, Pharaoh had a disturbing dream no one could interpret. One of the servants Joseph had previously helped then suggested to Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret the dream. Joseph was summoned from prison, and he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream in such a powerful way that he was appointed second-in-command over Egypt.
God’s Plan in Action
The ripple effect of Joseph’s journey had a profound impact. Joseph explained to Pharaoh that his dream(s) were one and the same, revealing seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine that was to hit the land. He presented a plan to endure the famine which granted him his appointment as regent. During the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt looking for food. Through his new position, and with his identity hidden from his brothers, Joseph was able to help the very people that hurt him many years ago. After a dramatic series of events, he revealed his identity, reconciled with his brothers, saved his family, and was reunited with them and his father who had previously thought his son dead.
Although this is an abbreviated version of Joseph's journey, it is a good picture of God’s plan at work. God’s ways are not our ways. When we face our own trials, God may be releasing a chain of events that lead to His final purpose in that event. Therefore, we can trust that the Lord is with us, placing us in the right time and place for His purpose. It’s important to shift our perspective. One day, we will look back and see God present in all the ripples of our lives, as He works everything together for the good of those who love Him.
Amen and Amen.
Amy
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