Why God Tests Your Faith: Lessons from Joseph’s Dream & Character
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Why God Tests Your Character Before Fulfilling Your Dream
In our daily meditations, we look to instances in the Scriptures of God’s testing and character-building to strengthen our faith. Today, we begin examining Joseph's dream and testing in Genesis 37, and how God prepared him for the important role He intended him to fulfill.
God gave Joseph a dream about his future, but he lacked the character to fulfill the vision. His character had to be refined to withstand the pressures and responsibilities that God and the Egyptian pharaoh would place on him. He was promoted to second-in-command of all Egypt after he passed the test. Below is his dream:
5Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." 8His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said (Genesis 37:5-8).
The Danger of Success Without Character
What is your dream or vision? What do you want to achieve in life? You are becoming today the person you will be tomorrow, so consider what success means to you. I believe everyone desires to make a positive impact in the world, even in small ways, especially for those around us. A well-developed character holds more worth than success alone, but with a strong character and openness to God, you can attain both. Focus on becoming someone valuable to the Kingdom of God rather than just accomplishing tasks.
Lessons from History: The Weight of Notoriety
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, the writer and pastor, used to say that the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be successful before he's ready. We only have to look at our sports heroes to see how fame and recognition can destroy a person's life if one lacks the character to match that notoriety. Without a refined character, the inner man fails under such popularity, and many fall into pride and sin. We can discuss Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Bernie Madoff, and others. What kind of task or measure of success can God entrust to you?
Standing Firm: Martin Luther’s "Desperate Boldness"
Martin Luther, the reformer, was entrusted with bringing the Church back to the Bible. When the most powerful men in all of Europe urged him to abandon his faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, he refused to recant his commitment to the sacred writings. When Luther appeared before the court of Emperor Charles V, he was presented with a stack of his writings and asked to recant or retract his beliefs. Luther replied, "Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning, then I cannot and will not recant because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience." Then he added, "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen." Before his death, Luther recalled that day. "I was afraid of nothing; God can make one so desperately bold."[1]
From the Pit to the Palace: Joseph’s Refinement
A godly character like Martin Luther only emerges through prolonged preparation in the furnace of suffering. What about Joseph, the son of Jacob? God needed to work on Joseph so he could fulfill all that God had planned — to save his family from famine and destruction in the coming years. Joseph wasn’t prepared for his responsibilities; instead, he was arrogantly flaunting the coat his father made, a rich, multicolored robe signifying dominance. When his father sent him to Dothan to check on his brothers, he wore that robe. Don't you think that was a bit foolish? The robe marked him as the heir to Jacob's legacy. He also boasted to his brothers that they would bow down to him, a skinny seventeen-year-old. God’s way of preparing Joseph for Egypt’s throne involved rejection: his brothers rejected him, threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery, falsely accused him of attempted rape, and ultimately imprisoned him. Maybe you’ve wondered why you face various trials. It could be that God is preparing you for something that, like Joseph, you can’t see right now, but at some time in the future, you will look back and see God’s hand in shaping your character. I can't fully understand what God is doing in your life or mine, but I do know we can trust Him.
Reflect & Apply
· Identify Your "Robe": Joseph wore a robe that symbolized his status but fueled his pride. Is there something in your life (a title, a talent, or a possession) that you are using to feel superior to others rather than to serve them?
· Audit Your Current Trial: If you are in a "pit" or a "prison" season right now, ask God: "What character trait (patience, humility, integrity) are You developing in me here that I will need for my future?"
· The Success Test: Ask yourself, "If God gave me my ultimate dream tomorrow, would my character be strong enough to handle the ego, the money, or the power that comes with it?"
· Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the vision You’ve put in my heart. But more than the dream, I want the character to carry it. Help me stay faithful in the 'refining furnace' of my current trials. Keith Thomas
Continue Your Journey…
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[1]J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, Moody Bible Institute. Page 60.
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