18 They hurt his feet with shackles;
his neck was put in an iron collar.
19 Until the time his prediction came true,
the word of the Lord tested him. (Psalm 105:18-19 CSB)
Our scripture today speaks of the trials Joseph endured before being used in a mighty way the Lord had prepared. Most of what we read recounts the hardship Joseph faced in a physical way. However, there is more. Our scripture also says ”the word of the Lord tested him.”
While his time in prison and multiple betrayals may seem the central theme, there is a much deeper element in that last statement. All of these things came to pass so that he was tested by the word of the Lord. Joseph’s life was being sifted through the filter of the scriptures. His character was being conditioned.
How would our lives stand up to such filtering? How would we?
The trials of life are what we focus upon. However, is there a greater theme here? Are we being tested by the Word? Are the trials we are experiencing a way for God to get us to better adhere to His word? Should we be searching scripture to find what element may be aligned with our current trial so that we might learn how God is conditioning us?
Yes, to all of these.
