In the Pit

“Then they took him and cast him into a pit.”  -Genesis 37:24

Joseph was his father’s favorite. Subsequently, he was despised by the rest of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers plotted against him to kill him. Instead of killing him however, they threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. But God had a different plan.

Joseph did not know that the pit was the door to his destiny.  When he was thrown in the cistern by his brothers, I am sure he did not think God had anything to do with it.  But after his journey of years of imprisonment in Egypt and his subsequent elevation as second in command of Egypt, Joseph had discovered a lot more in hindsight than he could have seen for himself in the moment. Joseph effectively saved Israel and the surrounding nations from a drought that would last 7 years because of his faith in God.

There are several reasons God uses the pit in our lives:

• The pit is for our healing & restoration- so we can walk in integrity (wholeness)
• The pit is to increase our dependence upon God to supply all our needs “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
• The pit is for our character development and maturity

We cannot effectively get ourselves out of the pit in our own strength. But, we can speed up the process by forgiving those who have wronged us, realizing that we cannot avenge ourselves of any wrong done to us, and being faithful in the small things in order for God to promote us. When we have been faithful and our heart is pure before God, God is then able to elevate us to the next place.

Do you find yourself in a pit right now?  Make sure you are seeking God in this place and keeping your heart pure before Him.  If God can find us faithful in the small things, He will elevate us to greater things.