Joseph’s Second Pit – The Physical Pit
To understand the Joseph’s story, we must know that Joseph was despised by his brothers. He had taken on the role of a ‘Mr. Goody Two-Shoes’. He was a tattle tale as far as his brothers were concerned. He told on his brothers and his Father’s concubine about some activities that were that his father did not know about. To add to their issues with him and potential jealousy, Jacob, their father, made for him a beautiful colorful coat. He made it because Joseph was the son of his old age. We can easily see that this added more aggravation beyond typical sibling rivalry. Joseph told them of his dreams and that they would bow down to him. That didn’t set well with his brothers. Further, Joseph was somewhat socially and prophetically immature at the age of 17. Being immature, he didn’t anticipate the additional aggravation and jealousy that would be stirred up among his brothers by telling his dreams that he would rule them. Looking at modern day family dynamics, we can also easily surmise that there was high excitement and/or the typical teenager’s ‘attitude’ when he told too.
Genesis 37:5-11
“Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, “Listen to this dream I had. We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat. All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine.”
Joseph had a second dream which included the sun, moon, and 11 stars. This time he told this dream to his whole family. His father rebuked him and said: Are you
Going to rule over your mother, myself and your brothers. His brother said are we suppose bow down to you? This was likely the final straw that broke the camel’s back concerning his brothers.
Jacob sent Joseph to find out how his brothers were doing in the fields with the sheep. As the brothers saw him coming they plotted to kill him. Operating in jealousy, they even snatched off his coat. Rueben, the oldest, acting in a last-minute moment of mercy told his brothers not to kill him. Instead, they threw him in a pit with no water. When we think about it, being thrown into a pit in the desert with no water is still a death sentence.
As we look at the scriptures through a filter of Types and Shadows, we find that this takes on an interesting perspective. The Water represents the Anointing of God. However, Joseph was thrown into a pit with no water. Sometimes, the saints of God may find themselves in a situation where they feel like there is no water. They feel like there is no anointing. It appears that there is nothing to refresh them anywhere. Naturally or spiritually. It may feel has if things are hopeless, but you must know that God has a plan despite the circumstances.
Joseph, called as a prophet, had the spiritual gift of dreaming. Not being experienced or seasoned as a prophet, he had not learned when or where to share his information. He would have been wise to simply keep quiet and to meditate on his dreams. We are reminded by the scriptures:
“People who speak what God has revealed must control themselves. “- 1 Co 14:32 GWT
If you allow the Lord to guide you, He will prepare you for where He wants to take you in His Perfect Timing. And in that season, His Will shall be made plain. (John 14:26, Luke 12:12, John 16:13).
We must keep in mind, that the pit, as unpleasant as it was, became the place where Joseph’s destiny took a pivotal change in direction. A change that ultimately resulted in him being second in command over all of Egypt, saving his family, his people and even saving the Egyptian people as well.
Joseph knew that God had given him those dreams. He trusted in God to bring His Word to pass in his life even though he was in a pit. If God said it then it is His Will and He will surely make it happen His Way and in His Perfect Timing.
The physical pit represents the natural limitations that restrain us from going places and pursuing those things that we would prefer. The physical pit is a hard-real life example of how the situations of life can bring change beyond your ability to control. The physical pit is a reminder of what can happen when we aren’t disciplined concerning the spiritual gifts that God clearly gave us to enjoy. The physical pit is a place where your destiny changes. The physical pit represents a place where you die to your past life and are born into the new. The physical pit is a place where you must believe and learn to trust God.
The Word of The Lord is True.
Ric Steele Ministries 