Reaction to Circumstances Reveals True Character

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Reaction to Circumstances Reveals True Character

Today's Text: And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother. Genesis 37:26, 27

The Message:      Judah now proposed to sell their brother to these heathen traders [Ishmaelites] instead of leaving him to die. While he would be effectually put out of their way, they would remain clear of his blood; "for," he urged, "he is our brother and our flesh." To this proposition all agreed, and Joseph was quickly drawn out of the pit.      As he saw the merchants the dreadful truth flashed upon him. To become a slave was a fate more to be feared than death. In an agony of terror he appealed to one and another of his brothers, but in vain. Some were moved with pity, but fear of derision kept them silent; all felt that they had now gone too far to retreat. If Joseph were spared, he would doubtless report them to the father, who would not overlook their cruelty toward his favorite son. Steeling their hearts against his entreaties, they delivered him into the hands of the heathen traders. The caravan moved on, and was soon lost to view....      As the caravan journeyed southward toward the borders of Canaan, the boy could discern in the distance the hills among which lay his father's tents. Bitterly he wept at thought of that loving father in his loneliness and affliction.... With a trembling heart he looked forward to the future. What a change in situation-from the tenderly cherished son to the despised and helpless slave! ...      But, in the providence of God, even this experience was to be a blessing to him. He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise have taught him. His father, strong and tender as his love had been, had done him wrong by his partiality and indulgence.... Faults had been encouraged that were now to be corrected. He was becoming self-sufficient and exacting....      Then his thoughts turned to his father's God.... He had been told of the Lord's promises to Jacob, and how they had been fulfilled.... His soul thrilled with the high resolve to prove himself true to God-under all circumstances to act as became a subject of the King of heaven. He would serve the Lord with undivided heart; he would meet the trials of his lot with fortitude and perform every duty with fidelity. One day's experience had been the turning point in Joseph's life. Its terrible calamity had transformed him from a petted child to a man, thoughtful, courageous, and self-possessed.-Patriarchs and Prophets, 211-214.

Commentary: My friend, the experience of Joseph and his brothers is revealed an illustration of what will happen in the last days.  For Josephs brothers, they showed that their characters were not centered upon the God of their father.  They had harbored enmity and resentment towards their brother and when the circumstances were favorable to them they plotted against him.  While at their home with their father these traits of character were not evident, but when opportunity presented itself, their true characters were revealed.  So too in the last days are there many in the church who on the outside seem to be righteous and holy, but when trial comes their true characters are revealed. In the case of Joseph, being sold as a slave to serve heathen masters, was to him a fate worse than death, but though he was at first disheartened, he resolved in his heart to be true to God, to serve Him no matter the fate that was to befall him.  He did not harbor bitterness towards his brothers, nor did he charge his seemingly bad fate to God, but surrendered his heart fully to the Lord. Josephs character was such that when trial came to him, he would remain steadfast for God, and through this trial God had used it as an opportunity to perfect his character.  God often uses trials in our lives that we may be purified from the defilement of sin and that we may see our need of Him.  Too many times today we are not surrendering our lives to God as we should and though it is painful, trials are required that the defects of our characters, cultivated by indulgence in wrong practices, may be corrected. How we react to trials today tells a great deal as to our true characters, for it is not in a crises that character is developed, but is simply revealed.  It is only as we have time to reflect upon our reaction to the trial that we can be changed.  In the last days all will be tried to see what character have been developed, but unlike the trials of today, how we react to it will determine our destinies for all eternity.  Therefore, we must be surrendering our hearts continually to the Lord that He may work within us His righteous character that when tried, we will shine forth as pure gold, refined in the fires of affliction, and that we may glorify our Father which is in Heaven. May you draw nigh unto God today, submitting humbly to His guiding hand, that you may be prepared to meet the final trial of your faith in the strength of the Lord. God bless,

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