Wounded Oysters
Here is an intriguing passage I did for my quiet time… It was the most memorable one because I was so fascinated by what I read… Take a look!
Genesis 41:46-57 (from New International Version Bible)
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph has said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.
When seemingly needless suffering invades our lives, we often ask ourselves, "Who needs all this grief?" But consider a moment, the origin of pearls. Each pearl is formed by an oyster’s internal response to a wound caused by an irritant, such as a grain of sand. Resources of repair rush to the injured area. The final result is a lustrous pearl. Something beautiful is created that would have been impossible without the wound. In today’s Bible reading, we see Joseph in a position of influence, a position God soon used to feed surrounding nations and Joseph’s family during famine. But how did he become influential? It began with a wound—being sold into slavery (Genesis 39)—which produced a pearl of usefulness. Because Joseph drew on God’s resources when humiliated, he became better, not bitter. He named his son Ephraim, which means "twice fruitful", and he said, "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (41:52). Author Paul E. Billheimer says of Joseph, "If human pity could have rescued him from the sad part of his life, the glorious part that followed would have been lost." So if you’re suffering, remember: No wounds, no pearls! -By Joanie Yoder
If we accept adversity, Enduring every pain, Then we will learn what we should know; Our grief will turn to gain. -Sper
"Adversities are often blessings in disguise."
Taken from Our Daily Bread; July 22, 2005.
