It’s Time For Us To Change Our Coats

“The story of Joseph is in the Bible for this reason; to teach you to trust God to trump evil. What Satan intends for evil, God the Master Builder and Master Weaver, redeems for good.” Max Lucado

My mind works in a very interesting way. My husband would probably categorize it as a bit chaotic and scary, but I digress. Songs run in and out over and over in a loop. Music is my meditation. This week the song “You Know Better Than I” ran through my mind over and over. It was from the film Joseph King of Dreams. Our children used to love watching this film over and over. The story follows Joseph, son of Jacob and his life. He was the apple of his father’s eye and the object of great jealousy for his older brothers. Jacob was so enamored of Joseph that he gave him a beautiful coat of many colors. In his young lack of wisdom, he showed his coat off to his brothers. Joseph’s boasting led his brothers to sabotage him by throwing him in a hole and eventually selling him into slavery. To give their grief stricken father so much closure they told him that Joseph was killed by a wild animal. They went as far as to put blood on his beautiful coat. Can you imagine such behavior? 

Siblings are challenging

I’m sure that some of us grew up in homes with siblings. My big brother was a menace. He toilet papered both myself and my friends during a sleepover. Hanging cabbage patch kids from the ceiling fan then lying in wait until we came home to turn on the fan and hear his little sister scream? He did it. He specifically rode my Big Wheel on ramps to see if he could break it. He was a typical brother. Even though he had it in for annoying his little sister, I don’t think he would have sold me into slavery. Yet Joseph’s brother did just that. Why? The older brothers had let bitterness, jealousy and hatred invade their hearts. They planted it, watered it, and gave it much fertilizer which produced much fruit. Joseph did know that he was special. God had given him dreams of his bright future. They entailed others bowing to him as if he was in charge. He often boasted about his dreams. This only added to the root of bitterness. When you dwell in bitterness life can become self-focused and self-serving. In other words, what you maintain, you become. That’s exactly why Joseph’s brothers did the unthinkable. 

Joseph lost his magnificent coat

When Joseph was sold into slavery, he was robbed of his coat. The coat of a favored son, brother and young man full of dreams. In one fell swoop he was robbed of his coat of identity. It must be difficult to fathom how he felt, once in the bosom of his father, loved and protected. He was suddenly a slave in a foreign land of no repute. His coat was now a slave, foreigner and someone of little consequence. I often wonder if Joseph hung on to the dreams that he had in his youth. Were they a source of comfort? God almighty came to him and gave him a glimpse of his future. Personally, I believe he held on to those dreams and engaged in the long game. He was not focused on the swirl of life circumstances that were not what he anticipated. He looked to what God had promised him. Was he frustrated? Probably. He most likely missed home greatly and his beloved father, but God in His wisdom kept him and elevated him once again to a place of purpose. Joseph was raised in the house of Potiphar to the role of superintendent. Joseph was given a different coat of favor. 

Joseph received a different coat

It’s easy to believe that Joseph was very thankful for God’s favor in the midst of less than ideal circumstances. The superintendent to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guards. It must have been a grand house to manage indeed. The scripture tells us that the Lord was with him and caused him to prosper. Much like the dreams of his youth, God was there. As Joseph continued to serve, the Lord blessed the house of Potiphar as well. Everything in his house, his fields and his business dealings prospered. As with any life circumstance, the enemy and his propensity to walk about like a roaring lion had to interfere with God’s blessings. All that Potiphar owned was in the purview of Joseph, all except his wife. When she noticed how handsome and strong Joseph was, she had to have him. When Joseph refused, she kept his cloak, accused him of trying to sleep with her and Joseph was cast out. He had lost yet another coat. 

Joseph lost yet another coat

Can you imagine after all that hard work and elevation to a high place in Egypt, Joseph once again was stripped of a coat? He was thrown in prison, back to square one. He was of little or no consequence to anyone, again. Fearful thoughts probably permeated his mind and heart of a life in prison, never seeing his beloved father again and perishing amongst strangers. Yet once again, I have to wonder. Did he remember the promises of God? The scriptures tell us that Joseph was given favor by God in the prison, so much so he was put in charge of all the people in the prison. He donned another coat. The cupbearer and the baker were also imprisoned with Joseph. They had dreams that had plagued them, Joseph readily interpreted the dreams and them and they came to fruition. After some time, the Pharaoh started to have dreams that were perplexing to him. The cup bearer who had forgotten about Joseph,  remembered the interpretation. Joseph was summoned to interpret more dreams. 

God’s plan will prevail

As Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh, they again came to fruition. Because of his important information, Joseph was promoted to the Vizier of Egypt. He was the highest ranking official, second only to Pharoah. Joseph was given a magnificent coat. God had blessed him in each and every trial. When he was asked if he could interpret Pharaoh’s dream, he said, “I cannot do it, but God can give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Joseph knew the source of his strength was not himself. If he had made his dwelling place each and every setback in his life he would have indeed planted, watered, grown and imbedded deep roots of resentment. Because he chose God as his strength and kept his eyes on him, God brought forth his plan despite the painful circumstances. Which begs for the question, what coat are you wearing?

What coat does the world wear?

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, and honestly I wouldn’t blame you, our society is having a serious crisis of identity. The concept of truth has been hijacked with “my truth.” The words of Jesus have been forgotten, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” We are putting on the coat of self, which only leads to destruction. What is the coat of self? The Apostle Paul lays it out for us: “Regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires,  and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. 

What coat are you wearing?

Are you wearing the coat of bitterness? Lying? Hurt? Anger? Resentment? Or are you looking to who you are in Christ Jesus clothing yourself in His righteousness? When Joseph put on his new coat his father, brothers and family came to him in Egypt when there was a great famine. When Joseph recognized them he did not hold on to the past woes, he accepted them with forgiveness and God’s love. I’m not saying that he never felt discouraged, angry and even at times like giving up. He most likely did, yet he did not forget God’s hand and favor in his life. What coat are you wearing? Are you looking to your own strength or His? Are the truths of the world or heaven occupying the lining and space of your cloak of life? Jesus beckons you to seek him and find His plan for your life. Dear readers, It is time we change our coats.