WizDumb: wisdom under distress
Have you ever had a bad day lead to a bad decision? I have. The stress of life gone wrong seems to be particularly effective at enabling me to make stupid decisions. I rationalize that “this day is already shot to pieces so might as well…” _______________ (you fill in the blank). It is almost stereotypical. We picture a girl after a break-up downing a cartoon of ice cream or a guy after his pride as been hurt doing something stupid in order to prove himself. It happens all the time.
Think about the life of Joseph for a minute. He was betrayed by his brother in a jealous fit, sold as slave and removed from his family and his home, framed by Potiphar’s wife for attempted rape, spending years of his life in prison and after interpreting the dream of Pharaoh’s cup bearer and being promised that he be remembered for what he had done, he remains in jail for another 2 years. Talk about a rough patch. What is amazing is that in the midst of all of the Joseph remains faithful to God believing that there is a purpose behind everything that is happening. I get a flat tire and I can wonder why God would allow me to suffer so unjustly.
The question that emerges is how did Joseph remain so faithful to God in the middle of circumstance that went so horribly wrong? How did he make those kinds of decisions?
Here are a couple of questions for you as a family to process as you seek wisdom under distress….
- After everything that Joseph has been through, being sold into slavery by his own family, being falsely accused of rape by his employer’s wife and now landing in prison (for ten years)—what do you think allowed him to continue to make God honoring decisions?
- How might we expect someone who has been through what Joseph has been through to react? How would we expect someone to make decisions in the context of these circumstances?
- Think of someone that has been through a really tough time. How did what they experienced affect the way they made decisions? Did they continue to make wise, healthy decisions or did they make harmful or self-destructive decisions?
- How can we be prepared in life to make wise decisions when life is bad?
- What will you take away from the lessons that we have looked at through Joseph’s experiences and that application of wisdom?
