“His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron, Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him.”
When I first read Ps. 105:18, I was stunned by the AMPC version. “His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron…” I kept thinking to myself, how did Joseph’s soul enter into the iron. He must have gotten so resilient and pliable in God’s hand that his trials no longer fazed him. Vs. 19 says that this continued till he passed the test. It taught me to see my trials as a test and to always ask God for grace to pass the test.
Throughout the course of life, we are faced with all forms of trials and tribulations. This is an inevitable aspect of life, as Jesus told us (John 16:33, NKJV), but as His children, remember that you are always fighting from a place of victory. No matter what your test is, be like Joseph, do not faint (Prov. 24:10, NKJV) and you will see God show out in your life. You even have a cheat code, God’s grace (Heb. 4:16, NKJV).
Ps. 105:20 – 22 (AMPC) tells us about Joseph’s reward for passing the test: “The king sent and loosed him, even the ruler of the peoples, and let him go free. He made Joseph Lord of his house and ruler of all his substance, [Gen. 41:40.] To bind his princes at his pleasure and teach his elders wisdom.” Job is another person who experienced the reward for passing the test, and my oh my- what a test Job faced. In the course of a single day, Job lost it all (Job 1:13-22, NKJV), but God gave him double for his troubles (Job 42:10 – 17, NKJV). As we round up the first half of the year, I charge you to pass the test. When you do, you will see God show out in your life! I wish you a blessed second half of the year (Haggai 2:9, NKJV).
