Changing Robes
There is a truth hidden in the beautiful story of Joseph that speaks
a godly encouragement to the persecuted and suffering among God's
people. Joseph's father Israel presented him with a coat of many
colors. This was a woven, seamless type of coat that children of
nobles wore and it signified the wearer as one who is especially
beloved of his father. It is significant that this robe was made of
many colors because God, who is Light, is the collective of all
colors, and it speaks symbolically of His myriad, great blessings.
Reading this story, I was struck at how many times the Bible mentions
Joseph's clothes were changed. He wore a simple shepherd's robe until
his father elevated him with the coat of many colors. Later his
brothers violently stripped his robe off throwing him in a waterless
well. They dipped his coat in animal blood pretending a wild animal
had devoured him.
He was taken to Egypt and put in slaves' clothes. His boss's wife
tried to seduce him ripping his robe off forcing him to run from the
house naked. Rejected, she made a false rape accusation and he was
stripped of even his slave status and was put in prisoners' garb. And
later when Pharaoh found out about his gift for dream interpretation,
he was washed and given new clothes and brought into the presence of
Pharaoh. After his promotion to being the governor of Egypt, Pharaoh
gave him a new robe - two changes of clothing in a single day! Whew!
So what do all of these changes in clothes mean?
The changes in Joseph's clothes represent the various stages God
walked him through to reach his ultimate destiny in Christ. He was
shown his exaltation to power in two dreams as a young man but wisely
enough, God didn't reveal the painful paths he would have to walk to
arrive in the place of greatness.
Have you ever seen this in the Body of Christ? Someone comes to faith
and they take off like a rocket. They suddenly walk in the power and
presence of God putting the old seasoned saints to shame with their
zeal and consecration. And then something happens. Often, as was the
case with Joseph, their brothers in the Lord begin to get jealous and
look for any excuse to "humble" this unsuspecting soul. Jesus warned
that a man's enemies would be those of his own household - and that
can include the household of faith.
Out meteoric young saint is suddenly attacked, deftly knocked out of
orbit, and ends up being taken out of the limelight. Joseph was cast
into a deep, dry well where light was scarce and the only reply to
his cries for help was jeering mockery. Has this ever happened to
you? You're going along serving God when unexpected opposition comes
into your life. You ask for prayer and suddenly you're surrounded by
people who are accusing you of every sort of wrong motive. If they
can't find fault in your actions, they presume on your motives
wounding you with jagged accusations wrapped in sweet words of grace.
It is as if the Father's favor is stripped from you and you're
suddenly demoted to the lowest of the low places - a slave. Even the
common rights afforded to all humanity are stolen from you. People
treat you with contempt and you have to learn to bear the injustices
in silence. Forsaken by family and friends, you learn in your
isolation to draw comfort from God. Even as the Lord was with Joseph,
he is with you as well.
After the slavery comes a small promotion and still another test.
Will you abuse your newly found authority? Joseph could have taken
his boss' very willing wife - but he refused to sin against God. Day
after frustrating day she spoke seductively to him finally trying to
seduce him. She grabbed his robe and he pulled away so hard he ended
up running naked from the house. If she could not compromise his
righteousness, she slandered him with a rape charge. For the second
time, Joseph is stripped of his robe.
And then comes the prison, the dumping ground of ruined humanity, a
place where all hope is vanquished. You're a nobody. The promises of
God are now faint memories but His Presence becomes your secret
abiding place. You have been wrongly accused, sentenced, and locked
away. And in such places you learn to allow God himself to become
your life. He becomes your comforter, companion, and sweet secret
friend. Years pass and suddenly Pharaoh calls. Your gifts and wisdom
are urgently needed.
Your prison garb is stripped away and you are cleansed and brought to
a place of power where you speak the Word of the Lord. Suddenly a
royal robe is wrapped about your shoulders. This is not the robe of a
noble child, but of one in full authority. It is the kings' robe. You
speak for the King! A gold chain and signet ring are placed on you
and you suddenly have the power to conduct kings business.
The Father's favor is again publicly placed on you. After so many
false starts, you suddenly find your true place of service. The
taunts of your accusers fade in fear of the authority on your life.
And the promises of God burst forth to maturity and you inherit his
long delayed blessings. So when your robes are being changed or
stripped from you, take heart: God is preparing you for your true
place of service by first breaking you, and then remaking you in His
redemptive image. Whatever robe you happen to be wearing at the
moment, remember this: He who promised is Faithful and True.
Used with permission from:
Bryan Hupperts
© 2000 SheepTrax Ministries
4744 Stone Hill Drive
St. Louis, MO 63128
Sheeptrax@saintly.com
http://members.igateway.net/~bryanh
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