Bearing Fruit in the Land of our Suffering

Posted on by Chris G Thelen

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I have always admired the way Joseph kept his focus on God even though his brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Throughout Genesis 39-45, from the point Joseph is sold by his brothers to when he is reconciled with his brothers, Joseph continually lets his devotion to God guide his decisions. Yet there is one passage of scripture in all these chapters on Joseph that is easy to miss yet very thought-provoking.

In Genesis 41, after Pharaoh has placed Joseph as second in command of all of Egypt, he has two sons. When the second son is born Joseph remarks in verse 52, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering (NIV).” Even though he has become a powerful ruler of Egypt, he still calls it “the land of my suffering.” He is beginning to see how God has used his suffering to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Joseph’s statement in verse 52 causes me to ask if I can see God’s fruit in the land of my suffering. Too often I am focused on the agony and not on what purpose God might have for my pain. In the midst of our enslavement and imprisonment in the land of our suffering, be mindful of the fruit God is ripening for his glory.

#ThrowbackThursday — This post originally published Jan. 29, 2017.

© 2017 CGThelen

14 thoughts on “Bearing Fruit in the Land of our Suffering”

  2. My experience has been that, although I may not see fruit as I’m IN the pain, when God brings me out of it–the harvest is incredibly huge and RICH with more of Him revealed. Well worth the suffering–which seemed long, but was actually quite temporary.

    1. Yes, it seems when we look back at the suffering, the fruit is more visible than when we were in the middle of it. However, I do think about Hebrews 11 where many of the faithful suffered and never saw the fruit that eventually came from it. I am learning to trust God has a purpose for our suffering. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings.

  3. I must get better at bearing fruit I can see in the modest of my suffering. Others can see it but I often miss the forest for the trees, so to say.

  4. Amen. So true. I have seen a lot of beautiful fruit born from years of pain. He has blessed my family beyond measure and continues to carry us daily.

  5. The sweetest fruit comes from the deepest roots. When we follow Jesus He will take us through unimaginable trials, just as He did with Joseph. Why? So we learn to grow our roots deep into His love and care for us. Joseph learned this and blessed the world from that place. May we be as wise, letting our Lord lead us through the trials to test our faith so that we can become like Him.

    Blessings,
    Homer Les
    http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca

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