By Sharla Hallett
A scripture in the Old Testament that can be easily passed over speaks about the sons of Issachar, one of the tribes of Israel. I Chronicles 12:32(NKJV) “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” This scripture captures my attention and is often a prayer of mine because the sons of Issachar not only understood the time or season they were living in, but they knew what to do.
If you have walked with God for any length of time, you know that God often operates in seasons. We can look to nature to see the natural rhythm of the seasons. Some seasons are more obvious than others and can be more pronounced depending on where you live geographically, but our world naturally experiences seasons.
I think the tricky part is when we are experiencing a season in life, we get comfortable in that season, and then the Lord turns the page. It can often feel like we are continuing down the path God pointed out. Then suddenly, He turned the corner, and we were still going straight. It can feel confusing sometimes.
However, I believe God wastes nothing and every season serves a purpose. God’s heart for us is to continuously grow. He wants us to grow in strength and maturity and character and ultimately closer to Him.
The often frustrating part of seasons is we usually have no idea how long a particular season will last. The advantage of reading about people in the Bible is we know how their story ends. We know the outcome, so as we read, it is easier to see why they are going through what they are going through. However, it is more difficult to determine that in our own lives.
The story of Joseph in the Old Testament beginning in Genesis 37 is a good example. Joseph was a highly favored son of his father. His brothers were jealous of him. Joseph had a dream one night that one day the rest of his family would bow down to him. Whether it was immaturity or lack of strength of character, Joseph unwisely told his brothers about the dream. His brothers reacted as most jealous siblings would, not well. They plotted to kill Joseph but sold him into slavery instead.
Joseph experienced many seasons as a slave in Egypt, but he remembered what God had shown him in the dream. Despite his circumstances, Joseph was blessed by the Lord and found favor. He was sold to Potiphar, but because of the favor that rested on him, he was made a supervisor in Potiphar’s house. But Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph. When Joseph refused, she falsely accused Joseph of trying to assault her. Potiphar’s response was to put Joseph in prison.
I think at this time many of us would begin to wonder what we did wrong. Joseph was experiencing the favor of God. Joseph was experiencing the favor of Potiphar. Yet, through no fault of his own, he ends up in prison. Sometimes we allow our circumstances to dictate to us what season we think we are in. If I were Joseph, I probably would have spent some time wallowing in my circumstances, replaying past events, and wondering where I had lost the favor of God.
However, because we have the advantage of knowing how Joseph’s story turns out, we know God was preparing and positioning him for something even better. Joseph found favor with the prison officials, and he had not lost God’s favor. Exodus 39:22(AMPC) “And the warden of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatsoever was done there, he has was in charge of it.”
After some time of being in prison, Pharaoh had a disturbing dream. To make matters worse, Pharaoh’s magicians were unable to interpret his dream. The chief butler, who earlier was in prison with Joseph, told Pharaoh Joseph could interpret his dream. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and after Joseph interpreted his dream, he found favor with Pharoah. Joseph was once again put in a leadership position. This time he navigated Egypt through a severe famine God warned Pharaoh about in his dream.
When the famine lingered on, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt in a quest for food. Not recognizing Joseph, they entered Joseph’s presence, and they did indeed bow to him. Joseph did not leap up and exclaim “I told you so!” Instead, he wept. Joseph’s seasons had prepared him and positioned him for this particular moment. He was humble, and he possessed strength of character. Through these difficult seasons that Joseph could have easily blamed his brothers for, he not only experienced the favor of God, but he was able to save his family, which was God’s ultimate plan.
Remember friend, God is always for you, never against you. Sometimes God asks us to walk through difficult seasons because He is trying to position us for something great. Sometimes He can’t give us what He wants to give us until we have strength of character to carry it. He knows the very thing He wants to give us will crush us without developing us first.
God is a kind God and a merciful God and when we live for Him no season is ever wasted. So I encourage you to be like the sons of Isaachar. Ask the Lord for understanding of the season you are in. But also ask Him how you should partner with Him in that season. Look for the places even in difficult seasons where the favor of God is resting on you. His ultimate goal is to have a close relationship with you. Rest in His wisdom for your life.
Sharla is a wife and a mom to two beautiful adopted children. Sharla taught elementary school for twenty-three years and has now pivoted to being a stay-at-home mom, writer, and editor for UHP. She has a passion for helping women connect to their true identity in Christ. She writes regularly for her blog found at sharlahallett.com. She has also written three devotionals and is in the process of publishing her first fiction book. Instagram: @shara_hallett
Leave a Reply