“Joseph is a fruitful bough . . the archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely, yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob . . .” Genesis 49:22-24 ESV
I love the word “Unmoved.” With all the turmoil and changes in our country and all over the world, I could use some stability. The internet offers several definitions for the word unmoved:
- Not affected by emotion or excitement
- Not changed in one’s purpose or intention
- Not changed in position
I believe each one had its place in Joseph’s life. Even though he changed locations three or four times, his faith in God never wavered. Though a vulnerable young man, he did not give into temptation when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. Though thrown into prison, he did not turn away from God. When his brothers showed up, begging for food, he did not gloat. Even when Pharaoh asked him to interpret his dream, Joseph gave credit to God.
His secret? It’s revealed in the next verse: “His bow remained unmoved; His arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.” Throughout Scripture, the bow was a symbol of strength and victory. In this blessing Jacob spoke over Joseph we discover that, despite his trials, Joseph stood strong – not because he was made of tougher stuff than most of us – but because God provided the strength to endure. Joseph’s steadfastness was not merely the result of his life experiences, although they surely played a part. His steadfastness was rooted in God. His strength was founded in the One who never falters nor wavers.
Where do you find your strength? Perhaps your education, your job, your accomplishments, your family and friends offer you a certain measure of stability. That’s wonderful, but they all are temporary. Only God is eternal. He is the only One who can hold you steady when life’s waves wash over you.
The only way to remain ‘unmoved’ is to keep the Lord at the center of our lives. “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 15:8 ESV
Prayer: In you, Lord, we find the strength for each day. In the midst of all the changes, you alone remain steadfast. Strengthen us each day, hold us steady through the good and the bad moments until we reach the Promised Land. Amen.
Thought: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1: 2-4, 12