Joseph was 17, yet trusted by his father, Jacob.  One day, Jacob asked Joseph to go and see how his brothers were doing as they shepherded the flocks and herds.  He willingly said he would, so he left to find his ten older brothers.  They had taken the flocks to pasture in Shechem.  When he got there, no flocks, no brothers could be found.  A man told him they had moved and taken the herds to Dothan.  So he traveled further and could see them in the distance.
(Genesis 37:12-17)

Joseph: his father’s favorite son.

Joseph: hated by his ten older brothers for the favoritism shown.

Joseph: given dreams by God for future events.

Joseph: an unwise, boastful teen-ager of those dreams.

Joseph: diligent in following his father’s instructions.

Doing what God calls us to do may have surprising consequences for us.
Diligently carrying out duties – it is not a given that we will like the immediate circumstances.
Desired outcomes of God and His purposes will always happen.

Joseph was doing what his Dad asked him to do.
What happened to Joseph when he found his brothers?  It is not a happy or a “pretty” picture.  Tomorrow we will begin looking at God’s ways which are waaaay beyond our understanding for His purposes to be fulfilled.

~ Take it to heart ~

One of the lessons Joseph was to learn through very difficult circumstances may be the very lesson God is teaching you.

Continue to be Diligent in Duties and have Confidence in God.

(NASB) Proverbs 3:25-26
“Do not be afraid of sudden fear
Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26 For the Lord will be your confidence
And will keep your foot from being caught.”