When Trust is Betrayed
“If you will trust yourselves with the Saviour, he cannot betray or deceive your trust.” Charles Spurgeon
We have all felt the sting of betrayal when those we’ve put our trust in cause us harm in some way. We feel it most harshly when we are betrayed by someone close to us – family members, friends, colleagues, classmates. When this happens, we feel as if the trust we’ve placed in that person or persons through our love, time, dedication, trust, perhaps even material resources, has been shattered. We feel shattered. Sometimes to the core of our being.
Genesis 37-47 tells the story of Joseph. Joseph was the second-youngest son, and his father Jacob’s favourite. He received dreams from God about the future. One of his dreams depicted him ruling over his brothers. This evoked jealousy and hatred in his older brothers' hearts. One day, when they are alone with Joseph, away from their father’s watchful eye, they decide to get rid of him by throwing him into a pit where he would eventually meet his death. However, one of the brothers convinces them to sell him to slave traders passing by on their way to Egypt. Joseph gets sold to Potiphar, an important official in Pharaoh’s household, who recognises Joseph’s talents and puts him in charge of his household and all his personal affairs. Joseph, however, is once more betrayed—this time, by Potiphar’s wife, who accuses him of trying to lure her into committing adultery with him. Joseph is wrongfully accused and thrown into prison. In prison, Joseph finds favour with the overseer of the prison, who puts him in charge of his fellow prisoners. Through God’s miraculous intervention, Joseph is set free from prison and appointed by Pharaoh to rule all of Egypt during a time of famine that affects not only Egypt, but also the surrounding regions.
When we are betrayed, as Joseph was, we feel angry, bitter, frustrated and even vengeful. These are legitimate emotions that we, as human beings, feel. Today and the next few days, we will look at how Joseph responded and how God lovingly guided Joseph by His righteous right hand when he experienced the sting of betrayal.
Joseph placed His trust in God, not people
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” Psalm 146:3-4 (ESV)
When Joseph was cruelly thrown into the pit by his brothers and when he was wrongfully imprisoned, he trusted God to rescue him. He did not know when or how this would happen, but he knew that the God he served was faithful. He had seen God’s faithfulness in His life before, and he was confident that he would see it again. Just as Joseph trusted God, we can also trust God to rescue us from the consequences of betrayal. We can trust Him to:
Sustain us when we cast our burden of anger and resentment upon Him (Psalm 55:22)
Help us to wait on Him while He works on our behalf (Isaiah 64:4)
Give us His strength and joy (Psalm 28:7) and peace (Isaiah 26:3)
Reflection
Will you give your burden of pain, anger, frustration and resentment to God and trust Him to save you from the consequences of betrayal?
Prayer
Dear Lord, You know the pain I’m feeling because of the betrayal I’ve experienced. Help me, Lord, to let go of this burden of anger, frustration and resentment and give them to You. I pray for Your peace and strength to carry me. Help me to trust you to work on my behalf as I deal with the sting of betrayal. In Jesus’ name, amen.
