Daily Devotional

“Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt” (Genesis 37:28). 

Picture yourself taking a drive down a scenic road in some exotic mountainous area of the world. As you turn at a bend, the railing suddenly disappears and the road narrows to a path that is just wide enough for your vehicle. As you inch along, you peek over the edge and see the broken and rusted remains of cars from long ago that tumbled thousands of feet to their destruction. 

There is a good reason the old Yungas Road in Bolivia is nicknamed “The Death Road.” This forty-mile stretch between La Paz and Cornice hugs cliffs next to giant sprawling canyons. The narrow, sharp corners would make the average driver inch along at 10 MPH, but the locals speed down this dangerous road as if they are taking a Sunday afternoon drive. About 200 people a year fall to their death off the Yungas Road. In recent years it has been modernized, with two lanes, pavement, bridges, drains, and guardrails. 

Joseph once travelled on a treacherous road. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers to traveling merchants who then took him to Egypt. The lonely son of Jacob must have felt distraught. Would he ever see his father again? How would he be treated by his slave owner? Where was God? Actually, this dangerous road saved Joseph’s life and was part of heaven’s future plans to save an entire nation of people. The godly youth wasn’t alone; God was right beside him. 

Jesus once travelled a death road. He was sold away by one of His own. Christ chose to take the dark road of Calvary. He, too, felt separated from His Father. This cruel road plunged Him to a certain death. The blood- stained path He left behind has now opened a new road to freedom and peace. There are still hazards along the way, but you will not travel alone. Will you follow Him into a brighter future? 

Dear Lord, walk beside me today. No matter how dark this day, I believe I am not alone.