A Message for Believers Walking Through Their Egypt Season
Grace and peace to you in the name of YAHUAH, who hears our afflictions and carries us through every season of testing.
Today, I want to share with you a profound truth woven throughout the story of Joseph—a truth that speaks directly to every believer who finds themselves in a season of testing, waiting, or what seems like Egypt.
Our journey begins with a name that changed everything: Ishmael, which means "God hears."
"And the Angel of the LORD said to her: 'Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.'" (Genesis 16:11, NKJV)
Before Joseph was ever sold into slavery, before he was carried down to Egypt, God established this truth: He hears the afflictions of His people. When Hagar was fleeing, alone, and afraid, the Angel of the LORD met her and assured her that God had heard her cry.
And it was the descendants of Ishmael—the Ishmaelite traders—who became the instruments of God's providence in Joseph's life. The very name "Ishmael" was a declaration over Joseph's journey: God hears your affliction, and He is already working your deliverance.
When Joseph's brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite traders, our Bible tells us exactly what was being carried alongside him:
"And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt." (Genesis 37:25, NKJV)
This detail is not incidental. YAH was making a statement about what Joseph was "packed with" for his journey into testing.
The balm of Gilead was renowned for its healing properties. Joseph was traveling to Egypt with the very substance that represented healing and restoration. Though he was being sold into slavery, wounded by betrayal, and entering a place of suffering, God was declaring: I am sending healing with you.
And indeed, Joseph would become the "balm" that would heal and preserve his entire family during the famine. What was meant to destroy him became the means of salvation for many.
"Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?" (Jeremiah 8:22, NKJV)
Myrrh was used to anoint kings and priests. Joseph was journeying with the very substance that would mark him for royalty. Though he was descending into slavery, God had already anointed him for exaltation.