‘Do not be upset, or blame yourselves because you sold me to slavery. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people’s lives’; this was Joseph speaking to his brothers who had sold him to slavery at age seventeen. LOOL! How many of us can forgive freely like Joseph? Can I see your hands?
Well, that is not where I am going today. I recently went through the story of Joseph and his words made some echo in m mind. I saw some angles to his story and that’s what I’d be sharing today.
A quick recap of Joseph’s beginning- His father Jacob loved him a lot because he had him at old age, I also like to believe he had so much love for him because he was the first child of his wife, Rachel who had mad love for! Jacob loved Rachel ehn! Yess! I know this; I can smell love from miles away but then the bible has it in details.
Okay before we digress, Jacob loved his son Joseph a lot. Joseph was an honest young boy– he brought reports of his brothers’ wrong doings to his father. He didn’t care that they hated him for that; he was about his honest ways.
At seventeen he already had a glimpse of his future; he already knew what his future would be like. He knew his brother’s and father would bow before him in honor. He knew this through dreams, God had revealed to him symbolically in his dreams and he just could interpret it at age seventeen. I strongly believe he had a good communication channel with God; his spirit man must have been in deep sync with God. Because God reveals and gives understanding of the things He would do only to His friends or children.
I mean when I was seventeen I did not understand these things, I cannot remember paying attention to my dreams, not sure I had dreams sef. I was just clueless about things of God.
Joseph shared his dreams with his brothers and they hated him even more, they harbored jealousy and just wanted to get rid of him. I am sure they oozed of hatred for him and Joseph could sense it. But he still did not change his attitude towards them. It was on one of his trips to check up on his brothers, to find out if they were faring well with the flocks; the Jacob brothers agreed and sold their brothers for 20 pieces of silver. They actually wanted to kill him, but of course! God came through and just did not let their evil plots be established.
What betrayal!! I just cannot imagine what Joseph must have felt. A mere betrayal from a friend hurts a lot and all that mixed feelings. Not to mention blood, my own blood selling me off like that. I must point out that Joseph was a strong boy!
At seventeen! I would have cried my heart out. You know being used to the good life, with my dad showing me all that love and all. Then I find myself in some strange land as a slave, I just cannot fathom the kind of depression I would handle.
But! Nehh..not my fine Joseph, baby boy even excelled as a slave boy. He was promoted to the rank of the head of the slaves in the House of Potiphar, one of the officers in Egypt. He excelled even as a slave boy because God was with him. I believe for God to have been with him, he fellowshipped a lot with God, he remained in God’s presence; he must have led a holy life. Because God dwells in the praises of His people, He lives in the lives of Holy people. One more thing, God blesses the works of his children. As long as what you are doing is in line or part of the process of God’s big plan for you, He blesses the works of your hands. Because Joseph lived in the house, God blessed Potiphar’s house. I can be the reason God decides to bless a territory, somebody in your life can be the reason you are experiencing so many blessings from God. Okay! That was like two more things. But you get me yeah?
If you don’t just yet, wait for it, it will hit you shortly, just read on
Joseph was a fine, I believe built young man. I mean the officer’s wife; the wife of the head of the house was so interested in Joseph. She kept hitting on him, he kept rejecting all advances. She got desperate about having a piece of him one day and tried to force him to bed with her but Joseph flew. He took flight for his destiny, he could not allow the devil use her to destroy his bright future. But his sole reason for fleeing was because he loved God, He just could not stand to hurt God. He knew if he went to bed with the married woman, it would have broken God’s heart. He just could not stand to hurt God like that. Joseph loved God so much!
While Joseph escaped for his life, his garment fell off. Potiphar’s wife used this to implicate him; she accused him of trying to sleep with her. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into the prisons where the King of Egypt kept defaulters. Poor Joseph, it was as if the whole world was against him. Whatever had he done to deserve such bad luck?
But you know what? God still blessed him in the prisons, the prison guards liked him and put him charge of the other prisoners. God was with Joseph, I do not think he forgot about God even in the prisons. He must have nurtured his fellowship with God. God must have been speaking with Him.
Two years in prison, Joseph had to use his gifts from God. He noticed that one of the King’s stewards who was in prison with him was looking all gloomy. Joseph was a man who paid attention to his environment, he cared for people around him, he was an observant man. He did not just observe and look away; he walked up to the steward and asked about his warfare. Then and then did the steward share his problem. He had had a dream and he just did not know the interpretation of his dream and it worried him.
Joseph acknowleged God as the giver wisdom to interprete dreams first, then he interpreted the dream of the steward. Jospeh had the wisdom of God and he acknowleged God as his source. Another steward listening came to meet Joseph to also interprete the dreams that He had too and Joseph did.Your God given gifts will bring men from far and near to you for consultation.
The dreams interpreteby by Joseph were just the way he had said. One of the stewards was restored to serve the King and the other was hanged. Joseph put in a word for himself, he told the Steward not to forget him o!
Any shot you get at selling yourself or asking for a referal please do. You never can tell when your words would resurface to the mind of whom you asked.
The King’s wine steward remembered Joseph’s word two years after when Joseph’s expertise was needed. The kning of Egypt had a dream too and none of his wise men could interprete for him-Josospeh was surmoned.Your God given gifts would make you stand before Kings.
God showed to the king what was about to happen in Egypt and nations close by but he just did not see it or understand it. It was a good thing Joseph was there at that season. Joseph saved the world from dying from famine by interpreting the King’s dream and proffering solution to the famine that was about to hit the whole of the country. He advised that Egypt stored up grains for the future, there was going to seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. The grains kept away would serve when the period of famine came. King was impressed of course! He made Joseph second in command of Egypt, gave him a beautiful wife as well.
See how Joseph moved out of obscurity? Do you see his process? God has amazing plans for our lives, we have to see this, we should know this. When you are friends with God, it would not be hard to know or see God’s plans for your life. When this is achieved, then you trust God and His processes, His ways are not ours at all. Trust Him to lead you to your destiny
Take a cue from Joseph’s process- He was a honest man, he had a picture of his future at a young age.He was kind anyways,he did not allow his brother’s hatred change him. He was a strong, hardworking man that detested sin. He was aware of his talents and he acknowledged God for giving them to Him. Above all, he loved God!
What does your process look like at the moment? Take a cue from Joseph and trust God