Joseph rose to power from obscurity, not based on his own accord, merits, or desire but because God was with him. Surely with natural eyes it would seem that everything was against him: jealously despised from birth by his siblings, sold into slavery by said family members, falsely accused, and placed in jail, yet despite everything against him God was with him, and he succeeded in everything he put his hand to.
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.”
Genesis 39:2 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.2.esv
“From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.”
Genesis 39:5 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.5.esv
“The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”
Genesis 39:23 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.23.esv
Though their seemed to be so many against Joseph, and he could have been counted out, he had the most important Person on his side : the God of the universe.
It’s amazing that Joseph did not immediately choose bitterness. How many of us if we were in his place would instead choose forgiveness, the way Joseph did when his siblings came to him in their time of need?
“Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.”
Genesis 42:6 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.42.6.esv
“Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.”
Genesis 43:34 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.43.34.esv
This is a beautiful picture of the grace of God. Joseph’s brothers didn’t deserve his kindness based on their history, and the evidence of their poor treatment of him; any judge, and jury would find them guilty, but Joseph recognizing that God had worked their evil acts into good for the sake of many, forgave them.
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.”
Genesis 39:2 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.2.esv
“From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.”
Genesis 39:5 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.5.esv
“The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”
Genesis 39:23 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.39.23.esv
Though their seemed to be so many against Joseph, and he could have been counted out, he had the most important Person on his side : the God of the universe.
It’s amazing that Joseph did not immediately choose bitterness. How many of us if we were in his place would instead choose forgiveness, the way Joseph did when his siblings came to him in their time of need?
“Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.”
Genesis 42:6 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.42.6.esv
“Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.”
Genesis 43:34 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.43.34.esv
This is a beautiful picture of the grace of God. Joseph’s brothers didn’t deserve his kindness based on their history, and the evidence of their poor treatment of him; any judge, and jury would find them guilty, but Joseph recognizing that God had worked their evil acts into good for the sake of many, forgave them.
Comments
Post a Comment