"Dad, you;'ll never believe my dream about our family’s future.
God showed me you will bow down to me!" Joseph's teenage enthusiasm to outpaced
his wisdom. His boasts earned him the
contempt of his elder brothers who just sold him to slavetraders headed for
Egypt. "Take that, dreamer boy. Now let's see what happens to your grand
dreams!" In Egypt, Joseph's faith and wisdom grew. God’s promises remained
true and soon he became the manager of a rich man's household. A short time
later, when he spurned the advanced of Potiphra’s wife, she accused him of
attempted rape, and he spent years in prison. But God... was using each turn, each
'tragedy' to bring about new possibilities! A story no one but God could have
written, led Joseph to become Prime Minister of Egypt and there, in the plan of
God, he provided a safe home for his family in time of famine.
As we turn the pages of Genesis, it’s easy to miss the
suffering, the long years of waiting for God's promises. God was preparing
Joseph for His purposes. We get the ‘fly
by’ view. Joseph lived it, day by day. Here is the powerful principle to
remember: his success did not begin the moment he took a seat next to Pharaoh!
He was successful when he trusted God while being taken into slavery, when he
refused the advances of his master's wife, when he chose to be a model
prisoner, when endured darkness, hoping for the light to break through.
God
has a plan for you! Are you bold enough in faith to step up and let Him lead
where He desires in ways that allow His possibilities to emerge? The Bible says "...we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for
God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very
beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him
along the same lines as the life of his Son." (Romans 8:28-29, The
Message) I am not a fatalist! The Bible promises us that God is preparing us
for His purpose. And, the Word teaches us that we have a responsibility to
exercise faith every day. The challenge
to us is this: “... do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the
great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you
will continue to do God’s will. Then
you will receive all that he has promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36, NLT) So,
"... let us strip off every weight
that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us
run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1,
NLT)
Along the road of life are countless wrecks, people who
started boldly with God, who believed Him and purposed to serve Him
passionately. Then, they met difficulties and encountered situations that they
felt 'just could not be part of God's plan.'
How could God use a business failure?
What possible good could come from the loss of a dear friend?
Why does He let me struggle with this chronic health problem?
How could such a hard choice, demanding so much personal
sacrifice really be the Spirit’s leading?
Faith does not wipe away the problems of life. Faith gives us
a perspective that allows us to trust God in spite of those problems, hoping
for Him to use each experience to create in us a greater faith, a deeper
obedience so that we will successfully serve Him.
Are you in a season of reward? I rejoice with you! Praise God.
Are you in a season of testing? I stand with you, asking the
Lord to strengthen you.
Remember this, success is not just found in the outcome. Success is also the process. It is easy
to see the success of the second half of Joseph's life, when he was exercising
power, riding in the royal chariot, and living the palace. But Joseph was
living a successful life long before that, in Potiphar's house, in prison - in
the steady faith that caused him to make the right decisions, instead of the
convenient choice.
Here's a word from the Word. Meditate on it today and then
live successfully!
"Trust
in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit
everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make
your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine
like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:3-6, NLT)
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