My writes

It's important to note that we are never too far from the glory of God. Joseph didn't lose his gift of interpretation. Likewise, when we respond to God, He will use the gifts He imparted within us mightily for His purpose.

Genesis 39 continues to describe how Joseph goes around in the bottomline world. If you put yourself in a-day-in-a-life of Joseph, you could probably appreciate the something quite familiar and relevant to ours. He has to run his boss' household. Could you imagine the pressure and stress he experience whenever Potiphar wishes to throw a party where all the high profile personalities of Egypt is invited? In our lives, if you are a plant manager, you need to make sure that we run the plant with maximum efficiency, meeting production plans and keep tab on safety records. If you're in finance or accouting, monthly, quarterly and yearly closings are madhouse rush. Those in sales would know what it means to meet volume and margin targets.

Joseph seeks to glorify God. And the Lord bless him, and Potiphar's household because of him. It was mentioned 3 times in verses 2, 21 and 23 that the Lord was with him. Truly, the Lord is always with us too. Like Joseph, when we seek to glorify God, He will bless the works of our hands and it will become blessings to people around us.

However, there are trying times when we are being challenged to our core belief in Christ. Joseph was tempted multiple times, but notice his response in verse 9. He made a decision to walk away. Sometimes we need to do just that if the situation warrants us to do so.

The time in prison was a time of preparation by God to hone Joseph into the man he will one day become . It was evident that he matured compared to Genesis 37, judging from his response in Gen 40:8, where he says "Do not interpretations belong to God?". Like diamonds, God knows the exact temperature and pressure and time to exert upon on us in order that we mature in Him and become more and more like Him. Proverb 3:11-12 says : My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves. Time is also of the essence. Joseph spent an additional 2 years because the cupbearer forgotten about him.

In Genesis 41, the Bible describes how Joseph rose to power as the Number 2 man of Egypt when he was just 30 years old. By our current standard, 30 is a very young age to be in a position of prominent. Thus Joseph was very successful by that comparison. More importantly, Joseph has significance in his role before God, that is to prepare Egypt for the influx of the Hebrew people into the fertile land of Egypt.

At this point, it is important to remember that when we are successful in our lives, we need to move into the realm of significance where God beckons us. Many of people are successful by material standards, but that doesn't mean anything. What good is a man if he gains the world but loses his soul? Hence, it is inherent that we always seek the Lord's perspective and move according to the pulse of His Spirit.

All of us have experienced the 4 themes above to a certain degree. I am sure you can associate yourself with it. And there is always Christ in you the hope of glory, and know that God is always able to make the best out of the good, the bad and the ugly of our lives. In all things, God works for good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).