Genesis 45:7 And
God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and
to save your lives by a great deliverance.
We are studying Joseph as our
personality that longs towards working and producing for God. In this context
we need to see how this attitude should be encouraged and utilized so that we
will become good ministers or servants of God.
The first thing is to understand
the purpose of our life and challenges. Abraham did not excel in Egypt because
he wanted to escape the famine in Canaan. He was called to live in Canaan but
was roaming around and not trusting God. In 43:32, we read that Egyptians did
not have good regard of the Hebrews which was because of Abraham’s embarrassment
there. God had to delay the blessings to Abraham till he was a hundred years
old because of these immature steps. Joseph was exalted when he was just thirty
because he had nothing but God’s presence but yet he chose to be obedient and
knew that God was watching him. Knowing God even though Joseph had not seen a
single miracle is the quality Joseph had. All that Joseph had was a call from
God through dreams and had lost his family because of these dreams.
The attitude is seen from
when Joseph was seventeen when he brings bad reports of his brothers to his
father. (Gen 37:2). We always try to be good with people so that we can mingle
with them but do not foresee the destruction to both of us. As in Ezekiel 33:7,
we are called to be watchmen who work for God. But our efforts just try to be a
pleasant person in that situation alone. Being a responsible person is very
much required to fulfill our calling. In Gen 37:12 onwards we can read Joseph
searching his brothers and wandering in the fields. He did not turn back until somebody
found him and gave the right directions.
In 39:8, Joseph explains to
Potiphar’s wife that there is nobody above Joseph except her. This should be
seen in our responsibility as a minister. This is seen in Revelation 2:26. The
wife that is the Church is meant to serve God and a minister ensures and keeps
its purity. Making a church serve a minister may have brought temporary
promotions and pleasure. But it is disgusting in God’s eyes and all our efforts
will be lost if we breach God’s personal honor.
In 41:16, we see Joseph’s
confidence in God. The dream may not be pleasant to Pharaoh, but still Joseph
says that if it comes from God, it will be an answer of peace. Even though it
will be disciplining or bad news the message is always an answer of peace. Also,
the first phrase Joseph uses to Pharaoh is “Not me, but God”. This submission
is very much necessary during ministry at home or anywhere else. Our children
should know how Christ has suffered so that we could live.
In 41:46 onwards we see
Joseph not resting when there was plenty and when there was a famine people came
to Joseph. A true man of God does not have to wander when there is famine
because he has already saved what is necessary. God has given us authority so that
we would be wise enough to save treasures during abundancy and serve them to
people when they are in need. In Luke 12:21, we read about the parable where
the person saved only for himself. Jesus says that he is not rich towards God.
If we want to be rich in God’s eyes, we have to save for others. Joseph could
have saved money sufficient only for himself, or just Egypt. But he had enough
supplies that other nations could come and be served.
As we read in 45:7, God is
sending us earlier to Egypt so that we will support them in times of trouble. We
are fore runners to our families and friends. All we have to do is grab
opportunities God is providing us so that we could be useful when they need us.
They might have hated and tormented us, but a true responsible person will
understand his purpose and serve without pride. This sacrifice is required from
us to accept accusations, prison and other trouble because others can easily
come to salvation. The deliverance is not easy for others to easily attain, it
has to be a great deliverance which Jesus has made available to us. All we have
to do is honor it.
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