But The Lord Was With Joseph!

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:39-41

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Sometimes God uses our adversity to push us into our destiny. Sometimes God uses the very same undesirable moments in our lives to take us to another level where it gets inevitable for greatness to notice. Joseph had a series of adversities. First he was ostracized by his own brothers who could not stand his ability to dream.

Subsequently, they conspired to kill him "but the Lord was with Joseph". Instead they decided to throw him into the pit. Then there appeared the Ishmaelites in transit to Egypt and Joseph's brothers sold him to these men who also sold him into Egyptian slavery to serve in Potiphar's house.

But the Lord was with Joseph! While he was in Egypt, he was tempted of Potiphar's wife. When he resisted, the woman falsely accused him of rape and he was thrown into prison "but the Lord was him". In prison he found favour with the prison keeper who gave him charge over all other prisoners. "The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper". Genesis 39:23

One day two of Pharaoh's officers, the chief butler and the chief baker, who happened to be put into the same prison with Joseph each had a dream and they needed interpretation desperately. Then Joseph gave them interpretation and as interpreted, the chief butler was restored while the chief baker was hanged. "But the lord was with Joseph!" "Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." Genesis 40:23

Pharaoh had a dream and thank God, Pharaoh had a dream. He too needed interpretation and Joseph was recommended by the chief butler. "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh." Genesis 41:14

After Pharaoh related the dream, Joseph gave the interpretation which pleased and won him favour with Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:39-41

Sometimes God uses our adversity to push us into our destiny. Sometimes God uses the very same undesirable moments in our lives to take us to another level where it gets inevitable for greatness to notice.

Take-home message:

Through every step of Joseph's trial, Joseph was never alone. God's presence was with him. In the pit, God was with him. In slavery, God was with him. In prison, God was with him. Even in the palace, God was with him. Wherever you are in life, you are never alone. God's presence is following you.

ITU Maboye