From Promise to Fulfillment

This Sunday, we were privileged at FGA to hear a message by Pastor Malcolm on the life of Joseph.

In a story many of us know so well, Pastor Malcolm brought us back to the time of Joseph. A young man of seventeen, Joseph had already been designated as the heir of the patriarch Jacob. In a complicated family with 4 wives, and 13 siblings, great jealousy and envy was directed at Joseph. Things quickly began to reach critical level when Jacob gave Joseph a many-colored coat, which set him apart as the favored son, the next in line to receive the inheritance and blessings of God. To make matters even worst, Joseph, from his high horse, perhaps with some pomp and arrogance declared to his brothers his dream that their sheathes would bow down to his sheath, and in another dream, that eleven stars and the sun and the moon would bow down to him.

His brothers hated him and could not speak a kind word to him and finally plotted to kill him. As providence would have it, a group of Ishmaelite traders came by, and the brothers decided to sell him instead as a slave. At this point, Joseph’s dreams definitely would not make any sense. It was he who had to bow down to others, he who had to serve others. Still, he served Potiphar the best he could, and quickly rose up the ranks to become his master’s favorite servant, entrusted with everything Potiphar owned. Then trouble came again, for Potiphar’s wife sought him for her own pleasure. Joseph refused to sin against God…. Even before the law was given, Joseph knew that it was wrong to commit adultery, and such a sin was not against man but against the living God! But instead of being rewarded, he was thrown into prison!

Where was the reward of his righteousness? Why do bad things happen to good people? However, even in the dungeon, the Lord was with Joseph and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Then a window of opportunity came when he interpreted the dream of the king’s cupbearer who was temporarily imprisoned and asked for help from him. However, the man was restored and forgot about Joseph. His hard work had failed, and his human connections had failed, and Joseph must have been in the lowest depths of despair.

Perhaps some of us are like Joseph then, trapped in a pit of despair with no hope on the horizon. Perhaps some of us have lost our vision, lost sight of our promise from God to prosper us, to lead us to our destiny. We seem to be going in the opposite direction, and in times like this, we could so easily just give up and fall away and never recover.

But Joseph did not give up. He suffered and persevered and in due time, the Lord raised him up to be ruler of all Egypt. All this time, God was preparing him, teaching him humility, teaching him hardship, teaching him wisdom and perseverance and tenacity. In his capacity as ruler of Egypt, it must be noted that Joseph ruled most wisely, and provided for all Egypt and even most of the region in the seven years of famine. Pastor Malcolm drew our attention in particular to how kindly Joseph dealt with the people in Egypt. Even when they were at Pharaoh’s complete mercy because they had nothing left to buy food, Joseph gave them hope. He gave them back seed to plant in their land, and only required 20% of their produce to be given to Pharaoh. He saved their lives, and devised a way for them to keep living and provide for their families. Today, many of us who have been promoted to positions of influence have power to help others, especially in these hard economic times. God promoted Joseph not just for himself but for the good of his entire clan, for the good of all Egypt, and even for the whole region.

May the Lord help us persevere in our difficult periods to learn what we can and grow strong in the Lord, and when the Lord raises us up, to be humble and prepared to serve others for His glory. In Jesus name, Amen

God bless, Jason