Genesis 39: Grace, humility and God’s blessings and favour

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Songdove Books - Prison BarsGenesis 39 continues the story of Joseph.  On the one hand, being sold as a slave only continued the apparent downward slide of his formerly blessed life at his father’s side.  However, his training at home had put him in good stead as he found himself becoming the head servant over everything in Potiphar’s household.  God was training him for a role he had no idea was coming.  But the earthly bad news wasn’t over yet.  Potiphar’s wife would tempt him, and when that failed, she would lie about him to Potiphar, resulting in yet another apparent step downward, the trip to prison.  Not only would this be another step in the training God had for Joseph, but rather than a step down, it was actually a very big step upward thoroughly draped in disguise!  Now the jailor was leaving everything in Joseph’s hand!

So many things had apparently gone very wrong for Joseph!  First, his brothers began to hate him for his dreams and status with their dad.  Second, that jealousy would send him into a pit and from there into the hands of slave traders.  Third, he’d end up being sold as a slave, then framed for a crime he didn’t commit and landing in prison because of it.  Most people, when they have such a string of bad circumstances will automatically assume that either the enemy of our souls is out to get them, or that God is disciplining them rather heavily for some unknown reason.  Rarely does the average human being take such extended downward spirals gracefully or with the knowledge that God is actually at work in and through those situations to bring about a calling never imagined by those going through it.  But here we see Joseph as just such a person.

Somehow, he had learned to place total and complete trust in God’s keeping power over his life.  He may not have understood everything going on, but his desire to keep God’s ways always before him and his attitude of humble servitude toward those God placed him under, would result in God’s blessings over not only his life, but those he served as well.

This has been a message coming to me in various ways in recent days. . . The thought of humble service toward those God has placed over me.  We may not like the circumstances we are facing at this moment, but if we will remain humble toward God and do our best in every situation we find ourselves, God will bless not just us, but those we are serving.

Songdove Books - Meat MalletMy prayer today is that God will build these character traits into me as well.  There is danger in such a prayer, because as I’ve experienced in the past, such prayers often come with situations and circumstances that tend to act like meat tenderizers. . . those tools typically made out of wood with a block at one end that has multiple raised and sunken grids on them.  When one hits a steak hard enough and often enough with this tool, the fibers in the steak break apart and when it is grilled, it “melts in your mouth” and people remark how tender and juicy it is.  I have come under that tenderizing hammer more than once so far in my lifetime, but there is always room for improvement, change and growth.  Life tends to bring with it scenarios and situations, conversations and people who threaten to create callouses over the tender areas all over again and the need for softening before the Lord becomes apparent once more.  It is too easy to choose the route of self-protection rather than letting God do the tenderizing.

Joseph could have chosen that route for himself.  God did not see fit to include the reasons why Joseph never took this route, but because of his story, the course of history would once again be moved a huge step forward.  Joseph’s story was integral to the prophecy God gave to Abraham, that his people would spend 400 years in Egypt before coming out as a nation of God’s making.  Joseph’s unquestioning obedience to God’s desires in every situation he found himself, would facilitate that prophecy coming true.

Perhaps the next time a string of seemingly puzzling negative circumstances come along, rather than recoiling, shaking a fist at God or trying to beat back enemy forces that aren’t there, try asking God for perspective to see His view of the situations and seek His peace, gentleness, humility, and servanthood within them instead.  Interestingly enough, I was tempted to start rattling off the Fruit of the Spirit here. . . Hmmm. . .

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