Joseph

Joseph, the man whose story brings the Book of Genesis to an end. He dominates thirteen chapters of this book. A great man indeed by all accounts.

Many things make him great. Let us address a few.

i. Great in administration and management both of households, institutions and government. Genesis 37:2, Genesis 37:14, Genesis 39:2-4,Genesis 39: 21-23, Genesis 41:40. Wherever Joseph went, he headed things and ran them well because the LORD was with him.

Many times when we are in the doldrums, we do any task assigned to us very badly. To accompany the long faces and terrible attitude, we do the work in such a way that it will have to be repeated. Our friend Joseph, was a slave, no one was ever going to pay him for anything he did. No one was ever going to appreciate him or note what he was doing. He without doubt was very sad, angry, justifiably aggrieved, concerned for his safety and wellbeing and on top of all that he was a foreigner and loneliness must have dealt with him as it deals with us when it comes upon us.

But the LORD was with HIM and he was with The LORD. The scripture tells us that The LORD is with those who are with HIM. Because the LORD was with him, Joseph excelled and always rode higher than his very many troubles. Many were the afflictions of Joseph but the LORD delivered him from them all. This scripture had not been written but it applied to Joseph and it applies to us. When you are righteous you will be afflicted, many times, but The LORD will deliver you. You too beloved, start making the best of all the terrible circumstances that surround you. The LORD is with you, if you are with HIM. Take a stand for righteousness and right. Who knows what The MOST HIGH is up to in your life and in your environment?

ii. His GOD given gift of dream interpretation. He was also a dreamer, prone to having dreams that annoyed even his beloved father, Jacob. Genesis 37:10. But his dreams came to pass and did not only materialize but what we call civilization owes Joseph and his dreams a lot. Our ancestors would all have starved to death. Genesis 45:7. Joseph, a man for a season and with a reason.

Beloved, GOD can use you too, starting from right where you are. Yes, in that seemingly dysfunctional family, GOD was already charting out an eternal destiny and a glorious epitaph for Joseph. Joseph just had to live it out faithfully. Joseph had to choose whether to obey The GOD of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob or do things his own style. We can infer that Jacob did speak about his beliefs to Joseph when Joseph was still young. So, Joseph knew the LORD. Parents, you do not know how long you have with that child, speak about The LORD with him or her. Train up a child, the way he should go and he will not depart from it. Isn’t it amazing how , these scriptures applied to Joseph and they were not yet even written. Now, for you they are written and recorded and available on your phone, yet you still refuse to believe and live like a hedonistic pagan fool. Arguing and mocking. There will be hell to pay.

On the issue of dreams, learn to discern your dreams, those which are to be shared and who to share them with. Nowadays, there are many dark forces interpreting dreams online. Make sure , if you are a child of God that you are sharing with true children of GOD, who will not link you to satan and his wicked , deceptive legions.

Also, believe it, whether you have dreams or not, GOD has a good plan for you especially in the midst of great adversity. Don’t give up. Don’t compromise. Stick to the clean, straight road no matter how difficult and treacherous it is.

iii. His amazing self control when it came to personal and sexual matters. No one said potiphars wife was ugly and undesirable. In fact to Joseph , his sexuality was GOD’s business. Genesis 39:9 “….how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against GOD..” This man is truly a legend. Young men and men in general take note. Do not be deceived, there is a link between sexual activity and greatness. The more responsible you are sexually the higher you are likely to go.

Stop crying! Yes, you with a highly polluted sexual record. The LORD, if you are willing, can clean you up and make you brand new. In my city, there is a river, that used to get so polluted the water foamed and became frothy and once, its fog almost blocked visibility on a major road. One man in charge of the environment at that time, tried to clean it with quite some success. If one man can do this , what can The blood of JESUS do. This Blood of JESUS washes white as snow. Come to HIM and let HIS living waters wash not only your body but also your soul. Ask the woman at the well.