Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Think back to your last job interview. Did it start with you in a dungeon? I hope not! For Joseph, however, this was his reality. Betrayed by his brothers due to jealousy, thrown in prison in a foreign land because of lies, and left to rot due to forgetfulness. Not exactly what I would call an illustrious career.
However, Joseph was blessed by God to interpret dreams. After doing so for some fellow prisoners in Genesis 40, Joseph was forced to wait until one of those prisoners, the royal cupbearer, remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. As Joseph stood before Pharaoh, one of the most powerful monarchs of the ancient world, he was faced with a temptation that we’re all familiar with.
Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard of his prowess and skills. Considering this situation, two paths lay before the young Hebrew. He could puff out his chest and think that all the good in his life was his own doing, and that all the bad he experienced was undeserved. He was the most blessed son of a rich and powerful man, he had incredible wisdom to interpret dreams, and he had the knowledge to handle the affairs of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard (Genesis 39). Who could blame Joseph if he stood before Pharaoh and said, “Yeah, I am pretty great actually!”
Joseph, however, took the other path before him. He gave all the credit to God, creator of heaven and Earth. Despite all his accomplishments and skills, Joseph maintained that he wasn’t the source of any success, but that it was all a result of God’s favor. Eventually, Joseph’s commitment to praising God led to even greater elevation, being placed in power only second to Pharaoh. It was in this position that Joseph was able to prepare for a coming famine and save countless lives.
Throughout the ups and down of his life, Joseph kept God at the center of the good and the bad. Even thinking back on his worst experiences he said, “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good,” (Genesis 50:20, NSRVUE). There was no unrelenting anger. There was no poisonous pride. For Joseph, there was only God.
It can be tempting to let our success or good fortune go to our heads, causing us to lose the plot. Whatever is good, or whatever is bad, in our lives, we must always remember to give it all to God.
To God belongs the praise and the glory for everything because let’s face it – everything we have comes from God.
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