Genesis 39:1-3 KJV
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
It is not difficult for us to read these verses and ask God to let all that we do prosper in our hand. But I was reminded this morning that, in order for that to be true of Joseph he was tested severely. In fact, this is said of him while he is a slave, sold by his own brothers. Joseph did prosper, but he did it
As a slave to Potiphar, then
As a prisoner in an Egyptian and then
As a conscript to Egypt
Even as second in command of Egypt, Joseph was not a free man. His heart would have yearned to go to the Promised Land and see his father. He was not free to do that. Years after saving the Egyptian economy he had to ask Pharaoh permission to leave Egypt long enough to bury his father.
The price of having the blessing of God in our lives is often far higher than we are willing to pay. If I would like to have God's blessings in all that I do, then I must be willing to pay the sacrifice for that blessing.
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
It is not difficult for us to read these verses and ask God to let all that we do prosper in our hand. But I was reminded this morning that, in order for that to be true of Joseph he was tested severely. In fact, this is said of him while he is a slave, sold by his own brothers. Joseph did prosper, but he did it
As a slave to Potiphar, then
As a prisoner in an Egyptian and then
As a conscript to Egypt
Even as second in command of Egypt, Joseph was not a free man. His heart would have yearned to go to the Promised Land and see his father. He was not free to do that. Years after saving the Egyptian economy he had to ask Pharaoh permission to leave Egypt long enough to bury his father.
The price of having the blessing of God in our lives is often far higher than we are willing to pay. If I would like to have God's blessings in all that I do, then I must be willing to pay the sacrifice for that blessing.
And yet Pastor McKenzie, to think that even in the darkest of Josephs days, God was with Him. Not in Josephs mind but heart and life. Freeing Joseph from the bonds of the flesh (discouragement, doubt, dispair)by his faithful relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteThat my friend, is a freedom that is to be sought.
Joseph was free, because of his experiance with God in the trials and tribulation, from himself.
Is this not spiritual prosperity when we are free from ourselves?
Thanks for reading my daily visits. They really are just a record of what the Lord speaks to be about each day.
ReplyDeleteI think you and I are trying to say the same thing.