Devotional for the Week

Devotional For The Week - 9 March 2009

Sermon Title: Lessons from Joseph
Scripture Text: Genesis 45: 3–11, 15

Success. It is what we want in life. It is what Joseph got. The account of Joseph’s life which begins as far back as Genesis 37 reveals that he was the favoured son among the twelve that Jacob had and as such was given authority over his father’s lands. And within a matter of years, Jacob went from being the person in charge of his father’s estate to being the second most important man in all of Egypt. What was the secret of his success?

What lessons can we learn from Joseph about the nature of God?

God is Sovereign

We are often distracted by the thoughts of people around us – our colleagues, our friends, the media, the pressures of the society we live in. These voices speak so loudly that we often forget that God is in charge of everything.

Joseph, at 17 years of age, heard the voice of his father, bestowing on him authority over his brothers. Filled with pride, he “brought their father a bad report about them.” (Genesis 37:2) Later, he told them about two dreams he had – the first, that his brother’s sheaves of corn would bow to his; and the second, that the sun and moon and eleven stars would bow down to him. His callous remarks made his brothers jealous such that “they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” (Genesis 37:4) The brothers then made a plan to get rid of Joseph. And so it was that Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt.

Humbled by that experience, Joseph did not cease to acknowledge the sovereignty of God. He kept his eyes fixed on the Lord. He continued to live in God’s presence.

God’s Presence is with Us

Jesus said that He will never leave us or forsake us. Nothing will separate us from the love of God. Being in God’s Presence allows us to experience success in all we do.

In Egypt, Joseph found himself in the household of Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials. “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph's care everything he had.” (Genesis 39:2-6)

By remaining in God’s presence, we gain favour not only with God but with man - so that in whatever we, do we will find success, just as Joseph did because God will give us an increasing sense of authority. Not the kind of authority that exploits others but authority in Christ to say, `Be healed,’ and healing will take place, or `Be released from guilt and be saved,’ and it will be done.

Being in the presence of God means emptying ourselves. This allows the Holy Spirit to fill us and take over. It involves us dying to ourselves, planning less and praying more. It involves us surrendering every aspect of our lives to God – how we raise our children, how we run our businesses, how we use our leisure time. When we move each day like this, we carry the presence of the Lord with us. And when you speak to our children or make decisions in office we will speak God’s wisdom. And so it was that when asked to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh that Joseph could say with full confidence: “God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." (Genesis 41:16)

Being in the presence of God is moment-to-moment living. It is following Jesus’ command to our cross daily and follow Him. It is releasing all our days into His hands because we realise that God’s plans are beyond us.

God’s Plans are Beyond Us

We have a tendency to revisit a formula that works. If we did something once in a certain way, we feel that it is likely to work again if we repeat the formula. We do this not only with office procedures, but also with family and even church activities.

But relying on a formula means living on our own strength. God wants us to live in faith, to lean on Him. Joseph knew this. He knew that God’s ways are not man’s ways. And so even as Egypt was experiencing great abundance in the land, Joseph could tell Pharaoh with full confidence that “seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.” (Genesis 41:29-30). Thus was God’s plan to use Joseph to rescue the people from the famine fulfilled. For Pharaoh then said to Joseph: “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders.” (Genesis 41:39-40)

We carry God’s presence when we choose to move according to His plans and not our own. This might involve suffering. Joseph was sold by his brothers and later thrown into jail. Yet through such tough times, Joseph continued to wait upon God.

God wants to reveal His plans through us. He wants us to carry the authority of His son, to use the resources He has placed at our disposal. To do so, we too must be willing to suffer, to move outside our comfort zone, to go where He wants us to knowing that when we encounter various trials, God is strengthening us for the glory of His kingdom.

Prayer Response

Lord, I surrender my plans and take on Yours. God, You know everything about me – my pride, my fears, my imperfections. Yet You desire to lavish Your love on me simply because I am Your child. You offer me more than any father on earth could provide, sacrificing Your precious Son so that I might be freed from sin and gain Your love. Teach me to live in Your presence each day, to not resist Your will but realise that Your plans are beyond me. Seal this Lord, so that Your plans will be unfolded daily in my life and I will see how wonderful You are. In Jesus’ glorious name I pray. Amen.

Devotional based on a sermon by Mrs Susan Chan

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