FAITH OF JOSEPH 12/02/12

FAITH OF JOSEPH

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Gen41:40-43.

Here we read about Joseph’s history. The Lord exalted him over all the land of Egypt. To attain this position he had to go through lot of hardships. Before the Lord would bless Jacob it was important for Him to mould Joseph according to His expectation. We are going to meditate about Joseph’s faith and his character and how God honored his faith.

1. Joseph who was full of vision:

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? Gen37:7,8,10

When Joseph had a dream he wanted to share with everyone who was involved in that dream and all his brothers hated him even his loving father rebuked him of his dream.  Because he had no right person to share his dream he was hated. Joseph was a man of vision and he had visions at all times. Though it is difficult to keep the vision within yourselves and pray you will see that vision getting fulfilled by God, till then wait at His feet.

After this incident Joseph never shared his vision with anyone. And know that all dreams are not visions. For a dream comes through the multitude of business too. To those who have a sound sleep God spoke a lot through dreams and give them vision like unto Joseph. He never gave up his dream though his brothers envied him and the
Lord was faithful to lead him in the path to fulfill the vision.

Prayer: Lord, grant me according to Your own heart and help me to keep the vision in my heart and wait at your feet.

2. Joseph who was not weary:

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. Gen37:24.

Joseph was praying for the vision but he was thrown into the pit and to his hope he was taken out and was sold to an Egyptian who made him ruler over his households and again he was thrown in to the prison. But he never gave up. In the prison he interpreted the dream to the chief butler and asked him to remember him. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him. Gen40:23.  Are you forgotten by your loving ones? God says, Never be weary. I am with you, only look upon Me.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my faith that I should not be weary.

3. Joseph who was remembered:

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Gen41:9

The Lord is able to change any situation. Those who forgot you will call you and help you by themselves. Are you saying, “God forgets you”? When He makes the person who forgets you to remember you how could He Himself forget you?

Now Joseph started climbing the ladder of victory, he began to increase and multiply.

Prayer: Lord, my faith is tested. Remember me Lord.

4. Joseph who was increased and multiplied:

And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Gen41:52.

“Ephraim” means “The Lord has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction”. May the Lord make you fruitful in the dry life. May He increase you thousand fold. After this state (governor of Egypt) no one was able to bring him down. In the same Egypt where he was afflicted he was lifted up, in the same way God is going to lift you up. Through whom you are afflicted through that same person you are going to be lifted up.

The Lord blessed him and brought him to a good position. The problem with many of you is after the blessing you have a self satisfaction and do not move forward in faith but that should not be like that.

Prayer: Lord, make me fruitful and multiply in the place where I am defeated.

5. Joseph who had eternal hope:

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. Gen50:24,25

Joseph attained everything and even he is above the king now. Above all this earthly blessings by faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. He said, God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto Canaan and ye shall carry up my bones fromEgypt.

You should seek Him more after you are blessed but many people act opposite.  Always remember the worldly blessings though it is necessary it is for a short period but the heavenly blessings are eternal.

A man of God always says, “If I close my eyes today in this earth, I will open my eyes with Him in that moment”. Such should be your belief.  Let us move forward to receive the eternal blessings with a great vision. 

Prayer: Lord, I believe You are faithful to fulfill Your promises and the visions You have given me. Amen.