“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 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 dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 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? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.” (Genesis 37:5-11)
“My life is a ministry unto the Lord” is the encouragement that came to me today and just what I needed. Lord, bless and please let your hand be in all that I am, do, and say...everywhere that I go and with all those whom you allow me to interact.
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-10)
As we explore in Genesis following the dreams that Joseph shared with his family, Joseph’s life was a ministry unto the Lord. Well, how can we tell? Let's dig into the Word.
Joseph's life was by no means easy or free of adversity or hardship; it was quite the opposite being full of challenges like:
1. Joseph was despised by his own brothers, thrown into a pit to die, and then sold. [Genesis 37]
2. Potiphar's (an officer of Pharoah and captain of the guard) wife lied on Joseph and he was imprisoned after doing the RIGHT thing. [Genesis 39]
3. After two years of imprisonment, Joseph was not bitter and helped Pharoah interpret his dream even after all that he'd experienced while in Egypt. [Genesis 41]
4. Joseph forgave, was kind to, and received his family with open arms (Only the love of God could do that.). [Genesis 45]
Despite the consequences of his brother's actions, Joseph still served (Genesis 39:4 informs us that he served in Potiphar's house. Genesis 39 and 40 make it clear to us how Joseph served while imprisoned.). And through these experiences, we, the readers, learn how the Lord was with Joseph through it all: (What a God! Powerful and intentional. He takes care of His own.)
1. Genesis 39:1-6
2. Genesis 39:20-23
3. Genesis 41:14-46
4. Genesis 45, 46, and 47:1-13
So now we know through the Word that the glory of God was with Joseph THROUGH IT ALL - the good, the bad, the happy and sad....ALL of it! Now, I can't say for certain that Joseph recognized God's presence and hand at work during the trials... but the people around Him knew it. And again through it all, Joseph served and lived as though His life was a ministry unto the Lord. Wow!
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:4-7)
"So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pha'-raoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45:8)
Trust the process...God's process. I've smyled and still been able to encourage during some challenging times in life. It's fake by no means; that smyle and encouragement is a testament to God's glory... goodness... faithfulness... love... truth even in the midst of adversity. God is still God, and my God is good. Thank you, Jesus!
Let's be like Joseph, yall. Let's live our lives ministering unto the Lord.
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)
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