JOSEPH

Genesis 37, 39-42

 “When you are conscious of your dream, whatever the situation and whatever happens on the outside will not matter to you”.

“Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more. So he said to them , ‘Please hear this dream which I have dreamed. There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.’ And his brothers said to him, ‘Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us? So, they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 37:5-8.

Sometimes you see people are happy, whereas there is nothing to be happy about on the outside. This is because they have a dream, which is known to them alone. This was the case with Joseph.

“So it came to pass when Joseph had come to his brothers that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colours that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it”. Genesis 37:23-24.

Even when he was right in the pit, he was not overwhelmed by sadness, fear or doubts. His condition in the dry pit could not derail him because his focus was on his dream, not on the pit condition.

“So Joseph found favour in his insight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and that entire he had he put under his authority. so it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house  and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” Genesis 39:4-5.

Even when he was in Potiphar’s house where he was well cared for, his focus remained on his dream. While   he was enjoying all the favours, he still believed that his dream was greater than his present enjoyment.

“Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.” Genesis 39:20.

Then he went tot jail. While in prison, his focus was on his dream, not on his prison condition. Many today are overwhelmed by the situation around them because they don’t focus on their dreams. When you are conscious of your dream, whatever the situation and whatever happens on the outside will not matter to you.

Remember, we do not look at what is seen but what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary while what is unseen is permanent. As children of God, we walk by faith, not by sight. We therefore are not overwhelmed by what is seen. Joseph was in the prison but he did not allow the prison conditions to overwhelm him.  Instead, he looked through the window, saw beautiful skies and gave thanks to God, and said, “Thank you Jesus!” He never looked down. Getting you to look at life, its storms and adversities from the human point of view is a trap from Satan. I mean looking at your situation from the human point of view (i.e., on the outside), will give you discouragement, fear, doubt and anxiety.

Joseph had a dream when he was very small. He saw stars bow before him (Genesis 37:9). That was the dream he followed; that was his focus. He held onto that ever since. Whatever the situation, the Bible says; Joseph always said to himself, “This is not where I belong.” The future I desire is a beautiful picture. My words must be the photograph that future I desire. My words must be the photograph of that future I desire. My action, behaviour, way of life and everything about me must be the photograph of the future of I desire.

Each time Joseph found himself in a place, which was contrary to his vision, he would say to himself, “I know where I belong –not her!” That imparted into him the strength to endure the condition in the dry pit. When he found himself in prison, he said to himself, “I know where I belong –not here!” That imparted into him the strength to endure the condition of the prison. When he found himself in the situation of condemnation, where Potiphar’s wife was trying to tempt him, the Bible says, he had three reasons why he did not yield to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife:

• He considered who he was,
• He was a covenant child , and ,
• He was a child with the promise of God.

If you are a man of vision, you will be able to know where you belong. Indeed, you should be able to know where you belong! When Joseph found himself in the dry pit, he said to himself, “This is not God’s promise. Where I am going, there is something greater. I know where I belong-not here! The Bible says, he continued to endure. Remember, our trouble becomes easier to handle when we know that it will not last long. He knows that he would be in a dry pit for a short time.  Whatever the trouble was, it would be for a short time. When he was in the prison, he knew the condition there was for a short time.

If you know where you belong, why do you complain? Why do you fight? Why do you have time for every unnecessary question? Why? Why do you bother about what people say about you? Why do you turn into a beggar when you know where you belong?

Joseph knew where he belonged. If it were not so, he would have thought he would die in the dry pit. He would have fallen into self-pity, “Why God? Why me? Why me! As he knew where he belonged, he looked around and said, “I know where I belong-not here! I will die. I shall live to see the glory of God!” He was going to the throne.

If he had had no dream, he would have died in the dry pit. When he was in the dry pit, he said to himself, “This is not where I belong.” You can be content, no matter what happens to you on the outside. Whatever happens on the outside does not determine whether or not you have a contented life.

When God puts something in your mind, the circumstances, what people say or what happens around you, cannot change your mind. Remember, it was what God put in Joseph’s mind that was his focus when he was in the dry pit, in the prison yard and in Potiphar’s house.

God sometimes uses hard times to draw us to Himself, so that we can take out proper position and possession in Him. For instance, at the time Joseph had the dream of his future, he was too young to appreciate the glory that was ahead of him- how he would become the prime minister. I mean if he had become the prime minister earlier than he did in Egypt, he would have been too inexperienced to handle the position.

So, the hard times he went through in the dry pit, in Potiphar’s house and in the prison, were God’s own way of preserving him for the glory ahead. If Joseph had not been in the prison, he would not have had the contact that finally linked him to the throne in Egypt. It was in these dark periods of his life that he gained the necessary experience and maturity to handle the responsibilities imposed on him by the exalted position he occupied in the royal court in Egypt. From this, we can understand that God sometimes use hard times – that is, unpleasant situations –to preserve us so that we can tale our future in our hands.

“Joseph said to them, ’Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:19-20.

Sometimes God allows poverty so that you can take your proper position and possession. Suffering, sickness and loneliness can preserve one. God visits His people with hard times so that they may learn His way. His way, though hard to the ungodly man, is desirable and profitable because it leads us to safety and eternal life.

Remember, if we go through hard times, we will be able to recognize and appreciate freedom. Your toiling, struggling and working hard may be to make you see and appreciate freedom when it finally comes.

PRAYER POINTS

When Joseph was in the dry pit, he kept saving, “This is not where I belong.” He was able to endure that dry pit. You have lost focus that is why poverty can make you cry. God will bring that revelation back. When you have a revelation, you will be content. As a result of this dream, he was able to withstand the situation in the dry pit and in the prison.

All you need are His mercy and favour. Do you want a good life? You must believe. The future you desire does not permit you to doubt or fear.

Ask God to give you the words of the future you desire, in Jesus’ name.

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, receive the future you desire!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. How do you think Joseph managed to remain humble after his promotion as ruler over all the land of Egypt?
2. How did Joseph know that the dream he had was from God and was for his future –not just merely a product of his own thoughts and imagination?
3. In Genesis 42, we see Joseph in a position of influence. How did he become influential?

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