July 27: From dungeon to throne

Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you are. You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt.” Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, “Abrek!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission.”    (Genesis 41:38-44 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Joseph, the great-grandson of Abraham, was a man of faith. Throughout his life he obeyed God and his earthly father. But when he was seventeen his jealous half-brothers sold him into slavery. This was a huge blow for Joseph. He had done nothing wrong and yet here he was a slave in a foreign land, and then, after years of faithful work, he was accused of attempting to rape his master’s wife and was thrown in prison. This was the perfect recipe for bitterness and anger at God. And yet, for those thirteen years Joseph served God and his masters with nothing but faithfulness and zeal. Everywhere he went, Potiphar’s house or prison, people noticed that God's hand was on him and on everything he did. He refused to be weak, bitter, or to have doubts about his situation because he was sure that God had something great prepared for him.

Then, when the time was right, God took Joseph from dungeon inmate to ruler over Egypt. In one day he went from the bottom to the top. God knew He could trust Joseph. Over the years he had proven himself, and the hardships had only made him stronger.

Do you want God to do something big in your life? If so, you have to be willing to pay the price. If God had not allowed Joseph to go through all those hardships, the power and influence of ruling over Egypt would have destroyed him. And if we are given everything we want too soon, it could destroy us. We can and should expect to overcome throughout our lives — like Joseph who kept rising to the top — and yet big changes demand big battles and big sacrifices. If you are willing to stay the course and doggedly hold on to your dream, anything is possible with God.