This Can Be Your Story - Part 26

The Holy Spirit is our biographer. He writes the perfect story of our life.
When we look at the life of Joseph, he was raised to a position that no man could believe. 

Life of Joseph divided into 3 parts:

1. Beloved son
2. Rejected slave
3. Exalted ruler

This was the same with Jesus. The beloved son of God came into the world. But the world did not accept him. His own family rejected him. He lived the life of a slave. But today he is the exalted ruler, king of kings and lord of lords sitting at the right side of the Father.

Even in our lives, don’t we feel rejected at times and pushed down. Our heavenly Father blesses us immensely but even then there are situations where we feel like a slave. But keep in mind just like how Joseph was uplifted, there will come a time when you will be raised to a greater position. 

While in the phase of rejection, we might feel like ending our life, find it hard to pray and even start blaming God for everything. But if you believe that your situation will change then you will be able to live a life of hope and peace in God. 

Hebrews 2:10 
‘In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.’

From the time Joseph was thrown into a pit to when he was exalted to the Prime Minister position in the palace, those 13 years taught him many things. He understood what life was, the troubles that man faced, how to praise God in hardships, how to manage a household, he learnt to live in the desert etc. He was trained in many areas while in troubled situations. 

It was the same with Jesus. He went through the hardships while on Earth and because of that he was raised to glory and is the way to the Father. 

Believe that when you go through difficulties, you are getting trained and developed for the future. 

Genesis 46:5-7
‘Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.’

Genesis 46:26-29 
‘All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons. With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.  Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

Jacob and the others with him left Beersheba and reached Goshen. Joseph ran and hugged Jacob and started crying. It was after 22 long years Joseph was able to see his father and brothers. 

Genesis 46:30-34 
‘Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

There is no limit when God starts blessing and honouring a person. But during this time we need to be faithful and have faith in him. Prove your faith and faithfulness and you will be honoured by the Most High. Be faithful in the least. 

Genesis 47:1-6
‘Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.” He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”’Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

Pharaoh told Joseph to give them the best land. And if anyone has a special ability Pharaoh told Joseph to put him in charge of the King’s livestock. 

Genesis 47:7-10
‘Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.’

Patriarch Jacob, a man of God, had the privilege to bless the king. 

The Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was. To this Jacob replied humbly that he was hundred and thirty. This was because his forefathers had lived many more years. He also added that his years were very difficult. We know that right from Jacob’s childhood days his mother and father had their favourites. He had to leave his home fearing Esau. And then he was separated from Joseph for many years. 

Genesis 47:11-12
‘So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their children.

In the verses above we see Joseph provided food to the same brothers who once tried to kill him. Isn’t this exactly what Jesus also did? Jesus died for the very people who crucified him, insulted him and rejected him. 

Summary

Joseph is a great example for us. He showed us how to love those who have hurt us. Wherever Joseph was placed he was faithful. This is a lesson for us - Always be faithful in your circumstances because there comes a time when your season will change. 

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