“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)” Genesis 49:22-24
From the time that Joseph was a child, his father saw that he was different from his brothers. Part of this was because he was the son of Rachel, but he also had a pure spirit that contrasted with the others. Jacob blessed him with a coat of many colours such as a prince might wear. It seemed that he did not have to work in the fields like the others.
Joseph dreamed dreams that we know today were prophetic of what was to come. It was probably not a wise choice for him to reveal them to his brothers because it caused them to envy and hate him. But God’s hand was upon him. The choices that he made later led him to the fulfillment of these prophecies.
- He chose to obey his father and go to visit his brothers who were looking after the flocks.
- Sold into slavery in Egypt, he purposed to serve his master to the best of his ability.
- When faced with temptation, he fled Potiphar’s wife, even though it meant being falsely accused and put in prison.
- In prison he maintained his integrity and gained favour with the keeper.
- He chose to be patient when the one he had helped in the prison forgot about him when released.
- He gave God the glory for being able to reveal Pharaoh’s dreams and thus gained a place of prominence in Egypt.
- After testing his brothers when they came to look for food, he chose to forgive them, instead of seeking revenge for their cruelty to him.
From the story of Joseph, we learn a lot of lessons that will help us in our walk with God. No matter what circumstances we may face in life, it is up to us how we face them. We can feel sorry for ourselves, bewail our lot, or we can choose to do our best, Sometimes it may seem that the Lord has forsaken us, but if we keep trusting God, holding fast to what is right, in His time, we will reveal His purpose.
Before Jacob died, he pronounced blessings over all his sons. These are his closing words about Joseph:
“The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” Genesis 49:26
Prayer: Jesus, you have a plan and purpose for each one of us. We choose to trust that your hand is upon us, that you have us in the place you desire us to be, and that you are working your perfect will in our lives.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
