God can change things.
The story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is filled with examples of bad parenting, lying children, and through it all, the providence of God!
You might say Joseph’s family displayed an example of sibling rivalry on steroids! There was four times the baby mama drama. There were four sets of children by four different women, all living together, forming a family that had a lot of moving parts.
Jacob poured even more fuel on the fire by making it known that Joseph was his favorite child. Then we see in the scriptures where Joseph dares to tell his dreams to his brothers, dreams which point to them bowing down to this favorite son. It was too much!
The story is told how they got rid of Joseph and even considered killing him, but we see in Genesis 37:25 that a caravan came by headed to Egypt and it was just the thing to keep his brothers from killing him. His brother Judah said, “Let us make some money and not have this murder on our hands.” The hand of God preserved Joseph!
Before we can get to the Joseph who was the ruler of Egypt and reported only to Pharaoh, before we can get to that encouraging Word of “God meant it unto good,” we must recognize that God did not cause the evil. It was purely the work of hardened hearts and jealous spirits. This evil thing was used so that good would come out of it and good would be bestowed upon the one who was treated so badly.
God is an ever-present help when times are rocky. God is an ever-present help when your back is against the wall. God will level the playing field and then put you in charge!
There are three points that can be shared from the story of Joseph from his childhood to his position as second in command to Pharaoh:
1. He kept his eyes on God. As we look at the scripture, we see that God blessed Potiphar’s house just because Joseph was there and when Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him, Joseph, a young man, says to her, “I cannot do this wickedness and sin against God.” His eyes were on more than the lifestyle he was living. Joseph had his eyes on his relationship with God! He wanted to please God first. Proverbs (20:7) tell us that the just man walketh in his integrity.
2. He did not let adversity change his character. Joseph was tossed in a pit. Joseph was sold into slavery. Joseph was lied on by a willful woman and tossed into a dark dungeon. After 13 years of servitude, Joseph remained steadfast in his faith in God. His character is further demonstrated when Pharaoh told him to interpret his dream. Joseph said it is not me. It is God who gives the answer.
3. Prosperity did not change his character. Joseph at 30 years old, quite a few years from being the 17-year-old who was sold into slavery, is now second in command to Pharaoh and given command over all that is in Egypt. Pharaoh pulls off a ring and puts it on Joseph’s finger. He is given fine clothes to wear and is given a wife. Yet, Joseph works diligently at what he has been assigned.
When Jacob dies, Joseph’s brothers remembered what they had done to Joseph. (People do not forget when they do you wrong. They know how they would feel if the same thing happened to them.) They are afraid that now Jacob is dead, Joseph would get his revenge.
Joseph has forgiven them. Joseph even tells them that he would look out for their children. What you did was wrong, but thank God, he has preserved me for this day where I can save many.
You have been hurt, but God will use what was meant to hurt you to benefit you! Nobody solves a problem like the Lord. Those doors which they closed, thank God, it gave you an opportunity to be still and meditate on the Word of the Lord! Now, look at you as you have grown up in the Lord. They’ve thrown everything they had in their arsenal, but you keep on getting up in the strength of the Lord.
It does not matter how wild your family is. It does not matter how dysfunctional your family might be. What the enemy set up to destroy you and your family, God can work through it!
God specializes in bringing success to lost causes. The past, the present and the future God have not left you. Keep your eyes on God and do not harden your heart to the move of God.
St. James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy St. in Charleston and worship service is held on the first and third Sundays of each month at 11 a.m. You may also join us on Zoom – pastorv.com.
