Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Genesis 41:38-41 wherein we see Joseph hit it big and are reminded to be faithful in the little things.
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
One step forward, two steps back, three steps forward, four steps back, 100 steps forward. This is a bit of what Joseph’s life looked like. His childhood years were ones of great promise, followed by disaster, followed by opportunity, back into great hardship, and now finally exalted even beyond what he might have imagined his own grandiose dreams to ever indicate. Now it’s certainly not the case that we’re supposed to see Joseph as some kind of a wonderful and successful hero (he himself would have been much opposed to that!), but there is something about his life during all of his ups and downs that we should look to emulate. This is a man who was much like the first two servants in Jesus’ parable about the talents. They were faithful with what had been given to them, and the master was then pleased to entrust far more to them. Jesus told each one, “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much” (Matthew 25:21,23). Joseph was obedient to his father, faithful in Potipher’s house, trustworthy during his imprisonment, and would now show himself responsible as manager over an entire country. This is a man who did not make his often troubling circumstances an excuse for half-hearted living.
As we consider this though, let’s be sure to be honest about how tough things were for Joseph at many points and acknowledge how difficult things might end up for us. The reality is that Joseph was both punished and rewarded for righteousness. When he was listening to his father and checking up on the work of his brothers, he was abused at their hands. When he worked hard for Potipher, he earned a spot as head servant. As he resisted intense sexual temptation, he was falsely accused as a pervert. And for showing himself trustworthy in prison, exhibiting kindness to his fellow prisoners and willingness to (with God’s leading) help Pharaoh, he was elevated to the powerful position we now find him in. And we must note that Pharaoh’s attention is directed to God in such, which is Joseph’s greatest victory in the moment of his promotion.
You see, this is what it means to walk according to righteousness. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed (1 Peter 3:13-14). We must always remember that, though positive consequences regularly come for the good that we do, our lives as Christians are to be ones of faith in and love for our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The 100 steps forward that Joseph experienced after many hardships might never look the same for you and I during this lifetime, but what all who are found in Him will experience one amazing day will be of the sort that is far more glorious than the best promotion here. Be faithful in the little things today.
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