“Jacob LOVED JOSEPH more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So, one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—A BEAUTIFUL ROBE. (GOOD)” (Genesis 37:3) Jacob love his 11th son because he was born to his favored wife Rebekah. Jacob’s brothers already hated him but one day he had a dream about how his brothers and mom and dad bowed down to him. This really angered his brothers, So, they schemed a way to get rid of Joseph (BAD).
Joseph was sent out to see how his brothers were doing, When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, as he approached, they MADE PLANS TO KILL HIM (UGLY) “…when Reuben heard of their scheme, he said “Let’s not kill him…let’s sell him to the Ishmaelite traders…he is our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. So, when the Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver.” (Genesis 37:18, 21, 27-28) All a part of God’s plan.
“…the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt…they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt…The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master…Potiphar realized that the LORD was with Joseph…This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned (GOOD)...The LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake…and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. One day no one else was around she came and grabbed him by his cloak…“Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as HE RAN FROM THE HOUSE. When she was holding his cloak, she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed (BAD).” (Genesis 37:36, 39:2,3-14)
“Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So, he threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held (UGLY)…But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORDD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison (GOOD). Sometime later, Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their royal master…they were put in the prison where Joseph was.” Joseph interrupted dreams they had telling them how the cupbearer would be ok but the baker would not, so he asked them to tell about how he helped them him. “Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer, however, FORGET all about Joseph, never giving him another thought (BAD). (Genesis 40:1-3, 19-23)
Two full years later (UGLY), Pharaoh dreamed…The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So, he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, NOT ONE OF THEM COULD TELL HIM WHAT THEY MEANT. Finally, the king’s chief cupbearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh…There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant (GOOD).” (Genesis 41:1, 8-9, 12) Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph (VERY GOOD), “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream YOU CAN INTERPRET IT.” (Genesis 41:14-15) So, Joseph interpreted the dream and Pharaoh said, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours (EXTREMELY GOOD).” (Genesis 41:39-40)
NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH, OUR ABBA FATHER IS ALWAYS DIRECTING OUR PATHS, AND ORDERING OUR STEPS…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham