February 18, 2019
My dear Brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given you for today is from the book of Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Joseph was a unique character in the Bible. Joseph held on to God firmly. Joseph was the most loved son of Jacob. His brothers were jealous of him so they threw him into the pit. Later they sold him to the merchants as a slave. The brothers told his father that a wolf had eaten him up and Jacob was in great sorrow. Jacob mourned for his son many days. There in Egypt Joseph was purchased by Potipher an Egyptian Officer. Potipher trusted Joseph the Hebrew, much.
In Potipher’s house, he was appointed as the head man. Potipher’s wife desired to be intimate with him. But Joseph continuously refused to oblige to her request. He said, “’How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? “ One day, she grasped his garment. But Joseph slid out of his clock and ran outside. He ran away from committing sin. This self control earned him the appellation , Joseph the righteous. Potipher’s wife accused him falsely, as a result, Joseph was thrown into the prison though he did not do any wrong. Yet he patiently endured the sufferings. Even in the prison he was made the head man. He never lost his faith in the God of Israel. In the prison he found favor in the eyes of the warden. Along with him the kings cup bearer and baker were imprisoned . They had dreams while they were in the prison. Joseph interpreted their dreams. According to his interpretation, the butler returned-to the kings palace within three days. But the chief baker was hanged just as Joseph had interpreted.
Two years later, king Pharaoh had a dream and Joseph was summoned, to the palace by Pharaoh. So from the prison he was taken to the palace. He was asked to interpret the dreams the butler had reminded the king of a young Hebrew man who had interpreted his dream. Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Iris not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace. There in the palace Joseph interpreted what God had revealed to him , that was about to happen in Egypt. The Pharaoh said to his servants can we find such a one as this, a man, in whom is the spirit of God? And Pharaoh said to Joseph ”See I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Impressed by Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed Joseph as the governor, of Egypt next to King himself.
Dear brothers and sisters , Thus we see how Joseph , from a prison, was exalted to the post of a governor. He married the daughter of Potipherah, a priest. He was blessed with two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. God exalts those that humble themselves. Even though Joseph was hurt and envied by his brothers, he never rebelled against them? Instead he provided food for the entire family of his father Jacob during famine, when they came to Egypt for settlement. He told his brothers, God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives. They schemed evil for him but God turned it for his good. God changed his sorrow into joy.
God bless you.
Prayer:
Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank you for revealing to us the greatness of being humble in our lives. Teach us to be like Joseph who in spite of being hated by his brothers still continued to hold on to Jesus. He never retorted with his brothers instead he forgave them of their mistake. Help us to continue in faith and hold on to Jesus all the days of our life. In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.
