The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So, Joseph found favor in his sight and served him. Genesis 39:2-4
Throughout the Bible men and women who were anointed and called to greatness found themselves stuck in very difficult and painful places and situations. Moses was called to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, he got ahead of God and fled to Midian to escape the wrath of Pharaoh. David was anointed King and sent back to tend the sheep and then later spent another 13 years running from Saul before taking his rightful place as King. Gideon was in a wine press threshing wheat trying to hide from the Midianites when the angel appeared and called him a mighty man of valor Esther was taken into the king’s harem so she could later become his wife and rescue the Jews from being destroyed. Mary was called “Highly favored of God” only to find herself the speculation of an unwed pregnancy and almost a broken engagement. Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and lost his vision for seven days before he walked into his anointing and came one of the fathers of the New Testament Church. He spent time under arrest by the Roman government and ended up writing half of the books if the New Testament. Joseph was no exception, God promised him a future of greatness through the dreams he had as a teenage boy, both dreams were of his family bowing before him and him ruling over them. Too often the opposition comes form those who we love the most and therefore the wounds of betrayal cut even deeper. Can you imagine how often Joseph must have wondered what he did wrong to end up a slave in Egypt. His reality did not match the dreams God had given him. Too often the called, find themselves in places that are not familiar and must learn new skills and customs to survive in their land of “captivity. One of the biggest challenges is to hold tight the promises of God until they materialize. I cannot think of anyone who God specifically for His purpose who did not have set backs and opposition. When we chose to believe what God has said and allow the bad places to develop our character, we will one day be all that God promised us we would be.
While the person who is called and anointed of God may not feel “Highly favored,” (How could being a slave feel favored?), those around will see the greatness and often use the anointing on them to promote their agenda, Potiphar saw that everything that Joseph was assigned to do prospered. The favor of God was so evident on Joseph that Potiphar placed everything he had into Joseph’s hand and everything Joseph touched prospered. Joseph was not just an honest man who was a good steward, he was blessed with wisdom and willingly worked with his hands, doing the right thing, obeying God even in difficult situations. Deuteronomy 27 “ Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord, your God, to observe carefully all His commandments, which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and over take you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” The blessings on our life are so great that they will flow over to those around us. David said in Psalm 23, “My cup runs over.” Being anointed and called of God takes great integrity or the call will destroy you. Can you imagine if Joseph would have gotten a haughty attitude and rebelled against Potiphar and taken what was not his to take including Potiphar’s wife. If we will submit and be faithful to those who God places over us, the favor of God will cause us to rise above our situations. When Joseph thought he had used the lemons to make lemonade, he is wrongfully accused of trying to seduce Potiphar’s wife and all he worked so hard for seemed to be stripped away from him and he was thrown into prison. Once again, he did not allow his circumstances to make him bitter, instead he allowed the pressures to build a strength in him that he would need to rule under Pharaoh. Joseph seemed to understand that when God calls us, He knows what it takes to build the character and strength needed to fulfill the assignment on our lives. James 1:24 is a hard scripture to put into practice, “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect lacking nothing.” Too often we rebel against the training process that God has but us in to perfect us and strengthen us for the assignment we have been called for. Joseph was sent to Egypt ahead of the drought to prepare the modern world at the time to be prepared and have enough food. Ironically Joseph was called and anointed to sustain the very family who tried to oppose him and squash his dreams. It is important to remember that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
Perhaps you are wondering what this has to do with you, and no one has told you that God has a calling over your life that no one else can fill. Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” I believe everyone has a divine plan that God gave you along with the ability to fulfill the plan if we will be obedient. The plan not only furthers the kingdom of God, but you are designed to feel fulfilled and content when you accomplish all He has called you to do. Age does not matter, Paul told Timothy “Let no man despise your youth, while Caleb took his mountain at age 85. Even though each of us have different callings, we need to be diligent to run the race set before us. Maybe you have been running the race and feel like there is consistent opposition that tries to destroy the call. In Revelations 3:18 Jesus promised, “I know your works. See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied My name.” When we are faithful in the small things, there will be a time that God opens the door we need to fulfill all our destiny and nothing or no one can keep the door from opening or shut it once it is open. You are Favored even if you do not feel very favored now. I pray Hebrews 13:20-21 over you, “May the God of peace who bought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Remember to “be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of the Jesus Christ.” Have a blessed week.
Cathy Nesmith