Daily Reading Portions from (Genesis 27, 39, 41, and 50)
Genesis 37:3-5: Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.
Genesis 39:1-3: Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did.
Genesis 41:15-16: Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
Genesis 50:18-20: His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
What you will find as you explore Joseph's life is that all the hardships refined the giftedness God placed inside him that would be used for God’s glory (Genesis 39:6). Joseph's father tried to set Joseph up for early success as he favored him over his other sons and bought him gifts, but
God’s plan for your success is not dependent upon your upbringing. Joseph would be given dreams by God that he would share with his brothers and father. What Joseph soon discovered is that the plan God has for you is not always going to be popular with everyone, in fact you can and probably will face persecution for it (Genesis 37:5). Every time there is a huge setback in Joseph's life those "setbacks" will be used for his good and propel him forward into an amazing future. The pit led to the promotion at Potiphar’s house. The prison led to the palace-it was success wherever he went because the Lord gave it to him (Genesis 39:3).
Joseph knew that even in his ability to interpret dreams, it was the Lord who enabled him to do so. Success is received by faith, that even if I can’t God still can (Genesis 41:16). After Joseph went through all the trials and was now firmly in a position of authority and power in the palace, he reflects over all he has been through and says God's plan was for the saving of many lives.
Success is our lives is because we are in Christ and He abundantly blesses us through good times and bad times in order that others too might find everlasting life (Genesis 50:20).
