Genesis 40:5-8 “Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man's dream in one night and each man's dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord's house, saying," Why do you look so sad today?" And they said to him," We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it." So Joseph said to them," Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please."
Author and speaker John Maxwell once wrote “As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behavior. Too many people want to feel it and then take action. This never works.”
Paul, Church planter, tent maker, apostle, follower of Jesus Christ once wrote “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:10 (emphasis mine)
We have all noticed by now the strength of Joseph’s character and qualities. How he stayed faithful for 13 years while spending time in two pits is amazing but it is not impossible, for with God all things are possible!
Think for a moment with me….when we fall into our pits we immediately will turn to those Psalm 40 verses, either literally or in some shape or form in our minds…..
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” Psalm 40:1-2
In other words we desire (strongly!) that God hears our cry. Which is certainly something we should desire. At the same time this desire is occurring we should also desire to be continually taking on the image of Him who created us. We should never cease to be taking on the qualities and character of our Maker.
So keep thinking with me…..if we in our pits desire that God hear our cries…..should we not continue to hear the cries of others seeing we desire to be just like our Creator?
Look at the verses from Genesis again….What did Joseph see/hear before he interpreted the dreams? He asked them why they looked so sad. He was concerned about them, he heard their cries. Christ from the cross saw the cry of His mother, Mary and made sure that she would be cared for and He looked and spoke from the cross to the disciple who He loved (John) and essentially said, take care of my mother! (see John 19:26-27) Even from the place of His ultimate suffering He heard the cries of others!
We spoke on Sunday about departing, departing from God’s presence. When in those situations as Joseph found himself in, how do we remain in God’s presence? Joseph showed us a wonderful example, even when in the pit, do this…act like God would act. Joseph provided himself to the cupbearer and chief baker, he made himself and his God given gift available to them and all the while he did this he was longing for home, longing for freedom and questioning what was going on, but his character never ceased being that which would best imitate His God.
“Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become.” John Maxwell
“And Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you…” Mark 1:17
Additional Reading 1 Samuel 30 (Focus on 1 Samuel 30:6 and allow that verse to permeate through your reading about David)
Questions to Ask Yourself
How have I been offering myself and my abilities to others, especially when they are down?
Read Galatians 6:1-5. How do we bear the burdens of others and yet bear our own load at the same time? How is this possible? (Don’t give up on this question! Think Joseph in the verses that began this devotion, think David in 1 Samuel 30, think Jesus on the Cross and every other moment in His earthly life for that matter!)
If God could start me focusing on one area of my character it would be…..(pray, listen and think!)
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1 comment:
The story of Joseph is amazing. Through all that he faced he kept his faith and remained focused on God. His faith would eventually save his family from starvation. Joseph also was able to forgive his family even after they had treated him so poorly.
I wish that I could say that if faced with the same situation that I would choose a similar path as Joseph, however, I am not so sure that I would have the strength to do so.
I am so fortunate to have established an active relationship with Jesus and my character and my life have improved so much.
At one point in my life I thought that a big part of being a good husband and father was earning enough to live comfortably and to get material things for the family.
It took a while but eventually I looked up from the pit, that I didn't even know I was in, and it was put in my heart that my being with my family and giving them my time was much more important than anything materialistic.
Greg
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