God's Reward
It took 13 years of patient faith before Joseph saw God's reason for all of his trials. Those years saw one problem after another come into his life. He was sold to Potiphar in Egypt. He was blessed by God, so that he became the steward of everything in Potiphar's estate. He was put in jail on false charges from his master's wife. While in jail, he told the butler and baker the meaning of their dreams. He plainly told them that it was God who gave him the interpretation. However, the butler forgot him, so he stayed in prison two more years. Then, he told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams after the butler thought of Joseph. Then, and only then, was he elevated to second in command in Egypt. He was given a wife, and he had two sons. Joseph went from the pits of life to the pinnacle of life.
The names of his sons show how amazing God can be in our lives. His firstborn was Manasseh, which means "God has made me forget all my toil and my father's house." Then, the second son was Ephraim, which means "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." Only after his sons were born, and he was administering the resources of Egypt to overcome the great famine did he see his brothers coming to buy grain. He remembered his father's house. He saw why it had all happened to him. He was there to save his family and continue God's covenant with the descendants of Abraham.
Most people would have given up before the end of 13 years. Many would have become discouraged when the butler forgot them in prison. Joseph kept trusting and giving God credit for the blessings he received. Then, the reward was to be the second in command in the most powerful nation in the world at that time. The reward was to see the fulfillment of his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him. God's reward was so great that he forgot his toil and the abuse of his brothers. God's reward was given in a new land, he did not even have to go home to be blessed. God's ways are not our ways, they are much better.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-46.
The names of his sons show how amazing God can be in our lives. His firstborn was Manasseh, which means "God has made me forget all my toil and my father's house." Then, the second son was Ephraim, which means "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." Only after his sons were born, and he was administering the resources of Egypt to overcome the great famine did he see his brothers coming to buy grain. He remembered his father's house. He saw why it had all happened to him. He was there to save his family and continue God's covenant with the descendants of Abraham.
Most people would have given up before the end of 13 years. Many would have become discouraged when the butler forgot them in prison. Joseph kept trusting and giving God credit for the blessings he received. Then, the reward was to be the second in command in the most powerful nation in the world at that time. The reward was to see the fulfillment of his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him. God's reward was so great that he forgot his toil and the abuse of his brothers. God's reward was given in a new land, he did not even have to go home to be blessed. God's ways are not our ways, they are much better.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 43-46.