For the second time in his life, Joseph was sold today in the Egyptian marketplace like a piece of property. The man who made the purchase and stepped out of the crowd was finely dressed with a host of what looked like guards accompanying him. “At least he has a kind face,” Joseph thought to himself. When the man had come to the platform to pay the price for Joseph, he had looked Joseph up and down, and looked him straight in the eye. Joseph met his gaze and refused to look down despite the fear welling up inside.
The official had a pensive gaze, but there was a stately kindness about him that suggested to Joseph that he might not be a harsh man. This suspicion was confirmed when Joseph and the other slaves that had been purchased arrived at a lush palatial home and were given both a meal and an opportunity to bathe. As Joseph bathed, the smell of his own existence from the herds and his father’s tents washed away and foreign spices and the smell of this foreign city invaded his nostrils.Joseph prayed, asking God to give him the strength to trust in Him, the God of his beloved father, Jacob. The thought of Jacob caused tears to flow afresh. Deep down in Joseph’s dreamer heart he sensed that he was not going home anytime soon, but knew that God was with him.
These thoughts were interrupted when the man who purchased Joseph entered the bath house and introduced himself as Potiphar. Potiphar told Joseph through a young slave that translated his words from Aramaic to Hebrew, that he was the high official that served at the pleasure of the Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Potiphar also told Joseph that Joseph would not be leaving this house but would be staying on to serve here in the palace Joseph was unsure of why Potiphar had spared him from further sale and had not sent him to the fields to labor, but Joseph gave thanks to God for this moment of hopeful wakefulness from what had been a very bad dream over the last several weeks.
Everyday, Joseph worked at conquering his new dialect and soon made friends among the other servants and officers in Potiphar’s house. Joseph’s adventurous spirit began to emerge and he found peace in his new assignments knowing that God was with him. He discovered that he had a talent for administration that he never knew existed. Being one of the youngest and a favored son, Joseph had not been given very much opportunity to lead. Joseph laughed to himself as he thought he had not been much of a follower either. Remembering all the times and how often he had refused to comply with his older brothers’ wishes and directions.
Day after day, week after week, Joseph was given more and more opportunity to serve, administrate and organize Potiphar’s investments, trades, and be a peacemaker among the other workers. Pretty soon, Joseph’s day started with a meeting with Potiphar regarding the day’s events, and Potiphar retired to his table and left Joseph in charge. Joseph knew that this was because GOD WAS WITH HIM! There was no other explanation for his rapid rise to responsibility. The fruits of his labor were that he increased Potiphar’s wealth, and gained new found freedom within the palace, if only Reuben and Judah could see him now!
However, like all freedoms, Joseph’s palace freedom came with enormous responsibility. Joseph had access to all of Potiphar’s assets. Joseph was free to enter all the chambers where gold, fine silks, spices and weapons were stored. He held the keys to the wine cabinet and the servants quarters, along with all the stables where the finest Arabian horses were kept. There was nothing that was out of Joseph’s reach. This included Potiphar’s wife, Zulieka. Joseph could still smell her heady perfume and had learned to detect it along the halls as he made his way through the palace. She was forever casting him flirtatious smiles and batting her hooded Egyptian eyes at him, and he did everything he could to avoid her advances. Zulieka was extremely beautiful and exotic. Despite her tempting offers of sex to Joseph, he had told her He could not sin against God in this way. Joseph had been instructed by his father the conditions God had given for two people to give themselves to each other. This was marriage and after marriage only. Joseph’s continuous denial to her begging for an encounter led to a more heated exchange in every way possible.
One day, Potiphar’s wife had placed her hands on him and attempted to take his cloak. His word of refusal fell on deaf ears and when she pressed closed to kiss him, he ran out of the room. Leaving his coat behind, Joseph locked himself inside his own chamber and sighed with relief at the narrow escape. He thanked God for the strength to overcome temptation and the ability to flee.
While Joseph was still catching his breath, he heard the sound of shouting and many footsteps followed by a pounding at his door. When Joseph opened the door there stood Potiphar, his trusted mentor and Master, glaring angrily at him. Potiphar said “How dare you!” and had the palace guards slap the shackles on his wrists and take him to the palace jail where Joseph realized that Zulieka had lied to Potiphar out of revenge about what had transpired. Just as Joseph thought that some of his young adolescent dreams had returned and were coming to fruition, he embarked on another nightmare. Joseph laid down on the hard prison bed, looked out the barred window and gazed up at the same sky that he had stared at so long from the bottom of the well.
I have shared that what I call God sized dreams require God sized feats that are fueled by God sized Power. In my last share, I added they are done in God sized timing, not our own. But they also require God sized preparation. God does this by taking all the triumphs and the tragedies, all the obstacles and opportunities and assisting us in building a spiritual resume along the way to the purpose He has ordained for us. I believe we are all born with natural talents and potential that reflect and reinforce that we are made in the image of God. However, I believe in order to realize that potential and unleash our talents He has placed within us, we have to undergo a preparation process that reveals God’s mysterious workmanship and sovereign power, but also strengthens and increases our dependence on Him, alone.
Why? Because the Bible repeats this pattern of God throughout its accounts of all the folks God used to accomplish His purposes. Think of Noah who spent his entire life building an ark when it had never rained to prepare for the forecasted flood. Did I mention, his entire life? That’s a lot of dailyness, at the saw cutting wood for the ultimate shop project of which you can’t really grasp the meaning of. Think of the faithfulness and discipline that would be required that could only come from the inspiration of God , Himself. And think of the residual dividends of faith In God, that would return from God when Noah was aboard the ark waiting for the new world to be uncovered. Queen Esther who was recruited as a contestant for what amounted to a palatial beauty pageant and years later was used by God to save the Jewish people from annihilation.
Then there is David, who was anointed as king over Israel as a shepherd boy but didn’t take the throne for 20 years. If we could interview David on the day of his coronation day we could ask “What has the last 20 years been like waiting for this day.” I am not sure of his exact words but it might be something like this as David leans into the microphone and says “Where do I begin ?” The scriptural account of David’s life of following God is a great read and a significant reminder that God wants us at His best for the purpose He has for us. Likewise, this is true for Joseph as well. We know from God’s Word that ultimately Joseph becomes governor over all of Egypt during a crucial time of famine for both the Egyptians and the Israelite nation. Joseph becomes God’s link in the supply chain. That job would require a lot of business savvy and administration skill that Joseph as a young boy had not yet developed. However, Joseph sure received the opportunity in the house of Potiphar to get what we would call an M.B.A. Josephs degree was obtained through the “on the Job” type of training where we see he spent time in the “School of Hard Knocks” as well.
As usual, all powerful opportunities supply their share of powerful temptations —Greed, theft, and extortion peddle their wares continuously. The Bible, history books, newspaper and the internet are filled with reports of how absolute power can corrupt absolutely. But God, lovingly calls us away from these enticements that would harm us and our future and leads us toward integrity and virtues that bring health, peace and divine purpose that satisfies the soul. God Himself does not tempt us but the scriptures says In Proverbs 17:3 that the Lord tests hearts. God uses tests of faith to reveal what the true motive of our hearts are. God wanted Joseph and still wants us to exercise our love for Him by choosing Him and a relationship with Him and as a result His purpose for us unfolds. We find this concept in the New Testament where Jesus warns Peter of an upcoming test by telling Peter that Satan desires to sift him like wheat. Jesus told Peter, “I will pray for you that during the test, your faith will not fail.” Joseph not only passed the faith test of mind and heart, but followed through with honoring God with his own body. Joseph’s refusal to take advantage of what we would refer to as a cougar’s invitation for a few short minutes of exotic passion demonstrates how important it is for us to follow through with this type of obedience.
I live in a culture now that reinforces the lie that my behavior does not have to line up with my philosophy. The falsehood that as “long as my heart is in the right place and I’m not hurting anybody” my body is free to do what it needs goes directly against God’s call to His children… Joseph, though a slave, considered property by others, considered himself to be enslaved to a higher set of virtues instituted by a Holy God and confessed this. As a result, God blessed Joseph and was with him!. Keeping myself physically pure and spiritually fit is a crucial part of joining God in the dream achieving business. I recognize it is God calling me to work by showing up with the equipment He has given to me, to participate in the dream becoming a reality where the by product is big big blessings that only God can bring!
I know this devotion was a little longer today, but it is fitting that it is. Building a spiritual resume, undergoing tests, facing and overcoming temptations and undergoing God’s preparation process takes time. I have prayed many days for an “Express lane,” a short cut through the wilderness, etc. but when I look at Joseph’s life, it reminds me God does not want me to face a dream without courage or skill, but in a steadfast confidence that God is with me cheering me on during the preparation process. Tutoring and strengthening me every step of the way. Protecting and guiding me in the choices of everyday life that are connected to dreams God has for me Paul assures us In Ephesians,
“God can do anything, you know, … far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does this not by pushing us around but working within us. His Spirit working deeply and gently within us (Eph. 3;20 MSG).
Join this 5 o’clock worker the next time in the vineyard where we take a look at dreams from the perspective of prison.
Sharon Bundo, 5 O’clock Worker
5oclockworker.com 