Joseph the wearer of the coat of many colors. The second-in-command to Pharaoh. Joseph the upright and pure man who ran from sin, turned down an affair with Potiphar's wife, A man who interpreted dreams.
But to me Joseph's greatest accomplishment was none of these. His greatest attribute was not what he achieved.
Genesis 39 King James Version (KJV)
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
Note that several times the Scripture says that the Lord made whatever he did to prosper. Why? Was Joseph special? Was he magical?
No. He was a hard worker. Industrious, studious, and efficient. He had a lot of ups and downs but never did he give up or quit trying. Whatsoever his hand found to do, he did as unto God.
UP - Joseph was a favorite of his Father's and found greater favor than his brothers.
Down - his brothers threw him in a pit, and sold him to slavers.
UP - He was then bought by Potiphar a man of means and a commander of men. Joseph worked hard and found favor. He was given control of all that was in Potiphar's house.
Down - Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. When she couldn't she falsely accused him of sexual harassment and he was cast into prison.
UP - Joseph then in prison found favor in the jailer's eyes and was given charge over all the things of the prison.
Down - Joseph interpreted a dream of good tidings for pharaohs butler and a portent of death for the baker. Both came true but the butler forgot Joseph for two years.
UP - The final up. Joseph interpreted a dream for Pharaoh and God made him second in command of Egypt.
The most important attribute of Joseph was this: He did the greatest job and the least job with the same amount of effort and fervor and zeal. He never gave up. Never considered it beneath him. Never did he look at the filthy floors of the jail and say "nope I am too good for that." He did whatever job he had with the same amount of effort. From running Pharaoh's kingdom to being a prisoner. In doing so, he not only brought honor to himself. He honored God. He made of himself a glowing testimony, a shining example, and a clean conscience.
This is as true for us as it was for Joseph. Whether it be running a department for a major company, stocking shelves, or managing a restaurant, Remember God loves a man or woman that will do whatever He gives them to do to the best of their ability.
Any job we have God gave us. Any blessings or promotions come through God, Everything and anything we have is because of Him.
Always remember to give God the glory and the job your best, no matter what the pay, or what the job is. Honor God and work hard and He will honor you.
Joseph worked hard, worked honest, and honored God. He got money, fame, family, peace and happiness in return.
God may not bless you the same way He did Joseph but He will honor you. He will bless you.
Colossians 3:22-24King James Version (KJV)
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
But to me Joseph's greatest accomplishment was none of these. His greatest attribute was not what he achieved.
Genesis 39 King James Version (KJV)
39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
Note that several times the Scripture says that the Lord made whatever he did to prosper. Why? Was Joseph special? Was he magical?
No. He was a hard worker. Industrious, studious, and efficient. He had a lot of ups and downs but never did he give up or quit trying. Whatsoever his hand found to do, he did as unto God.
UP - Joseph was a favorite of his Father's and found greater favor than his brothers.
Down - his brothers threw him in a pit, and sold him to slavers.
UP - He was then bought by Potiphar a man of means and a commander of men. Joseph worked hard and found favor. He was given control of all that was in Potiphar's house.
Down - Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. When she couldn't she falsely accused him of sexual harassment and he was cast into prison.
UP - Joseph then in prison found favor in the jailer's eyes and was given charge over all the things of the prison.
Down - Joseph interpreted a dream of good tidings for pharaohs butler and a portent of death for the baker. Both came true but the butler forgot Joseph for two years.
UP - The final up. Joseph interpreted a dream for Pharaoh and God made him second in command of Egypt.
The most important attribute of Joseph was this: He did the greatest job and the least job with the same amount of effort and fervor and zeal. He never gave up. Never considered it beneath him. Never did he look at the filthy floors of the jail and say "nope I am too good for that." He did whatever job he had with the same amount of effort. From running Pharaoh's kingdom to being a prisoner. In doing so, he not only brought honor to himself. He honored God. He made of himself a glowing testimony, a shining example, and a clean conscience.
This is as true for us as it was for Joseph. Whether it be running a department for a major company, stocking shelves, or managing a restaurant, Remember God loves a man or woman that will do whatever He gives them to do to the best of their ability.
Any job we have God gave us. Any blessings or promotions come through God, Everything and anything we have is because of Him.
Always remember to give God the glory and the job your best, no matter what the pay, or what the job is. Honor God and work hard and He will honor you.
Joseph worked hard, worked honest, and honored God. He got money, fame, family, peace and happiness in return.
God may not bless you the same way He did Joseph but He will honor you. He will bless you.
Colossians 3:22-24King James Version (KJV)
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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