Joseph used his gift to glorify and honor God.
God created every person equally but with different gift. No one is more important than the other. One person’s need is not another person’s need. We all need one another to make life meaningful and enjoyed by all. No matter how highly placed you are, there is always a time you will need what you can only get from a person of low standard. Hence, Pharaoh needed Joseph to interpret his dream. Nebuchadnezzar needed the Hebrew slave boy Daniel to interpret his dream; the Centurion needed Jesus to heal his servant; Cornelius needed Apostle Peter for his conversion; king Saul needed David to play harp to suppress his madness.
When God delivered you from any shadow of darkness, nothing should stop you from moving up the next level of elevation. Imagine if you find yourself in series of problems, like temptations that seem unabating and suddenly God delivered you and provided a way of escape out of those temptations; there should not be a person, spirit, or agent of the devil to stop you from moving up to the next level of success.
As previously written, Joseph developed his gift, and it profited him later in his life. It takes diligence for a person to be able to develop and master his/her gift. The scripture states, “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute” (Pro. 12:24).
For Potiphar to handover his household in the hand of Joseph, for the jailor to handover the prisoners in the hand of Joseph; he must have been a hardworking and an intelligent person. Someone who is careful and persistence in delivering work at the right time. A worker who will give all it takes to get things done on deadline. He does things thoroughly and well, not shoddily like a lazy person. In addition to the above, the fear of God is a plus for his success in the journey of his destiny.
Joseph’s invitation to the palace to interpret Pharaoh’s dream was a divine orchestrated move to serve God’s purpose and to bring about the actualization of Joseph’s dream. In this journey of 13 years, every point of success or achievement, either, as a dream interpreter or God’s favor upon him, Joseph never credited himself for his gift or favor as the result of his diligence. According to the scripture,
- To the butler and baker, Joseph said “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.” (Gen. 40:8 NKJV)
- To Pharaoh, Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
Those were the answers Joseph gave in response to the king’s wards, also Pharaoh when they requested from Joseph to interpret their dreams. Joseph did not say “yes I can do it”, even though he knew he had the gift to interpret their dream, he handed over the situation to God for him to receive the interpretation of their dreams.
But before Joseph’s response to the above, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”. what are people saying about you?
Boaz said to Ruth,
“I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before” (Ruth 2:11 NIV)
The good report of Thessalonians got to Paul,
“But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you (1Thess. 3:6 NIV).
What are people saying about you? Are people saying, “you are proud”? you are good? “you know too much”? “you are a thief? “a liar, or a cheater”? or “here comes the dreamer”? Do you have some good things that people say or recommend you for? Whatever you say or do will go ahead of you wherever you go on earth and to eternity. The scripture states,
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phi 4:8 NKJV).
People would always want to give credit to a human being for their achievement, is it wrong? No. But as a Christian you must return the glory back to God. In fact, you must put God first before you think, say or do anything. This will justify your claim of dependence on God.
For any gift you are known for, in whatever you do best, or after a successful completion of anything you have done, give glory to God. He gave you the power for enablement; hence, when Pharaoh asked Joseph concerning his gift, Joseph attributed the power of dream interpretation to God, not to himself, (Gen. 41:16). Before Jesus fed the multitude of 5000, before He raised up Lazarus, He gave thanks to God; knowing fully that all power belongs to God.
When you give God glory before and after your undertaking, all things become possible for you to do. Not only did Joseph interpreted pharaoh’s dream, but God gave him revelation and strategy on what to do to avoid devastation of the predicted future famine on the land.
You might be wondering where and how Joseph got the wisdom and strategy he proffered to Pharaoh. When a person feared God and received favor from Him, an open door of divine wisdom and revelation of good things start pouring in his/her brain.
When the Lord is with you, He favors you in all your ways. Not only did Joseph interpret Pharaoh’s dream, but God also favored Joseph to make Pharaoh think of no other person among all the wise men in the land to handle the predicted famine that was ahead. This can only be made possible for the man whom God favors.
The gift of Joseph brought glory to the living God when Pharaoh admired the God of Joseph,
“And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. … And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Gen 41:38-41 NKJV)
Do you use your gift to glorify and bring honor to God?
Prayers
- Thank God for His favor and how far He has travelled with you on your journey of destiny.
- Pray that God will help you to display a Godly character that will speak for you in the place of breakthrough (concerning your work, business, academics, or any undertaking)
- Pray for God’s favor to go ahead and speak favor on your behalf whatever and wherever God has prepared for you.
- Pray that everywhere you go seeking the favor of God, the Holy Spirit will fill your mouth and speak in your favor.
- Pray for divine revelation, strategy, and wisdom that you will need to lead you to your place of greatness.
- Pray for a distinguished and excellent Spirit that will make you to stand above your contemporaries in all your endeavors (Pharaoh could not find anyone better than Joseph).
- Pray that your achievement and your excellent performance will bring glory to God.
- Pray for grace not to glorify yourself for God’s favor in your life.
Lawrence Abitogun
Lawrenceabitogun.com