Rising to Prominence

When was the last time you watched the news and they gave God the credit for something remarkable: "Good evening, this is Peter Jennings. Today God worked in the life of a prisoner to bring him into international prominence." This actually happened to a man named Charles Colson who on June 21, 1974 was convicted for disseminating derogatory information about Daniel Ellsberg in the Watergate scandal. During this ordeal, a good friend of Colson had shared the truth of Jesus Christ with him and it shook him to the core of his being. He became a Christian. Outside the courtroom, Colson said to reporters, "I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for Him in prison as well as out." Years later, we see Prison Fellowship Ministries, founded by Charles "Chuck" Colson, is an international prison ministry that touches millions of lives.¹ And God was at work in his life.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 39:1-41:57

Main Thought:
When you follow God by faith, you see His gracious hand at work in and through your life to bring about righteousness and God's glory.

Joseph's enslavement was tragic but the LORD was with him and blessed his faithfulness.

Joseph's imprisonment was unjust but the LORD was with him and blessed his faithfulness.

Joseph's rise to power was a sweet victory but the LORD was with him blessed his faithfulness.

Joseph learned the most important lesson for success -- walk humbly with your God no matter what the circumstances.

Scripture Outline:

The LORD was with Joseph in his unjust enslavement. (Gen. 39:1-6a)

Joseph stood firmly opposed to evil acts which offend God. (Gen. 39:6b-20a)

The LORD was with Joseph in his unjust imprisonment. (Gen. 39:20b-23)

Joseph used the gifts of God but carefully gave God the credit. (Gen. 40:1-41:32; focus 40:8, 41:16)

Joseph's wise counsel was publicly and freely offered to Pharaoh who recognized his gifts. (Gen. 41:33-45)

"So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt...Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. (Genesis 37:28; 39:1-4, NIV)

1. Joseph's enslavement was tragic but the LORD was with him and blessed his faithfulness.

It was the LORD who initiated the chain of events that led to Joseph's enslavement. Does this seem strange that God would work in this way? Yet the revelation God gave to Joseph in a dream -- that he would become great and rule over his brothers and family (Gen. 37:5-11) -- led to his enslavement. Joseph became a bit arrogant and was quick to share the dreams with his brothers, who already despised him. They decided to get rid of Joseph and nearly killed him. But God had other plans for Joseph. His brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites from Midian.

Why would the LORD work in Joseph's life in this way? After all, he was the favored son of God's prophet, Jacob. For this very reason, God had to work in Joseph's life to free him from the tyranny of pride. Joseph was cocky and arrogant toward his brothers. They hated him and he felt superior to them. He had the favor of his father to back it up. This pride is the chief of sins against God. (Prov. 6:16-19) Though Joseph was a believer who trusted in God, his pride kept him from fulfilling God's plan for his life.

But "The LORD was with Joseph..." (Gen 39:2) This phrase appears repeatedly in this passage (Gen. 39:2,21,23 and also 41:38-39 implied) indicating the LORD's good pleasure -- not Joseph deserving any of it -- but God's pleasure to bless Joseph in spite of his attitude and the cruel treatment at the hands of his brothers. God had plans for Joseph which would bring him to a place of prominence and power. In order to do this, Joseph had to be humbled. "The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor." (Prov. 15:33, NIV) HUMILITY PRECEDES EXALTATION -- IF GOD WANTS YOU IN AN IMPORTANT SPOT, YOU MUST BE SOMEONE TO WHOM HE CAN ENTRUST THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE YOU WILL IMPACT. His superior attitude over his less-loved brothers had to be broken. Slavery, but more specifically servanthood, was the first part of God's plan. This phrase "The LORD was with Joseph..." (Gen 39:2) was a reminder of God's presence and purpose in all that happened to Joseph.

"When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. ) Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:19-23, NIV)

2. Joseph's imprisonment was unjust but the LORD was with him and blessed his faithfulness.

From slave to prisoner, Joseph life appeared to be in ruins. It was not enough that he learn to serve others as a slave; now Joseph had to learn to serve as a prisoner. He was in the dungeon or pit, literally the lowest place you could go. Could God work in this situation, even in a dungeon, to do anything good? Yes, indeed, God was at work in Joseph's life -- even in prison.

The text says, "...whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper..." (Gen. 39:23) Joseph was faithful in his servitude; this was rewarded by God in a special way. He was successful in the tasks given to him. Moreover, his work was recognized as having God's hand in all that he did. Potiphar realized this when Joseph was serving at his home. (Gen. 39:3) Now the jailer noticed this same thing -- God was with Joseph to bless his faithfulness in the little things. So the jailer moved him up, just as Potiphar had done. Surely Joseph must have thought, "What next?"

Consider, though, that Joseph had to have accepted his circumstances at this point being unchangeable. He could choose utter despair -- many of us do so in times like this. But Joseph faithfully used the gifts that the LORD had granted him. He kept the faith. Certainly no other course is appropriate for the child of God but to do your best in whatever situation you encounter. But what kept Joseph going in this?

Two things come to mind. First, he learned humility. Because of his favored position in Jacob's family, Joseph was too self-assured -- this is called pride. Did you know that pride enslaves you to yourself? Pride is a tyranny of the soul -- it enslaves a person to his own weak, human resources. But if pride is the tyranny of the soul, then humility is the bondage-breaker. Humility is the solution to this tyranny which frees up God's unlimited resources for whatever need you have. God used the reaction of his brothers and their evil plans to force Joseph into an "unfavored" status long enough to break his pride -- to humble him. Joseph had to rely utterly on God's strength. For 13 years Joseph was enslaved and imprisoned. Yet he exercised faith over his natural feelings of despair.

How can one act in humility when others treat you unjustly? Humility requires grace. To proceed with menial tasks which seem beneath you and God's gifts to you, you need His grace -- the very thing God provides. This is why the Apostle Peter counsels us:

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. (1 Pet. 5:5-6, NIV)

Second, Joseph had the hope of God's promise -- the revelation that he would be exalted one day. This hope for the glorious future God had for him kept him going. Hope is that ingredient which, when added to faith, produces faithfulness. Joseph kept going because he trusted in God's sovereign will and power to bring about this promise. So, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb. 10:23, NIV).

This faithfulness in the little things (being a slave and prisoner) brought glory to God. Joseph's work was eventually recognized and rewarded by both Potiphar and the jailer. (Gen. 39:4,23) Joseph was freed from the tyranny of pride and humbly carried out whatever task was at hand. Like Joseph, when you and I reach the point of acting in humility and utter dependence upon God's plan and power, watch out! God is about to do a mighty work in your life and the lives of those around you.

"Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.' 'I cannot do it,' Joseph replied to Pharaoh, 'but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'" (Genesis 41:15-16, NIV)

3. Joseph's rise to power was a sweet victory but the LORD was with him blessed his faithfulness.

So far, we have seen that God was with Joseph in slavery and in prison. Now we see that the LORD was with him in his rise to power also. Here is a synopsis of what happens while Joseph is in prison:

The Pharaoh's Cupbearer and Baker were briefly jailed with Joseph. (Gen. 40:1-4)

They each had dreams which they could not understand. Through God's gift to Joseph of interpreting dreams, Joseph explained the dreams -- the Cupbearer would be restored to his position and the Baker would be hung. (Gen. 40:5-19)

Both predictions came true. (Gen. 40:20-23)

The Cupbearer forgot to put in a good word for Joseph until two years later. Pharaoh had a disturbing pair of dreams that no one could interpret. (Gen. 41:1-8)

The Cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh that the Hebrew slave could interpret his dream. So Pharaoh called Joseph out of prison. (Gen. 41:9-14)

Pharaoh told Joseph his dream and asked for an interpretation. Joseph assured him that only God can provide an accurate interpretation of dreams. (Gen. 41:15-24)

Joseph interprets the dreams that Egypt will experience seven years of great abundance followed by an even greater famine that will ravage the land. (Gen. 41:25-32) The fact that the dream was given twice indicated that God was about to act. (Gen. 41:32)

Here was Joseph's big break. He was brought before Pharaoh because he had faithfully used his gifts in prison. God provided the corect interpretation of the dream. "God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (Gen. 41:16, NKJV). This answer must have given Pharaoh peace for he immediately accepted what Joseph told him.

Did Joseph stop at this point, merely offering the interpretation of the dream? No, Joseph offered Pharaoh wise counsel based on God's revelation of a time of plenty and poverty. He recommended that Pharaoh appoint someone to oversee the "Rescue Egypt" mission -- to collect and store 20% of the grain produced in the land during the seven years of plenty. This person would then oversee the distribution of this grain during the subsequent years of famine.

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. (Gen. 41:38-42, NIV)

Once again, Joseph wears a royal robe -- only this time he is clothed first with humility. Humility means that you realize your real position of power is found in God and His will for your life. As the Apostle Paul said, "If then you were raised with Christ, ... you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1a,3, NKJV). And so God exalted Joseph to the right-hand of Pharaoh, in charge of all the land of Egypt during its glory years.

4. Joseph learned the most important lesson for success -- humble yourself before God and walk with Him.

Was it because Joseph really was superior to his brothers? No, God chose Joseph for this task. Joseph responded faithfully and learned the lesson for success:

Lessons for Success

Humility precedes exaltation -- If God wants you in an important spot, you must be someone to whom He can entrust the countless people you will impact.	"The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor." (Prov. 15:33, NIV)
Humility requires grace to proceed -- the very thing God provides.	"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Pet. 5:5-6, NIV)
True wealth, honor and life are found in a person of character and faithfulness.	"Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life." (Prov. 22:4, NIV)
Humility means that you realize your position of power is found only in Christ and His will for your life.	"If then you were raised with Christ, ... you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col. 3:1a,3, NKJV)

Thomas Kinkade is known as "The Painter of Light." Perhaps you have seen some of his paintings where each of them has an amazing sparkle of light in key places. Dimming the lights in the room, you can see these lights in his paintings shine forth. In a recent interview, Kinkade explained: "When I got saved my art got saved. I asked the LORD to be my art agent. I was naive enough to pray a very simple prayer which was, 'LORD, open the doors you want me to go through, close the doors you don't want me to go through and make the difference between the two doors real obvious so I can always know.'" Kinkade expressed that his sincere desire is that his artwork would be used to help others come to know Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.

Reflect on YOUR life: These are the marks of a successful person. A person with humility will be blessed with grace to carry out the will of God for his life. And God will lift you up in due time to the glory He has in store for you. Does your life reflect the faithfulness of God? Are you using His gifts in your current situation: at home, at work, at school?

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (Matt. 24:44-47, NIV)

Remember that our LORD Jesus Christ is coming soon! Walk humbly with God in His assigned task for you -- when He returns, He can exalt you and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Mat. 25:21, NIV)

End Notes

¹ (Lucien Coleman, "Explore the Bible Lesson Plan, Feb. 1, 1998.