15/08/2024
Up from the horrible pit
Joseph was a dreamer, and because he continued to dream big, his brothers envied and hated him for that. They conspired to kill him, but not directly with their hands, but with a natural death caused by them.
At the sight of him on the field coming towards them, they stripped him of his coat, his coat of many colors. He was thrown into an empty pit without water by his own blood brothers, but he was later lifted up and sold to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph to Egypt.
Joseph was a dreamer, and he didn't give up dreaming to become whom the LORD God has revealed to him to be. While in the pit, he didn't give up because of his brother's rejection and betrayal. You could have been stripped of your pride, or the most important thing and of value to you, physically, financially, and emotionally, but that shouldn't be the end because that's not the end for a seed taken from its mother branches, because if the seed is planted again, there is hope for growth and to become great again.
Many could have thought that was their end in the empty pit without water and food, and some could have thought of committing su***de because they lost hope for just a few hours, days, or even years.
Some who are privileged or stronger may want you to die of hunger and thirst by making life hard because their expectation could be your death or loss of focus.
Some may want to frustrate you at your place of work or office, so you give up on your dream. They could strife by blocking all the available ways and opportunities, but never yield to their oppression and suffocation. The Lord, who made a way for Joseph out of the horrible experience, could make a way that you couldn't imagine, and the way sometimes may not be what is pleasant but also a way forward.
Joseph was brought to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, and an Egyptian, bought him out of the hands of the Ishmeelites. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. When his master saw that the LORD was with him, the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. Joseph found grace; his master made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand; and the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake.
Shortly after all these things, Joseph was lied against by his master's wife, who wanted to have sexual in*******se with him but failed when Joseph ran away. The same woman told the people and her husband that Joseph wanted to r**e her but was left alone when she shouted.
Potiphar was angry and vexed when he heard what his wife said about Joseph and put him in prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound. But the LORD was with Joseph, shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison, and whatever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison didn't doubt Joseph's ability and trust to lead others in the prison; because the LORD was with him and the things he did, the LORD made it prosper.
In the prison, Joseph continues to lead, enlighten, and interpret other prisoners dreams, not thinking of what they could offer him first but what he could offer because he knows the freedom of a particular prisoner who is visionary and faithful could be the freedom of many.
He later interpreted the dream of the king's butler and baker, who had offended their lord, the king of Egypt. He gave each of them the interpretation of the dream, in which the chief butler was to be restored back to his position, but to the chief baker, he was revealed to be hanged by Pharaoh.
Even while in prison, Joseph didn't give anyone false hope; he told them the true interpretation of their dreams: one was to regain his position and live, the other was to lose it and thereafter die. Though Joseph has told the chief butler to remember him when he regains his freedom and post, the butler has forgotten him.
In all that happened, Joseph still followed along, knowing wherever he went or may be, all things worked together for his own good because he feared and loved God to not have committed evil against his master or anyone or sin against God's word, and he was called according to God's purpose; for whom God did foreknow, he also did predestinate to fulfill his will.
When the LORD would favor Joseph and the appointed time because Pharaoh could have had the same dream before then, he made the King "Pharaoh" have a dream that no magicians or wise men could interpret except Joseph. And that was how Joseph was elevated and enthroned in Egypt as the second in command (prime minister), and he was recommended by the chief butler who first forgot him.
No man is forgotten in life. Once you continue to grow and renew your strength, moving by the marvelous light of Christ from glory to glory, when you are needed and when the appointed time comes, those who need your service will look for you, bless you, and promote you, as you have also added value and meaning to their life and purpose.
Giving up at some point may not make your dream come true with the opportunity coming your way. There is always an equilibrium point where what you have to offer will meet the opportunity and the good that is coming your way, even if it's a one-time opportunity for some, which they shouldn't misuse.
Life itself is more of an attraction than a force, because what you attract by value and true nature is easy to keep. But it is hard and seems impossible to keep what you are always forcing to come into alignment with yours.
No matter the condition, continue to grow and do what you know how to do best, because in moving forward, regardless of the challenges and hindrances, your glory and light are going to shine for others to see. Moving forward even when you don't know where your dream and purpose are leading you; moving forward even when you don't have a clear picture of tomorrow; moving forward even when it doesn't look like it (expectation and desire).
Moving forward even when it seems you are moving from one pit or fire to another trouble. Moving forward when all seems dreadful and dark. Let your hope come alive even when you are tired and have no clue what is happening or what to do.
Daniel was thrown into the lions den because of false accusations, but the LORD delivered him. Even King Darius wrote to all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth and made a decree: In every dominion of his kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom cannot be destroyed, and his dominion is to the end.
"He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who have delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." So Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Your steadfastness as a believer, unwavering faith, obedience, and faithfulness can make kings, nations, and languages worship our God Almighty and make your way prosper. You don't have to fight for a particular religion, but to manifest the glory of God through Christ Jesus, that our God is able, abundantly able, to deliver and save his people and all nations that put their trust in him.
Our Lord was crucified on the cross of Calvary but still gained victory over death, loose the captive, and was resurrected on the third day from the dead.
It's not yet over, brethren, though we will all die someday, but even in death, it's not yet over, for we have overcome death by the blood of the Lamb's testimony and the salvation and sanctification of our soul.
O ye ka dupe
O ye ka dupe (2xce)
Ara san
Ategun fe
Iji ja, ko gbe wa lo
O ye ka dupe
We can hear the sound, see the thunder, and see as it lights up the dry land and trees.
Thanks be to God, we are not drowning in the troubles of life.
Thanks be to God, though the thunder and lightning are loud and dreadful, we are not destroyed.
Thanks be to God, we are not blown away by the boisterous wind.
We are heading home, and we are there safely.
Thanks be to God, who gave us this victory.
Genesis 37:23–28, 39:1-23, 40:7–23, 41:8–46, Daniel 6:16–28, Romans 8:28–29
TAIWO F. J