Why the Joseph story shows God can use even someone like you!
By Dean Collins
It doesn’t appear that Joseph had any particular instruction that qualified him for the various jobs he was assigned. He was not trained to run a prison, yet he was put in charge by the jailer when he was sent there by Potiphar. He had no training in dream interpretation, yet Pharaoh came to Joseph for help understanding his dreams. He had no logistics certification, yet he was in charge of the supply chain when the predicted famine came and lasted seven years. Seven years!! Imagine the complaints from the citizens during all that time. And he did not have any public administration or political/government experience when he was placed as the second in command of Egypt. Even with all of Joseph’s adolescent dreams, it seems pretty obvious he never imagined or desired the various roles he was given.
Beyond our training
You may have had some specialized training or education for your job. Or like me, you trained for one line of work and ended up in something completely different. And regardless of your education and current job, I suspect by now you have experienced how God has a way of stirring things up and reassigning you to new tasks and different ways he wants to use you to extend his kingdom. It appears that God often ignores many of the credentials we see as important. In fact, sometimes he seems to mix things up a bit just to watch how we react.
We don’t really know much about how Joseph became so sensitive to God’s direction. We don’t really know why he was blessed, other than he was in the family line of Abraham and therefore blessed generationally. Joseph lived in a time before the law, the prophets, or the psalms were known. Yet somehow he found a connection with God and was faithful in every work situation he was given, both the prestigious ones and the ones some would scorn.
Used by God
So what about you and me? We have the Scriptures. We have a Savior and High Priest who has settled our debt. We have a faithful friend in Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. We have brothers and sisters in the community of faith to love and encourage us. We have natural gifts and spiritual gifts. It seems that if God could use Joseph to do kingdom work, he just might be able to use us as well.
If we commit to following Jesus wherever he calls, we might be amazed at the unique and life-changing opportunities he allows us to participate in for his glory.
I haven’t seen your resumé. But we’ve all seen Joseph’s: braggart, prisoner, accused sexual offender, and a despised shepherd. God used the guy with that resumé to run Egypt and get them through a seven-year drought. Along the way he reunited his family and relocated them to a new land which allowed them to survive. I am pretty sure God can use you and me, too, if we simply say we trust him and follow where he leads.
Your time with God’s Word
Genesis 41:33-45; 46:33-34; 47:13-26 ESV
Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash
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