More blessings

My Wordlive reading has taken me back to Genesis, to the story of Joseph.  No wonder his brothers are jealous and hate him. (Check out his arrogant dreaming in Genesis 37). And his dad isn’t too clever either. Having a favourite son is never a recipe for happy families.

Jealousy and hatred lead to the brothers’ plot to get rid of the cocky little brother, and Joseph ends up exiled in Egypt. But it’s not all bad…

Joseph becomes a slave to Potiphar, one of the Pharaoh’s officials, and we read this unexpected sentence in the story – “The Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph” (Genesis 39:5). Here’s the arrogant dreamer transformed into a conduit of blessing.

Being God’s ambassador is not plain sailing as chapters 39-40 make clear.  It’s a roller coaster ride of prosperity, false accusations, imprisonment, responsibility, success and abandonment. But the accompanying refrain is, “The Lord was with Joseph”. That made all the difference – to Joseph and to those he lived amongst.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)