Steps to Greatness (2)
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. - Psalm 105:17-22
Joseph, in his father's house, was merely a teenager at seventeen. He was immature, pampered, and gifted. He needs to be mentored through life, and no one qualified before God to bring the discipline he required in his father's house. His brothers were too lawless and hateful to provide the right example. His father also was too emotionally attached to him to allow him to develop. In God's wisdom, he allowed those who did not desire him to train him until he was made suitable for the assignment that God planned for him. All those took time- a thirteen (13) years of hard training and lessons. He never aborted the process through bitterness even with many years of persistent injustice.
We shall examine the significant step Joseph went through on his way to greatness:
1. PAIN
Every progress in life starts with a process. Nothing great is created suddenly even God the creator of the universe was systematic in creating things we see. But every progress involves pain. You do not see any bitterness towards God in the life of Joseph. He took things as they came without murmuring or grumbling.
God mentored Joseph through what he went through. Your mentor is not your tormentor, and your training under God's supervision is not a punishment. Punishment is a consequence of wrongdoing, but discipline is a process to make you become what the manufacturer intends. Never abort the process of God for your training. Price is not greater than the prize and God uses the little things to train us for greater things. God always uses what you are doing now to process you for your lifting.
Joseph stayed with his visions even when the hateful middle of his life went downdip. He still trusted when he could not trace him. We do not have to understand God before we trust him for God is beyond our comprehension. We all know the past and a little of the present moment, but God sees the total picture. He sees the future more than we know “the now” and many at times because of what we did not know, God's ways seem unreasonable to a natural or carnal mind.
God was with Joseph in all his troubles. We hate troubles; we run from troubles; but troubles have made all of us. He matured in a hurry by the problems he went through. He developed great faith. He took everything as they came; he trusted God when he could not trace him. Even though the potential of great faith comes by hearing, great mountain-moving faith comes because of the roads that God allows us to go through in his plans to prove his words as true.
Prayer: In the name of Jesus, I receive divine insight into your plans for my life and fill me with the Spirit of boldness and faith to positively respond to my inheritance in you in Jesus name. Amen!
Further Reading: Genesis 4-7; 1 Corinthians 10:10-12
One-year Bible Reading Plan: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2
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