Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.” (Genesis 37:36 NIV)
Poor Joseph. In just a matter of days, he went from being a favoured son to being a slave who can thank God that he is even still alive. No more coats of many colours for Joseph now. No more daddy to run to every time something went wrong. No more tattling when someone did something to him. There was no loving father here in Egypt, no one who favoured him simply for who he was. No, here in Egypt he would have to earn any favour that he might receive.
We aren’t told much about Joseph’s character in the early part of his story; however the things we are told – Things like him tattling on his brothers, etc. – would leave us to believe that maybe he was a little bit spoiled; that maybe he was just a little bit proud.
We know from scripture that God cannot use a prideful heart, for: “a man’s pride will bring him low…” (Proverbs 29:23a NKJV); and “Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud…’” (James 4:6a NKJV).
The humble in spirit, however, God can use: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…” (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV); “…But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”(Proverbs 29:23b NKJV); and “…But [God] gives grace to the humble…” (James 4:6b NKJV).
God had a plan for His people. He had a plan that involved Joseph in Egypt. But why did Joseph have to go to Egypt as a slave? Could it be that his pride might have gotten in the way of God being able to use him to save the Children of Israel? Could it be that Joseph needed the humility that would be a natural part of falling from riches to slavery?
This is, of course, pure speculation, for the Bible doesn’t tell us. What we do know is that the next mention of Joseph in Genesis is to say that Potiphar, “…made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.” (Genesis 39:4 NKJV)
What I find very interesting is the “why” Joseph did so well in Egypt. The reason is recorded in Genesis 39:2: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…” (NKJV) Joseph didn’t rise up in power in Potiphar’s home of his own power, but because of the Lord. And this was so evident that even the pagan Potiphar saw it: “And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” (Genesis 39:3 NKJV).
The Lord doesn’t exalt the proud, only the humble (See 1 Peter 5:6); therefore any lingering pride from Joseph’s childhood must have been washed away, and Joseph would stand humble in Potiphar’s house, humble enough for God to exalt him.
Are you struggling in life to succeed? Why not try the Joseph way. Humble yourself before the Lord, for when you do, He can lift you up. Perhaps it is time to take your “pride temperature”. Ask God to reveal to you any lingering pride in your life. Repent of it, and ask God to give you a humble heart. No, you may not ever be destined to be the second in command of a great nation, as Joseph was, but humility is the secret to any true measure of success.
Join us next Saturday for another powerful lesson from the life of Joseph in “Teacher Joseph, Part 3”!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
(To access the entire “Teacher Joseph” mini-series, click here!)
