Joseph's Secret! God Did It!

Read: Psalm 105:15-20; Genesis 49:22-26; Genesis 41:45-52

One of the commercials that is on TV fairly regularly shows a woman who excitedly speaks about her friends and how they say that she looks so amazing. Her hair and skin have an incredible vibrancy, and they want to know how it occurred. How has she attained this incredible glowing transformation? Evidently, inquiring minds want to know. Well, sad to say the advertisement evidently hasn't done its job for me since I can't remember the product she is holding out; however in today's scripture, we look in on Joseph whose friends could well have asked a more important question than the one asked and answered in that ad.

Joseph's friends might well have wondered how he did it. How did he endure the betrayal and treachery of his brothers as well as the lies and false accusations of Potiphar's wife which resulted in years of imprisonment for him? What was his secret, and could Joseph's secret be a part of our own lives? Before we go any further, it is important to say what Joseph's secret isn't. It isn't a bandage and a little kiss that says "all better." It isn't a quick fix that says that what Joseph's brothers and Potiphar's wife did wasn't so bad and that Joseph should simply wave it away. Joseph's secret doesn't say that at times, Joseph didn't weep and that he never became weary. Let's look at what Joseph knew that buoyed him up and enabled him to shine with God's love. In spite of the wrongs that were such a part of his life for around thirteen years.

In Psalm 105, we are reminded that Joseph had received truth from the Lord. In his case, this truth came in dreams. Joseph had had two dreams that foretold that he would one day be in a position of leadership or authority. His unfair treatment wouldn't be the end of his story. There was more that God would do. We also have promises. Promises that remind us that what we experience now is not all there is. Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us. That where He is, we also will be, John 14:1-3. Like the bridegroom readies a place for his bride and comes when the time is right, Jesus our bridegroom will surely come back for us at just the right time. He has also told us that the struggles here will someday pale in significance when they are compared to the glory we will receive, Romans 8:18. There is more to our stories than what we presently see. Admittedly, that is sometimes difficult to grasp, but it is a sure Word spoken by a wholly trustworthy God, Psalm 12:6. His Word never expires or becomes outdated, Isaiah 40:6-8.

In Genesis 49, we read Jacob's prophesies concerning his sons, and in verses 22-26 of that chapter, he spoke of Joseph. Here we read another part of Joseph's secret. God was helping him. Strengthening his arms though "archers" shot at and harassed him. The Shepherd of Israel was with him so that he could get through the cruelty of his circumstances. This is the One Who has promised us that He would always be with us, Hebrews 13:5. Being with us is not a passive thing. God is at work on our behalf. Romans 8:32 assures us that the One Who took our sins upon Himself would also give us all that we need to live in the here and now. I love verse 22 which refers to Joseph as a fruitful bough by a spring. Thriving because of his God. More about that in just a bit. Joseph's life, though undoubtedly not the life he had expected was nonetheless productive. We also have the promise of productivity in our lives. In John 15:16, we as Jesus' born again loved children, John 3:3 are given precious truths.

First, God chose us. The Shepherd of Israel Who is the Rock Whom Joseph knew sought and saved us. His reason according to John 15:16 was that we would bear much fruit. Once again, we are able to do this because God is at work in us and through us. Zechariah 4:6 says it in a bit of a different way. It is not our might or our power, but the Spirit Who does the work. Like Joseph, we are not only called and chosen to bear much fruit, we are also told that the fruit we can bear will be eternal fruit. Not here today gone tomorrow fruit. In Genesis 41, we read one of the sweetest reminders of Joseph's secret, and it came after Joseph was made second in command in Egypt. Gone were the shackles and the prison rags, and in verses 45-52 of that chapter, we read about two beautiful events. The births of Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Names were often significant in Joseph's time, and the names of these little ones tell a beautiful part of Joseph's story.

First Manasseh. Joseph tells us that he named his son this because God had caused him to forget his father's house. We know, of course, that Joseph hadn't blotted out the memory of the injustice and wickedness of his brothers' actions, but the wrongs done to him hadn't and wouldn't eat him up and cause him to live in bitterness and regret. God, Joseph said had been the One Who brought this about.

Second, Ephraim. Joseph said that this one's name spoke of the fruitfulness God had given him. No, his life wasn't barren; instead, God had brought about a harvest of sweet fruit through Joseph's life. That's why he noticed when the cup bearer and the baker seemed troubled. He wasn't bound up with thoughts about his own problems. That's why Joseph could embrace his brothers when he made himself known to them. God had produced the sweet fruit of love and forgiveness that flowed out of Joseph into the lives of his undeserving brothers. His hands weren't clenched in anger and his lips were not brimming with vengeful words. God did it.

Philippians 2:4 reminds us to not only care about our own needs but also the needs of others. Joseph did that. I'll show my age here. The Beatles used to sing a song called "Do You Want To Know A Secret." The next line asked, “..do you promise not to tell?” Well, Joseph has reminded us of a great secret, and God wants us to tell everyone we can about His love and how it is His promises and His strengthening that help us to prosper and bear eternal fruit in spite of the hardships of this world.

Lord, help us hold out Your Word with tenderness and strength. Let it, as You have promised, not return void, Isaiah 55:11.