Genesis 41 vs 37-41 shows us the outcome of Joseph’s preparation that God worked out in Joseph. It wasn’t a fun ride for Joseph, but he needed to die to his privilege and arrogance so that God could use him to discern and govern from a pure place.
God used Joseph to save lives.
The Holy Scriptures, Genesis 41 vs 37-41, take us into the moment where Joseph, a slave, is appointed Prime Minister over a pagan country. Pharaoh recognises that Yahweh- God of the Holy Bible- is different to the so-called “gods” of his polytheistic pagan culture.
WHAT A POINTED LESSON FOR US IN 2024?
We are reminded that there is ONE GOD, and that God is THEE GOD of the Holy Bible, and He is Sovereign.
No man, no belief, no academia, no philosophy, no argument, no manifesting, no cataclysm can stop THEE ONLY LIVING GOD.
We should, ALL, fall to our knees in Holy Fear as we recognise that we are absolutely no match for God, yet in humility we celebrate that our IMMEASURABLY POWERFUL GOD chooses to love us, filthy sinners as we are, and wants to save us.
Genesis 41 vs 37-41:
‘“This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”’
David Guzik, ‘Enduring Word’, makes a remarkable statement [point b (i)]- “He could see it in his character, in his message, in his knowledge, in his wisdom, and in his humility.”
1) DOES OUR CHARACTER, MESSAGE, KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, HUMILITY PROCLAIM JESUS?
Are we ACTIVELY addressing our character defects before God and man, allowing God’s Spirit to direct us towards Christ-likeness, OR, are we simply pew-fillers hoping that we get a participation prize entry into eternity with God granting us access to His Power and Eternal Existence?
Being a Christian, a legit Christian, means taking personal responsibility for what the world made us believe we are, bringing it to Jesus so that He can teach us why that’s wrong and shape us into HIS IMAGE, not our perception of what He is based on our own cherrypicked version of what that is.
WE ARE NOT GOD.
OTHER MAN-MADE RELIGIONS DO NOT HAVE GOD.
ONLY YAHWEH/JESUS/ HOLY SPIRIT ARE GOD, and they as ONE,
define E V E R Y T H I N G!!!
2) Does our Christianity teach what Jesus’ teaches?
When we confuse our need to be needed with calling we can be easily swayed into teaching a “jesus” that looks like man-made religions, cults, or scam artists using Jesus as get-rich-quick-scheme. However, when we stand in the place of absolute humility recognising that God sees our motives, our healthy fear of God should make us tremble so that we teach and preach Jesus as Jesus teaches everything.
3) Are we STUDYING and increasing in knowledge of God’s Holy Word?
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY:
I got to study my Bachelors of Biblical Studies and Community Development Outreach recently. My degree came on Good Friday after a long wait. I begin my Master’s Degree now in April. The point is not “Wow, look at me the studious lover of Jesus.” The more I learn, the more I am aware that I know nothing. If I can humbly come to the awareness, through study, that I know so little, how blinded by arrogance are we as Christians if we proclaim to be following Jesus yet aren’t making the effort to know THE HOLY BIBLE which is God’s Letter to us so that we can know Him?
RECEIVING MY DEGREE VIA MAIL ⬇️:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/wbQSm5q7HfevqSbf/?mibextid=UalRPS
GOD IS SO AMAZING. AS WE STUDY MORE OF HIS WORD THE RICHER OUR EXPERIENCE OF HIM BECOMES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHY HE DOES WHAT HE DOES BETTER!!!
4) Do we practice God’s Wisdom by allowing The Holy Bible to be our fact-checker?
As I am learning through my walk with Jesus, the brilliance of God is that He gave us His Word to help us not be swayed by our emotions and perspectives as they are influenced by the world we find ourselves in.
‘Oxford Academic’ clarifies this concept of influence. To quote, “Human behaviour can only be properly understood if it is thought of as being directly or indirectly influenced by others. We change our behaviour if we are with others rather than alone (social facilitation). ‘How do we influence each other? Social Psychology’ looks at the influence of society on individual behaviour, considering issues such as leadership, obedience, prejudice, and conformity. These show that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour are influenced by others.”- https://academic.oup.com/book/530/chapter-abstract/135281566?redirectedFrom=fulltext
How AMAZING that God gave us The Holy Bible to measure our influence against and to choose HIS WAY so that we don’t make wrong choices based on social influence?
5) Are we humble?
David Diga Hernandez has a great clip that points us to search our motives. As Christians we can so easily forget that EVERYTHING is about Jesus. We can get so up-in-ourselves that we don’t notice that we have made our faith about what-we-think, thereby making ourselves a god-of-our-understanding.
CLICK, ⬇️:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/CJFwP3Y8QwR1cKXs/?mibextid=UalRPS
With this massively powerful mirror from Genesis 41 vs 37 -41, may I share an incredible moment God used my home church in South Africa to stir your faith to dig into your relationship with Jesus?
Click, ⬇️:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/GGWB3vA8n4u7npE1/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Prayer:
Father God
In the magnificent name of Jesus please release Your Holy Spirit upon our characters that we are transformed into Christ-likeness.
Correct us where our Jesus Message has become about us instead of Him, and change us if our teaching is in conflict with Your Word as You define Your Word.
Create in us the thirst to go from little to maximal knowledge of Your Word through study and a love to know You better.
Help us to walk out Your Holy Wisdom by fact-checking life against Your Word and choosing to do it Your Way.
Teach us to walk in humility knowing that we are blessed to be chosen by You to work for You as You use us to achieve Your Will.
Thank you Father/Jesus/Holy Spirit that Your vested interest in us makes us able to boldly proclaim You. Help us we do so. In Jesus’ Mighty Name release Your Spirit upon Your House.
AMEN.
As Joseph had to be trained for prominence by enduring great difficulties, may we each walk joyously before God knowing that His Ways and Thoughts are so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55 vs 8-9).
#Hayibo 