Are you overwhelmed with day-to-day life and still expected to put on a smile and be kind to people in spite of what you’re going through? How about those moments where you felt convicted immediately after giving someone who rightfully deserved it a piece of your mind? It’s as if no matter what is happening in your life, you still feel compelled to exercise compassion and grace towards others. Think about those rewarding moments where you helped someone in need and felt good about it? I have truly been there and while it was not easy, I soon realized it was the glory of God on my life that activated compassion and grace towards others. What does this even mean? Is the glory of God putting up with other people’s disrespect towards you? How about others who are taking advantage of your kindness, is it still the glory of God or simply being naïve?
There was a time where I felt like no matter how hard I tried, it felt like the world was against me. No matter how kind I was, it was not given back to me. No matter how much I extended a helping it, a hand was not extended back to me. I began to question God about this. Did God expected me to constantly be kind to others, including those who did not return kindness? At the time, I didn’t understand the sole purpose of this season of contemplation I was going through but now I understand it. Let’s look at the story of Joseph.
The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) in the Bible is one of my favorite testimonies of triumph, a true testament of God’s glory. Joseph, a Shepherd boy, was his father’s favorite son but his brother’s hated him for this. One day Joseph was sold to merchants, who also sold Joseph to a high-ranking Egyptian named Potiphar. Joseph excelled at his duties and eventually became one of Potiphar’s most entrusted servants. However, Potiphar’s wife had eyes for Joseph, and although he rejected her advances, she continued. One day during one of her many attempts to seduce him, she grabbed his coat as he fled and brought it to Potiphar accusing Joseph of rape. In retaliation, Potiphar put Joseph in prison. While in prison, Joseph began to interpret the dreams of his fellow cellmates, including the cupbearer whom Joseph asked to not forget him when he was released from prison. However, the cupbearer forgot Joseph. Two years later, the King had a troubling dream and the cupbearer remembered Joseph. The King summoned Joseph who interpreted his dream saying there will be seven years of harvest, followed by seven years of severe famine. For his wisdom, Joseph was made a ruler over Egypt. From prison to ruler, God’s favor was on Joseph’s life.
During the seven years of famine, people from everywhere came to Egypt in search of food, including Joseph’s own brothers. At first, his brothers did not recognize him and Joseph did not reveal himself. After a few trips, Joseph dined with them still not revealing his identity, including his younger brother Benjamin who was just a boy and did not take part when Joseph was sold into slavery.
Joseph had compassion on his brothers, and when they recognized him and apologized profusely, Joseph hugged and kissed his brothers saying, “it was all God’s plan.” (See Genesis 45:4-8). I remember reading this and thinking to myself – indeed, it was all God’s plan! What if God did not allow Joseph to be sold into slavery, what would have happened to his brothers? Would they have survived? God allowed Joseph to gain favor and became a ruler over Egypt to provide for his family during the famine and be reunited with them through God’s favor on his life. The story went on further by telling us Joseph was reunited with his father and they lived happily maintaining peace and cohesiveness in the land.
God’s glory is never a burden, it is a distinguished honor that comes directly from God. His glory preserves and sustains us. His glory is for a greater purpose. When we are distracted by our very own hurt, anger, issues, problems and downfalls, we fail to see the glory of God in our lives pushing us to persevere through them. However, don’t be fooled, not everything you go through is for the glory of God but when you invite God in your life perseverance outweighs suffering.
Joseph spent more than ten years in prison, which was not a waste but it developed his character and prepared him for the task that awaited him. When Joseph became a ruler in Egypt, it was through his gift of interpreting dreams – a gift that glorified God. God did not allow the cupbearer to release Joseph from jail but his gift was so powerful that only God could release him. It was the gift that reminded the cupbearer of a wise man who he spent time in jail with. When God develops you, He will place you exactly where you need to be for others to see you. Joseph was not glorified, He was exonerated. God was glorified. He is glorified no matter what circumstance you have been through. Give God a chance to use you and get the glory out of you. Joseph’s journey in Egypt was not a burden, it was the glory of God that placed him there to warn Pharaoh about both harvest and famine that ended up saving the lives of many people near and far.
“It was not your fault that I was sent here. It was God’s plan. God made me like a father to Pharaoh. I am the governor over all his house and over all Egypt.” [Genesis 45:8].