16/01/2022
*YOUR PURPOSE IS THE REASON YOU ARE PRESERVED.*
*Introduction*
When a human is born, he/she immediately embarks on a journey of finding his/her spot in this life. They try many things but then there is that innate inborn desire to effortlessly do a particular thing. That thing is it! It is the path to the real purpose as to why you landed on this planet. The wise follow that path with their all while their less wise counterparts look around at what everyone is doing and listens to what is popular to all and strives to please the masses. In a nutshell, find yourself and be yourself. It is the source of a joyous and fulfilling life. The more fortunate ones get an inspiration of the divine voice by dreams, visions and prophetic utterances.
*Joseph's purpose*
Joseph was a favoured son of Jacob. He was born to Jacob by his beloved wife Rachel and hence lavished with favour above the sons of Leah and the concubines, Bilha and Zilpa.
*_Genesis 37:3-11_*
_Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, *they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.* And *Joseph dreamed a dream,* and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. *And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.* And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. *And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.*_
Joseph was hated for being favoured by his father first and then a new reason to be hated all the more; his dreams. He dreamt being a lord over them and they could not take it in. His second dream did not even spare his own parents but they too were to sit under his authority. Joseph shared these dreams with them. The father seemed to understand what the divine message was. Although he rebuked him, he was left in awe and meditation of the same. He knew very well Elohim was behind these dreams!
Later, the siblings green with envy, plotted to eliminate him so that his dreams would never see the light of the day but then, then only set him on the path of the stage where the fulfilment was to happen!
_Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams._
However, Reuben was convicted that it was not the right thing to do and pleaded with brethren in bid to save and return him to his father but he half way succeeded. They put him in the pit for a short time and then saw their cousins the Ishmalites passing by to Egypt for merchandise and made some money by selling him. By this deed, they were falsely comforted that the dreams now RESTED IN PEACE! They were right! The dreams were not at peace from their persecution anymore. They now could wait the appointed time at peace. He was not to die before his purpose was fulfilled!
Remember the Lord Jesus when they caught Him and took Him to the brow of a mountain wanting to throw him down but then he walked amidst them and went away. It is not possible to kill a divine vision carrier before the time appointed by the vision giver. Many times, the Jews attempted to kill Jesus before time but then their attempts always backfired. However, when time was ripe, He handed Himself over to them and allowed them to do to Him all their bloodthirsty hearts could conceive. They mocked Him, they struck Him, they scourge Him, they crowned Him with thorns, they pierced Him, they crucified Him and when He died from this breaking, a soldier plunged his spear by His side where blood and water flowed suddenly! They thought it was a great win but contrary, it was the greatest loss of all time. The high priest, the priests, the pharisees and saducees and all the religious elites of the day lost their positions by trying to defend them.
Romans 8:28 And we know that *in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.*
When Joseph was sold as a slave to an Egyptian high official Potifar, he was closer to the vision but didn't even know it but God who makes all things to work together for good, KNEW IT. He accepted to FAITHFULLY SLAVE for Potifar until Potifar was over ambitious but right to set him over all his affairs. His Charisma attracted a no ordinary woman but his Master's wife. With his excellent record, she fantasized an excellent lover in Joseph but Joseph saw the all seeing eyes of the God of his father and would not unite in flesh with that very enchanted woman! Women are naturally attracted to charismatic and performing men. If you are a gifted brother, be careful. Your gift will draw them like a bulb in a dark land. They will come in all shapes and sizes, in all colours and races, literate and illiterate will want a piece of you. Listen, FEAR OF GOD IS YOUR SALVATION!
Joseph paid the prize of his integrity. He was falsely accused. The rejected woman could not bear seeing a man who rejected him simply because he feared an unseen God. Many destined for greatness endured imprisonment for many years but their integrity could not be broken. Even though the purpose seems to be delaying, the Way maker is working out a great way. In prison, Joseph was an excellent prisoner such that the prison warden made him chief of prisoners. In everything, the Spirit upon him was making sure that his gubernatorial skills and gifts could not be hidden! He was made to govern and he always governed excellently. Paul, a learned man and an excellent writer wrote in and out of prison for that was his divine purpose. He was the chief writer of the New Covenant principles. Flow in your giftings wherever you find life has taken you! It is God at work in you BOTH to WILL and TO DO according to His good PLEASURE.
Most dreamers (lift your hands dreamers) are also gifted in the interpretation of dreams. Joseph ministered to two men who had dreamt and their interpretation was accurate. However, he was forgotten for a number of years till the appointed time. He served in prison without a murmur. But when time was ripe, God gave a dream to the ruler of Egypt and hid the wisdom of interpretation of the dreams but gave them to Joseph. He gave Joseph a cutting edge above all the wise men of Egypt till Paraoh said, _Genesis 41:38-44 So Pharaoh asked them, *"Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?"* Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, "Make way !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."_
Joseph dream now is now fulfilled half way. He is now governor of a no ordinary country but Egypt which God had chosen as the granary or the storehouse to save the world.
The drought hit Canaan too and they got a wind of it that there was grain in Egypt! Hunger drove Josephs family to Egypt and when they arrived, they all bowed before the lord of Egypt Joseph. Joseph was not a ruler of iron fist but was a type of a saviour shadowing Jesus Christ. Bowing before him meant he would one day feed them and protect them. He told them, "you intended it for evil but God turned it out for good." Never mind your haters. They intend to harm you but God will use their very treatments against you FOR GOOD. Let the Lord be praised by your humility, forgiveness, love and even loving them who hate you. You are blessed in Christ and no one can successfully throw a curse on you! *Shalom.*
*The Raw Word Publication 2021*
*Jared*