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Today, the Scripture is taken from: Genesis 40.
Theme verse:
“Only remember me when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh…” Genesis 40:14 (ESV)
God is at work even in his silence. In Genesis 40, though, we start to see God’s work in more overt ways. He had worked in and through Joseph by making him wait. Now, God begins putting Joseph into position to fulfil his divine purposes for the rest of the story.
In Acts 7, when Stephen stood trial before the Sanhedrin, he spoke of God’s work at this juncture in Joseph’s life:
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. Acts 7:9-10
We’ve talked previously about God being with Joseph. But Stephen brought up two other aspects of God’s work: giving wisdom and giving favor.
We all need wisdom as we go about our daily work. And God is able to provide all that we need as we seek him:
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:1–11
If Joseph’s story has taught us anything so far, we know that God’s promise of eventual success for the upright doesn’t mean that our stories will be unbroken sagas of happiness and prosperity.
But God’s wisdom does lead us into the path of life. When you don’t know what to do, he is able to guide you and show you the right course of action. He gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream. He will give you what you need as you seek him. The question is, are you willing to call out to the Lord for insight, to cry aloud for understanding, and to search for it as for hidden treasure?
If you are seeking God’s wisdom, you will stand out. Consider this description from James about what heavenly wisdom looks like:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13–18
God’s wisdom isn’t about getting ahead in your workplace. It’s about living a transformed life that reflects glory back to your Creator. A life like that is a beacon to others who are just beginning to seek him. God also gives favour. If you’ve read the Book of Esther, you’ve seen how God gave Esther favour with various Persian officials at key moments in her story. Throughout Scripture, God influences authority figures to accomplish his purpose. If you are facing an intractable situation at work, why not ask God to give you favour? He is able to place you where he wants you to be: “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open” (Revelation 3:7).
We serve the same God Joseph did. If you need wisdom, if you need favour, he is able to do more than you ask or imagine. Believe in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you…”
Let’s Pray:
Lord, we ask for wisdom from above to handle the exceptional situations at our workplace. Grant us thy grace and favour in the eyes of our employers. We draw strength from You to live out our faith and shine for You wherever You have placed us in. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Time for Reflections.