You share with me the special favour of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. Philippians 1:7(a)
God’s favour equips us to live a holy life in an unholy world.
His favour rested on Joseph when he lived with his father and brothers. It rested on him when he was sold into Egyptian slavery. He had it when he became the administrator of Potiphar’s household. He valued God’s favour so much he refused the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, though he had the same desires as everyone else. That refusal landed Joseph in prison, falsely accused of sexual assault.
God’s favour went to prison with Joseph. He came to the notice of the prison manager who made him an overseer. It happened that two of Pharaoh’s household managers ended up in Joseph’s prison where both had dreams. Hearing their dreams, Joseph, by the favour of God, interpreted them. One dreamed of doom, the other of deliverance. On Pharaoh’s birthday, he impaled the doom-dreamer and re-instated the other. Joseph asked the delivered one to remember him to Pharaoh, but he forgot about Joseph. Still, God’s favour equipped Joseph.
Pharaoh had a dream none of his advisors could
interpret. The manager whose life had been spared remembered Joseph. The lone
God-follower on whom His favour rested, was brought up from the dungeon to
interpret Pharaoh’s dream. After that the favoured one became a vice-regent of
Egypt.
Moral excellence counts. Faithfulness to God is
always the right choice. Wherever you are, God will make a way. Why? Because His
favour rests upon you in the prisons and in the palaces of life.
When his family arrived in Egypt they found Joseph with God’s favour still resting on him. In a moving and dramatic scene, he forgave his wicked brothers, wept over them and hugged them. Our trials aren’t random; they bear the fingerprint of God.
His favour rests on His obedient servants.
Always.
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