Genesis 41:43

New International Version (NIV)

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.

For meditation

Somebody may ask how people all over Egypt were shouting, “Make way”, to a village boy and slave like Joseph. How did he get there? What did he know to become the Prime Minister of Egypt? If Pharaoh wanted an assistant, was there no qualified Egyptian for that role?

Such questions abound whenever a surprise candidate is chosen for a position. But, let’s examine Pharaoh’s reason for appointing Joseph to the position.

“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” (Gen. 41:39-40). That’s it!

God had an agenda, and Joseph was His chosen instrument for its accomplishment. A master planner that He is, God chartered a training program for Joseph, and it was administered through the School of Adversity.

In the first part of his training, Joseph went through a crash course in how to endure hatred by loved ones (Gen. 37:4), loneliness in a dry cistern (24), and rejection when he was sold into slavery (28). The campus was his own home and his professors were his own brothers.

The second session was set in the home of Potiphar in Egypt (36). Joseph was taken through a course in administration (39:4) with specific emphasis in trustworthiness, integrity, faithfulness, temptation (7-10) and the wisdom to run when necessary (11-12). He also learnt how to deal with false accusation (13-18) and condemnation (20).

Part three of the training was set in the king’s prison (20b). There, Joseph was schooled in administration at the government level (22-23) with emphasis on concern for people (40:6-7), divine knowledge (12-19), boldness (18-19), and the pain of being forgotten (23).

Throughout the entire training program, Joseph learned to trust God completely to bring to pass the vision He had given him when he was in his father’s house. He learned to be patient, humble, and prayerful in waiting. God’s appointed time came and Joseph was rushed into Pharaoh’s presence for his final examination (41:1-14). He was tested in divine knowledge (15-27) and wisdom for project administration (33-36). He passed with flying colors (37-38), and a new position was created for Joseph in the government of Egypt, the greatest nation of that time (39-44).

That’s what God does with adversity in His children’s lives – to discipline and mature them; making them ready for His appointment.

Do you know that it is in adversity that we:

1. Confront our weaknesses and failures?
2. See Jesus and our need for His power?
3. Are pruned for fruitfulness?
4. Are humbled and made pliable in Jesus’ hands
5. Learn absolute obedience to God

I pray you will see why Joseph was the right person for God in the nation of Israel’s salvation program and why Jesus was God’s choice for His eternal salvation plan. They both suffered in severe adversity and were raised to the highest levels, befitting each of them.

So: May you embrace adversity with a godly perspective; and may God reward you with the promotion He has reserved for you since the beginning of time as part of His eternal plan.

Adversity is God’s school for Christian growth and maturity.

Shalom