Joseph’s Accession

 Genesis 41:1-40

            Joseph’s life has been a roller coaster. He was the favorite son, spoiled and decked out in an expensive robe. That robe was stripped from him when his brothers sold him into slavery and returned to their father, Jacob, dipped in blood to fake his death. He went to Potiphar and became the chief of servants, only to have still another cloak torn off, this time when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of assault. In prison, he once again rose to authority, only to be forgotten by the cupbearer for two more years. Finally, he receives a new set of clothes and goes to see Pharoah, who ends the rollercoaster, saying to Joseph, “Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

            One thing we can’t say of Joseph is that in all the ups and downs he lost faith. He refused Potiphar’s wife’s advances because of his faithfulness to the Lord. He credited the Lord with his ability to interpret dreams. How unlike his father!

            The Christian life is full of ups and downs, too. Some days it’s easy to believe that we are beloved of God; other days we wonder if the Lord has forgotten us. Both conditions prove a challenge to faith: good times can make us rely on ourselves as the source of our blessings; bad times can make us doubt God’s love. Yet, by the Spirit of God, faith endures, ultimately trusting Him for every good thing.