We are not our circumstances!
We hear that a lot but what does that mean exactly? Most of us are familiar with Joseph and his story of how his brothers hated him, plotted to kill him but sold him into slavery instead, and all of the other injustices done to him after the fact. Oh but God! Because of the Lord, Joseph went from slave to prisoner to 2nd in command of Egypt. Most people stop there. Some may go further in teaching on how he forgave and reconciled with the very brothers who hated him and meant him harm. Sadly, most graze over a key turning point in Joseph’s life.
Admittedly, I’ve never paid much attention to this one verse until a personal study last week. Genesis 41:14 says, "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.” It’s such a short line in the midst of such an amazing story that it is easy to skim over and miss the significance of what he did.
Theology scholars speculate that Joseph was between the ages of 13-17 when his brothers plotted to kill him and sold him into slavery; a mere child. Genesis 41:46 says Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh and ultimately became 2nd in command. 13-17 years. 13-17 years of being a slave, being lied on by pharaoh’s wife and thrown into prison, and ultimately being forgotten about. Plenty of time to forget the dreams God gave him. Plenty of time to grow bitter, discouraged, and hopeless. Plenty of time to trade in who God showed him he was for what life (circumstances) made him to be. But! The moment he knew he had an opportunity for breakthrough, he took time to clean himself up.
Joseph didn’t present himself as a filthy slave/prisoner. He did not carry his circumstances with him. Now I imagine, he didn’t have the best clothes to put on for an audience with the king, but he did what he could because he respected the person he was going before and the potential opportunity he was about to have. Many times when the Lord is trying to bring us out of something and into something new, we drag our feet possibly out of fear. We refuse to release bitterness toward those who have mistreated us and it shows in our attitudes. We hold on to past disappointments, and it prevents us from fully investing in what the Lord is trying to do in our lives.
Joseph did not allow his circumstances and what he had been through define him. Life and circumstances tried to make him bow to being a slave and prisoner. Somehow he stood his ground and held on to who the Lord showed him to be, a leader. THIS is how he was able to obtain favor even within the prison, and this heart posture was how the Lord knew He could promote Joseph to the position He showed him as a child.