Joseph and God

When reading the story of Joseph, one thing that captivates my heart every time, is God's never ending goodness and faithfulness towards Joseph. Yes, Joseph was betrayed in the most cruelest way by the ones closest to him. Yes, Joseph was set up and falsely accused for wanting to sleep with his master's wife. Yes, Joseph was thrown in jail for two years. And yes, Joseph was emotionally distraught by his haunting past as he had to face his brothers in Egypt. But in the gaps of those horrible moments and surrounding each one of them, is God's goodness and love for his child Joseph.

I can imagine Joseph thinking on his way to Egypt after being sold by all, not only some, but all his brothers, "O God, please at least let me have shelter, food and clothing wherever I am to go." That would have been enough for Joseph, but God went beyond "enough," and made Joseph in charge of everything that his master, Potiphar owned. God gave Joseph favor with Potiphar, in the midst of suffering and pain, God made good.

As Joseph was being accused and thrown in jail by the evil lies Potiphar's wife made, Joseph might of thought, "O God, please protect me, do not let me be harmed by the other prisoners and let my innocence be found true." That would of been enough for Joseph, but God went beyond that and not only showed Joseph kindness in prison by the other prisoners, but gave him favor with the prison warden and was chosen to take care of all the other prisoners and responsibilities of the prison. God had already planned placing two dreams in two prisoners, and the interpretation of those dreams in Joseph's mind, so that one day, one of those prisoners, could be the voice to bring Joseph out of jail and into a kingdom where he would be made ruler over Egypt, and much more significantly, restore Joseph his family, his daddy, and brothers. God's goodness never stopped at Joseph's "enough." God's goodness always went way beyond Joseph's suffering and pain.

This is our God. A God who loves us inexplicably and does more than enough for us when we go through deep waters of great trouble, through rivers of difficulty, and when we walk through the fire of oppression. We will not drown, but I assure you, God will go beyond saving you from drowning. We will not burn, but God will go beyond rescuing you from burning.

The goodness God displayed through Joseph was not because Joseph was handsome,or strong or wise, it was because Joseph always chose to remain faithful to God even during heartbreak. We see that when Joseph is taken out of prison after two long years, Joseph is still exalting God, instead of being mad at God, he exalts him.

Genesis 41: 15 "The king said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, but no one can explain its meaning to me. I have heard that you can explain a dream when someone tells it to you." 16 "Joseph answered the king, "I am not able to explain the meaning of dreams, but God will do this for the King."

When we decide to exalt God and see God's goodness in the midst of our pain, His faithfulness in the midst of our heartbreak, God will never stop at our, "enoughs," rather he will go beyond them time after time.