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The Joseph Process: Prosperity
By Janine Scott-Lowe, MD
Genesis 41:50-53: Now before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph whom [his wife] bore to him. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father's household." He named the second Ephraim "For," he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the land, but in all the land of Egypt, THERE WAS BREAD.
What a TURNAROUND has taken place in Joseph's life. Remember from whence he came. He started as a young, naive, arrogant and boastful dreamer, set apart and spoiled by his father, but hated by his brothers. Because of his brothers' jealousy, he was thrown into a pit, his father being told that he was dead. He was then sold to traders who brought him as a slave to Egypt. Then he went to Potiphar's house--prospered for a little, but then was lied on and falsely accused of attempted rape and was thrown into prison. In prison, he again experienced a measure of success and used his gift of dream interpretation to help out Pharaoh's wine taster, only to be forgotten by him soon after the wine taster was restored to his position and released. Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream, the wine taster remembered Joseph, Joseph interpreted his dreams, and Pharaoh promoted and elevated Joseph to becoming second in command of all of Egypt.
Now here is Joseph during a time of true prosperity in his life. He has gotten married and has been blessed with two sons. Look at their names and their meanings. The prosperity that Joseph is now experiencing was so much so that he no longer remembered all the trouble that he experienced to get where he was, nor the people who caused the trouble in the first place. God's blessing had not only allowed him to forget his former pain, but also blessed him to be fruitful in the land that was initially a problem and a curse to him.
God has a way of doing that in our situations! As He intervenes, He causes GOOD to come from what all we could see was bad. He turns our messy situations into messages; our tests into testimonies; and (as I recently heard), our misery into our ministries. I'd say that here, Joseph is experiencing a DOUBLE PORTION blessing that Job later experiences after his time of testing and trial as well. As it was with them, so shall it be with us. If we can just remain FAITHFUL to our God, to CONTINUE TO WORK and USE OUR GIFTINGS FOR HIM to bless and help others, and to NOT BECOME BITTER in our circumstances, at some time, we TOO will be PROMOTED out of our prisons and into prosperity. Just remember that prosperity does NOT simply have to mean monetary blessings (although it may). Part of Joseph's prosperity (as it was with Job as well), is the restoration of his family (wife and children). Prosperity could mean the attainment of PEACE in our lives, or JOY, or HEALTH, or WHOLENESS. However it comes, it will be WORTH THE WAIT.
Another point that I want to add is to comment about Joseph's WISDOM in terms of what he did during his time of prosperity. He didn't just "rest on his laurels" or squander his abundance. No, he spent these seven years of prosperity PREPARING for the seven years of famine One thing that I believe Joseph has come to realize in his life is that seasons and circumstances can change, and quickly. As God revealed to him about what was going to happen in the land, Joseph believed God and ACTED ON HIS BELIEF. He "stored up grain in great abundance...until he stopped, for it was beyond measure." (Genesis 41:49) Joseph would not be caught off guard or unprepared. He used his season of plenty to prepare him for a time when there would be lack. However, because of his wise preparation, those around him would be in lack, BUT HE WOULD NOT BE. Truly, the Lord would make him the HEAD and NOT the tail during the time of famine.
So it should be with us. Like Joseph, may we use WISDOM to follow God's instruction and store up during our times of prosperity for future times of struggle or pain. Let us use the good times in our lives to fortify our relationship with Christ by spending time with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in His house. May we also give of our time, treasure, and talent to help others, so that when our time of famine comes, we will have enough strength in God and seed planted in others stored up to take us safely through our difficult seasons, and to help others through their seasons as well.
Genesis 41:57: The people OF ALL THE EARTH came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
Be blessed!
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