How To Get Ahead

Last week we met Rachel and dealt with her issue of perfectionism.  This week we meet Rachel and Jacob’s son, Joseph.  See Genesis 37:3.  This verse tells us that Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son probably because Rachel was his favorite wife.

Many of us are familiar with the story, “Joseph and Technicolor Dream Coat.”  Think Donny Osmond.  If you don’t know the story, you can read about it in Genesis 37.  To make a long story short, Joseph’s brothers are jealous of him and sell him into slavery in Egypt.

Eventually Joseph becomes the attendant of a high Egyptian official.  The official’s wife frames Joseph for rape and he winds up in prison.

Joseph fares well in prison.  He is able to interpret dreams and gets released by Pharaoh.  In fact, Pharaoh likes him so much he puts him in charge of all of Egypt.  Joseph’s own brothers come back to him, begging for food.  Joseph helps them out.  Eventually, Joseph is reunited with his family and we get a happy ending.

What could Joseph’s issue be?  Promotion.  The dictionary describes promotion as “the act of being raised in position or rank.  Ascend, elevate, rise.”

Joseph did not self promote.  Look at Genesis 39:2-3, 5b and 20b-21.  It tells us “since the Lord was with him, Joseph got on very well.  The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.  But even while he was in prison, the Lord remained with him.”

Our culture is obsessed with self-promotion.  Look at the Kardashians.  This is the opposite of God’s idea of promotion.  God promotes those who wait on His timing.  This is the waiting that actually landed Joseph in jail.  Yet it was reversed!  He was placed in charge of all of Egypt.

The key to Joseph’s promotion was that he used it to help others.  Joseph saved Egypt from famine and his family from starvation.

We should allow God to promote us and then use our promotion to help others.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do I try to “one up” others in all I do?

Am I always talking about myself?

Do I step on those I feel are in my way?

Am I out for myself?

What can I learn from Joseph?