I love the story of Joseph in the Bible. If there ever was a person who had the right to sulk and have a victim’s mentality, Joseph is the person. Beloved by his father and mother and hated by his brothers. Sold into slavery. Unjustly thrown into prison. Forgotten by the very man whose life he saved. Left to rot but instead chose to lead.
“So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:38-40 (NIV)
There are so many takeaways from the story of Joseph and the incredible purpose for his life that God had planned before time began. Let’s focus on one: How would you have liked to have been Potipher’s wife on the day that Joseph was brought from prison, bathed, perfumed, dressed and brought in front of Pharaoh and entrusted with all management of Egypt, in a single day?
Potipher was no slouch. In modern day America, he would be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military. He was a boss. Potipher and his wife lived lives of luxury and privilege. Anything they wanted was at their behest. Almost anything. Potipher’s wife desired Joseph as a momentary indulgence of sexual gratification. Joseph approached life as a series of decisions born out of faith in God and a character of honoring those who entrusted him with responsibility. Potipher’s wife was bored, Joseph was laser focused led by an unshakable, faith-emboldened integrity.
So Joseph was unjustly accused and placed in prison for having done the right thing. Sound familiar. I think almost everyone can point to some event in our lives where we paid a punitive price for doing what was right. God sees you. God hears you. Joseph was unjustly enslaved and imprisoned for 13 years. He most certainly hated or at least was disappointed with his life trajectory, but even in his unjust circumstances, he stayed the course of faith in God and the resulting hope and purpose in a life that is born out of true faith.
“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:41-43
So how would you have liked to have been Potipher’s wife when news came that the Hebrew boy she had tried to seduce and subsequently had imprisoned because of his rejection, was now in charge of all of Egypt? We don’t know how she felt. We don’t know what happened to her. There have been numerous accounts of what happened, how she approached Joseph afterward, how Joseph forgave her. None of these stories are in the text of the Bible because the reality is that the resulting rescue of humanity far outweighed the moments of injustice that Joseph endured. My guess is that Joseph, a man of laser-focused purpose, had more important things to do than the pettiness of vindication.
In some form, we have all be wronged. We are created for a purpose greater than vengeance. Perhaps your circumstances right now are part of a much greater plan of significance than you can possibly imagine. Jesus knew every day of his earthly life that there would be no justice in his death. He chose to love, to deliver hope, to assign purpose because the wrongs of the moment simply did not matter in the equation of eternal life.
So, if you are in a position of power or authority, lead wisely. The person under your leadership may very well have an anointing on their life far greater than the moments serving you.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)
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