GENESIS 41:41-42

 ⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” ⁴² 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..

To Ponder

Imagine what it would have been like for Joseph to have been put in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Consider, for a moment, where he was before his brothers sold him into slavery. His family were looking after animals, and he came from a people who were on the land. Consider also that he had spent from the age of 17 to 30 either as a slave or in prison. Then suddenly he is given such an enormous responsibility! Pharaoh is taking a huge risk! One could even think that Pharaoh was being irresponsible.

So far, I have been thinking about this reading from my own human perspective, but I think it is important to pause and ask a different question. Who put Joseph in this position? Pharaoh, of course. Yes, but is he the only one who put him there? No. The Lord did. Right from the beginning, as the Lord gave dreams to Joseph, he has been the one bringing about his story in Joseph’s life. Joseph was put in charge of the land because the Lord wanted him in that position. Even Pharaoh himself saw that God was at work in Joseph, and this influenced his decision. But at the end of the day, Joseph is where God wanted him to be.

I think there is something in this for us as Christians to reflect on because we live in a world and a culture that does not think like this. We think we are in the positions we are in because of either our own or someone else’s choices. Most people, including many believers, would not even think for a moment that it could be possible that God had them in positions where he wanted them to be.

How would your life change if you considered God has you where he wants you to be? Seeing that God is intimately involved in your day-to-day circumstances, working in your life in ways you do not see.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see my life as always being in your hands. In my workplace, my relationships, my daily responsibilities—even in the ordinary moments—you are present and purposeful. Like Joseph, I may not understand the full picture, but I can trust that you have placed me exactly where you want me to be. Forgive me for the times I've viewed my circumstances as mere coincidence or human choice alone. Open my eyes to see your hand at work, positioning me for your glory and the good of others. In Jesus name. Amen