In life we will experience adversity and suffer through the unjust hands of others. As hard as it is we have the opportunity to view such hardship as the providence of God orchestrating the situation to set us up for advancement in a way only God could engineer. Our proper response is to seek God for truth and understanding; then act in accordance with His instruction. Our obedience to Him then serves as our preparation for His future promotion.
RELEVANCE
The story of Joseph offers us a great testimony of how what others had meant for evil God turned for good. He was sold off by his brothers and cast into slavery inEgypt. There he was mistreated and placed in prison. The grace of the LORD was with him and he experienced the favor of the guards.
A time came when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had a dream that disturbed him. After all his wise men and trusted advisors couldn’t interpret the dream, his butler (who had formerly been in prison with Joseph) told Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and by God’s grace, he interpreted the dream. After Pharaoh acknowledged that his unique wisdom and discernment was of the Spirit of God, he promoted Joseph to governor and steward over all the resources in Egypt.
Another story is told of Jacob. He spent twenty years working for Laban, a shrewd businessman who tricked him and changed his compensation time after time. God, however, was watching over Jacob, and He gave him strategies that enabled him to prosper greatly.
I was once in a situation where my performance was 50% of quota for the first six months, so I was pressured to resign. Before the meeting with my boss, however, the LORD gave me clear instruction not to quit. To management’s surprise I held my ground. So they placed me on three-month probation. Two months later a major account brought business my way. Two years later I was recognized as the company’s number one producer. Several years later a new executive (who didn’t appreciate my service-oriented business style) was set in place. After two years leading a division to top production, he created a new position for me, “promoting” me into an area which had been our least successful place. God, though, had greater favor, allowing us to win an unprecedented level of contracts!
REFLECT AND RELATE
Wherever you are, call upon the LORD and be willing to receive His instruction and do what He leads you to do. Keep a grateful and joyful heart and bless those over you. See how He changes things. See His promotion on the horizon; as distant as it may appear.
REFERENCES
Genesis 29:1-32:32