Where Will You Stand?

Life is filled with obstacles and circumstances that either make or break us. This week I was reminded of a Bible story in the Old Testament – the story of Joseph. Joseph was his father's favorite son, and because of jealousy, Joseph's own brothers sold him to slavery in Egypt.

God's favor still prevailed, and Joseph went from being a slave to being a trusted supervisor in the home of Potiphar. Even though Joseph was a man of integrity, Potiphar's wife lied about him, and Joseph was placed in prison as a result. During his time in prison, God's favor continued. Joseph was put in a leadership position within the prison walls. Twice he was asked to interpret dreams for others, and after interpreting the dreams of the royal cupbearer and cook, Joseph begged them to appeal to Pharoah for his release. Alas, both men quickly forgot about Joseph.

Finally, THREE years later, Pharoah needed an interpreter for his own dreams, and the royal cupbearer finally remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh called for Joseph and told him about the dreams he'd been having. Joseph's wise interpretation of Pharoah's dreams led to Joseph's freedom and his appointment as the second most powerful man in Egypt.

Life is not fair.

There are times of betrayal, jealousy, and hurt that can never be rationalized by the human mind. People are selfish, and at the end of the day, they might betray you for their own sake. Not everyone who smiles at your accomplishments are truly happy for you. However, the story of Joseph is less about the fallibilities of people and more about the steadfast commitment of a man and the favor of the God he served.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph reassured his brothers, "What you meant for evil, God meant for good."

Joseph exhibited the same level of integrity and excellence no matter where life took him: as a slave, steward to Potiphar, prisoner, and advisor to Pharaoh. His circumstances changed, but nothing changed Joseph's dedication to God or his commitment to remaining steadfast in his integrity.

So many things in our world are changing. However, it is up to us to determine what our own personal core values are and to live them out courageously, no matter what changes and challenges life brings us.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best: "The measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."