Influence

Genesis 41:9 AMPC

Then the chief butler said to Pharaoh, I remember my faults today.

When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in custody in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker,

we dreamed a dream in the same night, he and I; we dreamed each of us according to [the significance of] the interpretation of his dream.

And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard and chief executioner; and we told him our dreams, and he interpreted them to us, to each man according to the significance of his dream.

And as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass; I was restored to my office [as chief butler], and the baker was hanged.

After Joseph's privileged upbringing, being the favourite son, with a beautiful coat of many colours - Joseph found himself in an Egyptian prison, falsely accused of rape.

The dreams that God gave, of his whole family and beyond, bowing down to him were in tatters. 

Now he was just a slave in a dirty, foreign  dungeon. 

Joseph, mate, time to give up on God, don't you think?

Psalm 105:18 AMPC

His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron!

What a graphic picture!

He wasn't in jail just for 5 minutes and, boom, released. No, he was in long enough for his soul to enter into the iron - wow! The spoiled kid, who'd had everything done for him, was now a slave.

Joseph's life was a downward spiral:

1. Thrown down a pit by his brothers

2. Sold down into Egypt as a slave

3. Thrown down into prison as a rapist

C'mon now - who wouldn't have given up!

But the Lord knew exactly where to place Joseph to have the maximum influence.

The fact that Joseph chose to interpret the two dreams of his fellow prisoners tells me that he hadn't given up on his own dreams being fulfilled.

The effect wasn't immediate though. Pharaoh's butler forgot about Joseph until Pharaoh too had a dream.

If you read the whole story you'll see how the influence that our "Joe" had on one prisoner finally propelled him to second in command of all of Egypt.

A lesson to learn: each of us has influence. We may find ourselves a prisoner of circumstance, but those very circumstances are in God's Hands.

Carry on serving, using the gift that God has given - be it in a hidden, ever so small way.

God can use your influence as you faithfully give glory to the Lord.

Genesis 41:15 AMPC

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it; and I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream and interpret it.

Joseph answered Pharaoh, It is not in me; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a [favourable] answer of peace.

It must have been so tempting for Joseph to puff out his chest and say, yes, here I am the dream man. You can rely on me! I'll do it!

When you are put in a place of influence, don't take the limelight, but put God at centre stage where He belongs.

1 Peter 5:6

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.

Learn the lesson of Joseph.