(Gen 41:46 MSG) Joseph was thirty years old when he went to work for Pharaoh the king of Egypt. As soon as Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he began his work in Egypt.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Today’s message flows in the same vein as yesterday’s, which was entitled, “Divine Success Requires Divine Patience.”
After giving Joseph his signet ring, a new robe and a gold chain, Pharaoh put Joseph in the chariot reserved for the second-in-command and took him for a ride. As they rode around it was evident that the favor of God resting upon Joseph was not limited to the throne. The favor of God upon his life spilled over to the people and they shouted for Joseph. If that was not good enough, while the people were shouting out Joseph’s name, Pharaoh looked at him and said, “I am Pharaoh, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval.”
To further incorporate Joseph into the Egyptian culture Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Paneah. Before you think the new name is a bad thing, let me tell you that it meant, “God Speaks and He Lives.” With this name Joseph was basically a walking/talking billboard for God. Pharaoh also gave him an Egyptian wife, Asenath. This is where we get to our text. Joseph was 30 yrs. old when this happened and he immediately got to work.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- There is a space between the promise and the performance. Joseph was 30 years old when he was promoted to second-in-command of Egypt. He was only 17 yrs. old back in chapter 37 when he received his dream. Although it has taken me several weeks of messages to get us from chapter 37 to chapter 41, it is easy to overlook the fact that these four chapters cover a span of 13 years. It would be at least another seven years before Joseph’s brothers would sit under Joseph and the dream would finally come to pass. This means that the space between the promise and the performance in this case was more than 20 years.
- You must endure the process. In John Maxwell’s book, “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, one of the laws he teaches is, “The Law of Process”. The law of process says that leadership develops daily, but not in a day. This law shows that what matters most is what you do over the long haul. Success in life requires a lifetime of perseverance and dedication. If you want to see how someone becomes a champion you should look at their daily routine. What you consistently do is what you eventually become. Joseph was just a dreamer at 17, but by the time Pharaoh appointed him governor of Egypt, 13 years later, he had developed his relationship with God, he knew how to hear from God, he had a strong work ethic, and he knew God would provide the blessing if he provided the work. This is evident because he started working as soon as he left Pharaoh’s presence. That is a sign of maturity.
- You have grace for the space. While it is true that most of the time there is a space between God’s promise and the performance of the promise or between your confession and God’s completion of the confession, it is also true that God gives you divine grace to run your race. Since you have grace for your race, then you must also realize that you have grace for the space in between your prayer and the manifestation of it. God gave Joseph grace for the 13 year span between leaving his home (by force) and taking the leadership position in Egypt. Joseph needed God’s grace to endure the pit, Potiphar and prison phases of his life, so that he could be prepared for the palace phase. God’s grace kept him and blessed him to remain faithful, diligent and dedicated in the space. God will do the same for you. It might seem like you are waiting a long time for your breakthrough. Maybe the space between the promise and the performance for you is taking years or maybe even decades. No matter how long it takes, God has given you divine grace for the space. You can hold on until you see in your HANDS what God has already blessed you to see in your HEART.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith and patience. You made plans for me before the world began. You will see to it that Your plans come to pass in my life. You are committed to me and to the plans You made for me. You have started a good work in me and You are committed to finishing what You started. You will never leave me, forsake me, or turn Your back on me. You are with me always and with me until the end. But that does not mean that I am always ready for Your best. Your blessing is manifested in Your timing. You know that the right thing, at the wrong time, can become the wrong thing. So You work with me, to mature me, so that I can develop and be ready to receive Your best for my life. You will not release Your promise until I am ready. That is why there is a space between the Promise and the Performance. I am not moved by how long it takes, nor by what I see. I don’t allow what I see to change what I say. I believe God. Just like You gave me grace for everything else, You have given me the grace for the space between Your Promise and the Performance of it. So I embrace and enjoy the process. I remain consistent, diligent and faithful while I am waiting on the manifestation of Your promises. I know I am being developed daily and I know my development will not be complete in one day. Over time I become the person You desire for me to be and I walk into Your best for my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
