Genesis 39:5 – The Joseph Effect

From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.

Genesis 39:5 ESV

We have all been in a job we hated. Maybe you wake every morning with a strong feeling of dread as your alarm goes off, waking you for your “wonderful” job.

Joseph in the Bible can be a great example for those of us who live that way every day.

His brothers were jealous of him and decided to kill him, but then changed their minds and sold him into slavery.

As we read Joseph’s story we find that God had placed him in places and situations for a purpose; even if that purpose was not immediately clear. But in the end, Joseph was the King of Egypt’s right hand man!

He even saved the lives of his family that had once tried to kill him.

While God may providentially place us in a certain vocation or situation, it still doesn’t make us enjoy our lot any more. Joseph’s story teaches us is that we can ask God to bless the work we are putting our hands to, even if we don’t necessarily like it; for the “Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.”

Just imagine the witness we as Christians would have on our employer if our efforts were blessed. Our attitude would also change as we went to work and as we remembered that whatever we do, we ought to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Ask God to bless your work for his Glory, and help you with your attitude this week.