Don't Forget To Say Your Prayers!

The Danger of Wearing the Robe of Special Favor

If only Joseph would have kept quiet about those dreams that he had; he would have avoided the heartache and tragic events that transpired in his life. Unfortunately he told them to his father Jacob, and to his brothers. Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob. Jacob and Rachael were both up in age when she bore Joseph and the youngest son, Benjamin. Jacob had given Joseph a coat of many colors which angered his brothers. They knew that he was their father's favorite child.

God's favor was upon Joseph from a little boy. He began to have dreams and visions of the future of his family and of his people. In one of his dreams, he bragged to his father and his brothers about ruling over them. He told them that one day they would have to bow to him. This angered his brothers and they began to plot and scheme concerning how they would get rid of him.

In Genesis 18:37 The text says that: "Joseph was going down to Dothan and when his brothers saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspiried against him to slay him. They decided to slay him and cast him into some pit and say an evil beast had devoured him". But Ruben heard them, intervened, and delivered him out of their hands. He said, "Let us not kill him." When they spotted a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead they decided to sell him to them so that their hands would be clean of spilling innocent blood.

All of this drama set Joseph on a world-wind sojourn to Egypt and the difficulties that would take him from the pit to the palace. When one looks at the life of Joseph, we must note that there are dangers associated with wearing the robe of special favor.

The first thing to note is that one must becareful needing to be the big dog among the smaller, submissive ones. And when soneione cones along who is smarter, more annointed, more powerful, or more attractive. You must guard against being insecure and critical If you want to be the one to wear the robe.

Secondly, sometimes we become insensitive to the way our power and status affects others. As long as Joseph was wearing the robe, he couldn't understand the struggles and frustrations of his brothers. They too had worked just as hard, and deserved their father's love just as much. The problem is that they always seemed to keep coming up short. The is why Paul writes, "In honor preferring one another." (romans 12:10)

Thirdly, as long as he was wearing the robe Joseph didn't know what he was capable of under fire. He didn't know that God is enough, even when you have lost everything. Before, Joseph could wear the next robe, the one that made him prime Minister of Egypt, he would spend years as a slave in prison, not a palace. Joseph had to come to the realization that; he wasn't the only one for whom life hadn't turned out according to plan.

Before he could lead people, he first had to understand them. Be careful! Self-preoccupation disqualifies you in the eyes of God! So if you are in between robes today, rejoice! You are in a learning period and like Joseph, God is with you. When you come through this, you will be equipped for the job God is calling you to do!

And as always: Don't Forget To Say Your Prayers!