According to Genesis 37:2 Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery. According to chapter 41:46 he was 30 when the pharaoh promoted him and in verse 1 of that chapter, we are told that he was two years in prison, thus that means that he served Potiphar for 11 years.
Do you get it? It took 11 years for this process of success through God’s blessings to take place. We often think that if God is behind something that it will transpire in 11 days or perhaps 11 months but not 11 years. Furthermore, the reality of Joseph’s temptation takes on a whole new perspective as this temptation lasted for many years not a few days. What then was the secret of Joseph’s success?
Well according to Genesis 39:3-9 we can see six works of God in his life:
• Vs. 3 The Lord in his life“The Lord was with him”: It is very obvious in the text that the Lord was in his life, it was what powered him and moved him.
• Vs. 4 Diligent in small things “Joseph found favor and served him”: He was diligent in the small things. Here is what I mean, during those 11 years Joseph who was from a different culture and language had to learn to speak and think like an Egyptian. He did not just wait for the Lord to bless him instead he was faithful to do what he needed to be used by the Lord.
• Vs. 5a Everything he did was unto the Lord “The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake”: Whatever Joseph did he did as unto the Lord. Joseph did not work for Potiphar he worked for the Lord; he was diligent in serving with excellence because it was all about the Lord.
• Vs. 5b Desired to be a blessing above being blessed “The blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field”: Joseph worked not for advancement, promotion or notoriety but rather for the benefit and blessing of others. The quickest way to be raised up in the Lord is not to care about being noticed or raised up.
• Vs. 6a Operated in the gifts and callings of God“Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand”: The Lord was with Joseph, but He worked through the natural talents and gifts that He had given Joseph. All Joseph did was operate under the Lord’s guidance and power while serving in those gifts.
• Vs. 9 Gave all glory to the Lord not his own abilities “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph recognized that all of the success he had was because of the Lord and not his abilities. God must be the sole reason for any good that we accomplish even through our gifts and abilities.