Preacher: Shepherd Believe Mambo
Grace, the unmerited favour of God, can be understood as a preferential treatment. It is the supernatural power given to a mere human-being to produce God-like results. It is an enabling power, with different facets that align with the current season one is in (see Ecclesiastes 3:1).
In Genesis 35 to 39, we consider Joseph—the epitome a Grace-filled life—, navigating four seasons of his life all marked by God’s favour. In the first season, Genesis chapter 35 to chapter 37, he is shown preferential treatment by his father as he is gifted a “coat of many colours” —a symbol of the favour and promises God had placed upon him.
The garment was a foreshadow of the tangible favour that was upon Joseph’s life. He is made the overseer of his older brothers and received dreams. Although he did not know what they meant, his brothers understood their meaning, fuelling their jealousy which lead them to sell him to the Ishmaelites.
In the second season of Joseph’s life, the Ishmaelites sold him to Potiphar where he succeeded at everything he did because of the constant Grace of God. God’s Grace empowered him to produce good results in His master’s house. However, just as conditions were getting better for Joseph, he is thrown into prison, victim of a lie spoken by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:19-20).
Even in prison God’s Grace was sufficient for Joseph. The Grace of God did not minus the trials that Joseph would have gone through (read Genesis 39:21). He was put in charge of all the other prisoners. In the prison he met people who would steward him into his destiny. Although Joseph was in prison, he still acknowledged that his strength came from Jehovah. Hence we don’t do things because we can but because God can through us! God’s power had enabled him to interpret the dreams of the cupbearer and baker (see Genesis 40:12-15). When the interpretations came to pass, the cupbearer forgot about Joseph. This concluded Joseph’s third season.
Two years later, Pharoah then had a dream that no one could interpret. This leads to the cupbearer remembering Joseph and marks the beginning of his fourth season. Joseph was then taken out of prison, he was washed, cleaned (given preferential treatment) and prepared to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph acknowledged that he could not interpret dreams, but he knew God would do it. After he had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. Joseph was promoted to second in command, benefiting his brothers who ended up getting food too.
The story of Joseph goes to tell that in every season there is Grace for us and that there is a purpose in every season. We need the grace of God because it is an enabling power. We rest while we do! The Grace of God is power manifested. By it, we can come out of storms in Rest! As in Joseph’s story, the elevation we receive from God is not only there to benefit us but also those around us. Hence, we should show others the Grace that we have also been shown.
God’s Grace is not an excuse to live a sloppy life but an empowerment to get out of any situation. Grace encompasses the salvation of your spirit, mind and body. Grace is a conviction! An encounter with grace has the power to change the heart and stop certain behaviour. Where we are stagnant and limited, Grace finishes the work. His grace is sufficient for all of us (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).
