The Life of Joseph

Joseph's life is so fascinating.  In it we see the progressive revelation of God's dream being actualized in a person's life. 

For a very long time it seems that Joseph believes that it is his dream that is being pursued, but as time goes on he discovers that it is actually God's dream.

For those of us that frequently experience the tension between doing for God and resting in Him, Joseph presents this paradox in all its glory.  

At the end of the day, he is given the leadership of Egypt, he does not work up to it.  Every other accomplishment in his life, he had worked for.  But this one was simply handed to him becuase of God's work.

At the same time, the lessons he learned in both Potiphar's house and in prison were what prepared him to be able to effectively excerise the leadership given to him by Pharaoh.  

His training happened along the way, but at the end of the day he earned nothing.  Wow!  The sovereignty of God is so apparent here, and I can barely have enough patience to figure out what lesson God is trying to teach me right now!