Personal Responsibility

The sojourn of Joseph in Egypt was quite remarkable. The life he lived was instructive. In a sense, his life was a type; a picture of the preservative act of God in and with Christ.

However, I’m dealing now with the encounter between Joseph and Pharaoh:

Pharaoh had a dream, and in the course of his search for answers he interacted with the chief butler who remembered how a young man he met in prison had interpreted his dream for him. Upon hearing this, Pharaoh promptly sent for Joseph.

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:14 (KJV)

This is the verse of interest.

Some men went to bring him forth. However, notice that he shaved and changed his raiment. There are a few thoughts from this to share with you;

First, there are certain places where, although we are required, we would need God to instrument and orchestrate events to bring us to those places – and most often He uses men.

Second, Joseph was sent for hastily, without prior notice to him. So it meant that the summon had to have met him prepared somehow. Joseph lived a prepared life.

Third, though men were to bring him to the Pharaoh, they could not shave for him or change his raiment for him. He had to do that himself. This is a profound thought. Joseph could not show up before the king with the presentation of the prisoner. He needed to shave, and he needed to change his raiment.

There are things that men can’t do for you. You have to engage by yourself. There are relics of our previous estate and positions in life that are not consistent with our next level or the place God is taking us to. We have to let them go.

Joseph shaved and changed his attire by himself; we have to do it ourselves when the time calls for it.