“IT IS NOT IN ME!”

Genesis 37:23-24         (ESV)

“23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.

24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

Genesis 41:42                (ESV)

“Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.”

Genesis 41:15-16           (ESV)

“15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, "IT IS NOT IN ME”; GOD will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

Genesis 37:3-4               (ESV)

“3 Now Israel loved JOSEPH MORE THAN ANY OTHER OF HIS SONS, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.

4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.”

Joseph was his father’s favorite (Genesis37:3)!  It can cause friction when a child is openly shown favoritism by his parent.   To my knowledge, Scripture doesn’t indicate that Joseph took advantage of his position with his father, but it does indicate that his brothers certainly took notice (Genesis 37:4)!  

Because of the hatred they had for Joseph, he was sold into slavery by his brothers.  But that was only after in Genesis 37:24 which says “....they took him and threw him into a pit.”  Being at the bottom of a pit has to be a hopeless feeling.  BUT GOD wasn’t through with Joseph.  The dream he was given had yet to be fulfilled, but Joseph still had to go through some purification on his journey to GOD’s Plan being fulfilled.  

When GOD gives you HIS Plan, HE usually doesn’t let you know that on the way you are going to go into a pit, or to jail, or sold into slavery before reaping HIS Blessing.  That would remove WALKING BY FAITH, something it is IMPOSSIBLE to please HIM without (Hebrews 11:6)!  GOD had a Plan for Joseph, but mainly to Glorify HIMSELF!  Joseph explained to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:16 "....."IT IS NOT IN ME"; GOD will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."  It was GOD WHO gave Pharaoh the dream, it was GOD WHO interpreted it for Joseph, and it was GOD WHO caused the abundance AND famine in Egypt!  It was also GOD that caused Joseph to be elevated to second in command behind Pharaoh, and GOD that orchestrated the Children of Israel coming into Egypt searching for food.

Of course, the Israelites eventually left Egypt over 400 years later and once GOD GOT GLORY (Exodus 14:17; 28) over Pharaoh and all his hosts.  Just like Joseph who had to wait in the pit for deliverance, the Nation of Israel had to wait 400+ years for deliverance.  None of us are exempt from having to wait on GOD.   We seem to expect HIM to deliver to us what HE says HE is preparing for us when we think it would be best.  We don't deserve what GOD has planned for us, so why do we want to hurry HIM?  Just as Joseph was the chosen son, we are a CHOSEN RACE (1 Peter 2:9) and we need to live like it!  However, “IT IS NOT IN ME”, but ALMIGHTY GOD!  The only reason HE chooses me is because I belong to JESUS!