Worthy of the call…

A couple of weeks ago we dug into Genesis 37 at church, the story of Joseph.  Like many of you, this wasn’t the first time I had read Genesis 37.  But like God, He still pointed out something new.

I was confronted once again with imperfections.  Jacob was on his own road to sanctification.  And like me, he had yet to arrive.  God had chosen Jacob even-though Jacob didn’t seem worthy of the call.  He had swindled his brother out of his birthright. He had lied to his father and cheated his brother out of his blessing.   Jacob clearly played favorites with his wives and his sons. And he had implemented questionable practices regarding shepherding his flock and the flock of Laban, his father-in-law. Genesis 25-35.  He had the shrewd as a snake part down pat, but I’m not so sure about the innocent as a dove part. (Matthew 10:16)

In Genesis 37, we find Joseph at the ripe old age of seventeen displaying some less than admirable characteristics.  Verse 2 paints him as a tattle-tale.  Verse 3 demonstrates he was given an unfair advantage.  Joseph was preferred by his father and loved more than his brothers. And yet in verse 5, God reveals His call on Joseph.  God gives Joseph a dream prophesying Joseph will rule over his brothers, mother and father.  And even after his call, Joseph displays a lack of wisdom and discernment at best and at worst a heart of pride by lording his dream/”calling” over his family. (verse 11)

Best I can tell, neither Jacob nor Joseph had any attributes worthy of the calling they had received.  As Lysa Terkheurst pointed out during the She Speaks Conference 2018, Joseph would spend the next season of his life developing his character to match his calling.  At seventeen God had anointed him with a call, but it would take another 13 years to prepare him to walk out his calling.  I think that is what we call…sanctification.

I took great comfort in this puzzling revelation because I too lack any attributes worthy of His call.

Jesus says…“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.” John 15:16

Jesus says I have been chosen and appointed.  Paul says I’m a co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17  When I said yes to Christ as Savior, He gave me my “calling” and positioned me beyond anything my character deemed worthy.

Like Jacob and Joseph, I will spend the reminder of my days developing the character to match my calling.  I will spend the rest of my life learning how to make Him Lord.

I know I will face days when I will feel betrayed by the ones I love.  Days when I will feel falsely accused and unfairly imprisoned.  Days when the people I have helped, will forget me in my hour of need.   Times when I will know God has planted a dream in my spirit, and yet every day seems to contradict the dream I had been so sure of.

I pray when those days come, I will remember Joseph.  I will remember the years God used to develop his character to match his calling.  I pray God will also use my trials to develop my character to match my calling.

Lord help me to remember Joseph was found faithful in Potiphar’s house and the prison BEFORE You positioned him in the palace.

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6)