TALENTED HANDS (2)

“Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his HAND and put it on Joseph’s HAND” – Genesis 41:41

Joseph’s story illustrates how Vision fulfilment and Impactful Living are linked to faithful deployment of TALENTED HANDS: “And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his HAND and put it on Joseph’s HAND; and he clothed him in garments of fine lines and put a gold chain around his neck” (Gen.41: 41-42). Joseph’s God-given Talent of interpreting dreams opened doors for him into greatness, national prominence, and global Impact. Despite his own unpleasant situation of being unjustly imprisoned, Joseph kept on practising and serving with his talent. He interpreted the dreams of the chief baker and chief butler (Gen.40: 7-23). Although the butler forgot him for a season, in due time, the same butler recommended Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s troubling dreams.

After the event of interpreting dreams which cost the chief baker’s life and led to the chief butler’s restoration, two more years passed until Joseph found release from his prison misery. Pharaoh was having distressing dreams, and the chief butler remembered the skill of the young Hebrew in prison (Gen.41:10-13). Pharaoh’s dreams befuddled his best counsellors; hence, Joseph was instantly invited, prepared, and released from dungeon (Gen.41:14). He unreservedly acknowledged God as the Provider of interpretations and he as mere mediator of the revelation (Gen.41:16). Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams, with added words of wisdom (vv.33-37). Pharaoh credited God with revealing to Joseph the meaning of his dreams, and concluded that there was none more fitting than Joseph to execute the counsel (v.39).

God’s presence with Joseph was so obvious that Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second-in-command of Egypt, especially to take charge of preparations for the imminent famine. Pharaoh told Joseph: “See, I have SET you OVERALL the land of Egypt” (v.41). The sudden promotion brought him significant paraphernalia of leadership: Pharaoh’s royal signet ring of authority on his hand, a gold chain of dignity around his neck, garments of fine clothing appropriate to his high office, official transportation on the second royal chariot, a new Egyptian name, and an Egyptian wife from an upper-class family (vv.42-45). Now, Joseph would need more help from God to deal with the allurements of success!

Joseph was however a thoroughly prepared vessel who had learnt how to handle promotion in a godly way. Back in his father’s home, the dreams of leadership that God gave him convinced Joseph that he had a divinely ordained purpose and destiny that he never forgot. He held no grudge against his jealous brothers or the forgetful cupbearer. Before Pharaoh promoted him, Joseph knew that the Lord was with him and he had tangible evidence to prove it. From the pit, through prison, to the Palace, Joseph consistently gave God credit as the Giver of his gifts, talents, and skills.  

Like Joseph, no matter what situation or circumstances we find ourselves in, we must keep on practising and operating in our gifts, talents and skills. Not only are we sharpening them, but God is watching to see if we’ll just ‘perform’ for human applause or if we’ll be faithful in the little things as well: “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much” (Lk.16:10). Jesus said in the parable of the talents: “Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities” (Lk.9:17). At the end of our time on earth, may we hear the Lord say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your lord!” (Mt.25:21).

Ultimately, “Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable” (v.49). Talented Hands will rise above limiting pits, break through hindering dungeons, make remarkable and global Impact, reach their top in God, until they are colourfully decorated in destiny!