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Lift the Name

Words of Faith Final

Lift the Name
Words of Faith 7-15-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 41
[14] So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
[15] Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
[16] "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
[17] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. . .

Joseph had waited several years for something to happen. This was his big chance! Joseph, the dreamer, was about to become Joseph the renowned Interpreter of Dreams! This was his chance in the spotlight, his opportunity to shine. Fifteen minutes of fame and a shot at the top. After all the years of imprisonment and injustice, Joseph had an interesting approach to things.
First, he shaved and changed his clothes. This was, of course, an Egyptian protocol. Egyptians shaved, while the sons of Abraham did not. But Joseph showed respect for the Pharaoh. He showed respect for the customs of the place where God had led him.
Second, when asked if he could interpret the dream of Pharaoh, his one hope of release, Joseph said 'no .'"I cannot do it."
What?
"No, I cannot do it... but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Wow. Joseph used his one "Ace" not to draw attention to himself but to point toward God Almighty.
Joseph might very well have reasoned that this was not the time to talk about religion. After all, these Egyptians were of a different culture and religion. They had other gods. Pharaoh might take offense. Bringing up religion would be culturally insensitive. After all, religion is a highly personal thing.
He also might have reasoned that it was best to grab the spotlight for himself. There would be time later to introduce God. It is better to ease into the religion thing. Soft-pedal for now.
But instead, Joseph risked everything to give witness to the power of the one true living God. He readily admitted that he had no power whatsoever without God. Any help that he rendered came only from God. This was not a tag-on later or an afterthought-- "Well, it really was all God…"
The truth is that we are often confronted with situations far less dramatic than the ones faced by Joseph. We find ourselves in situations where the only truth is that only God can help. Any service we give is only by the strength and power of God. Any wisdom we offer is only from God. Any insight we share is simply God. We cannot honestly draw attention to ourselves. We may be tempted to keep our God to ourselves, but we cannot. It would be foolishness to do so.
The truth is that, like Joseph, we are frail, sinful, broken people who serve a mighty and awesome God. We are nothing without Him. He did not pick us because we are talented or because He needed us on His team. The truth is that any treasure that we might offer we have in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7). The power of God is made perfect only in our weakness. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Father, forgive me the times I have grabbed attention or stepped into the spotlight and failed to acknowledge You. You are my strength, my hope and my very existence. It is only in You that I have anything to offer. I delight in You. I cannot help but lift Your Holy name. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.