Genesis Joseph had two clear dreams that indicated to his family, and probably to him, that his destiny or purpose was to rule over his family. I am sure they all had an idea of what that was going to look like, but always saw it in the context of their home territory in a way with which they were culturally familiar. Little did anyone know that Joseph's purpose would be fulfilled in a land far away as the vice president of the most powerful nation on earth.
When Joseph got to Egypt, how did he know he was in the right place and in God's will? How did he now it wasn't all over for him? The Bible tells us more than once that God was with him:
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned (Genesis 39:2-4).
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (Genesis 39:20b-23).
Joseph had a purpose, but that purpose could only be fulfilled in Egypt, not in the place he called home. He could not be righteous in God's will in the land of his fathers when his purpose had to be fulfilled in Egypt. Geography came into play in Joseph's life and it may be a factor in yours, too. God confirmed where Joseph was to be. When he was at home, there was no favor of God—only turmoil. When he went to Egypt, God prospered and blessed him—even when he was serving time in prison.
Your purpose may also be clear but you are not experiencing God's favor. That could be because you are missing what I have labeled "geographic righteousness." That doesn't mean you have to relocate to another area (that's possible), but you may have to stop trying to make something happen where you are, and look for a new church, company, people group, city or nation where you will be welcomed with open arms. For me, that area was and is Africa and I always sense God's favor when I am there. When I am at home, I don't have near the impact I do when I am in Kenya or Zimbabwe,
Where are you supposed to be? Are you trying to make a go of it where you have been only to experience rejection and indifference? Have you visited someplace (for instance, a people group, folks with a physical or mental challenge) where you senses God's favor and help? Are you ready to stop trying to make something happen and to go where something happens? I urge you to consider this concept of geographic righteousness and look for a place where you are welcomed and celebrated and not just tolerated.
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