Joseph was a man to be admired for many reasons. My favorite? He had this dream... this vision that God had given him (that all would BOW before him) and, maybe without realizing he was doing this, he kept ahold of what God had shown him. Through the MANY trials he faced he did not retaliate or act out of the character of God. I mean, look at his situation (GENESIS 36-44)!

     Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers whom then told his father Jacob
that he had been killed by an animal (his brothers were jealous of him). He began as a slave in Egypt but God was with him. Joseph remained obedient, self controlled, hard working and godly and because of this, he found favor in the sight of his master Potiphar. Potiphar promoted him to his main assistant. Even after this promotion more "negativity" arrived and he was thrown in jail FOR NO REASON (potiphars wife  lied on him). Once in jail, the favor of God never left him. Joseph remained godly and right and even found favor in the sight of the warden thus being promoted to be in charge of everything in the jail (even IN JAIL God promoted Joseph). Two of Pharoahs servants were thrown into this same jail. They had two seperate dreams and, through the voice of GOD speaking to Joseph, he interpreted these dreams. Joseph told the servants not to forget  about him and to tell Pharoah about his wrong imprisonment so he could get out.  Of course, the interpreted dreams came true and the servants went on their way forgetting all about Josephs request.

      TWO WHOLE YEARS WENT BY and Joseph remained in jail. After these two years had gone by The Pharoah had a dream and no one in the whole entire kingdom could interpret it. This was when the servant remembered Joseph and told the Pharoah about him.  ("A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men" PROVERBS 18:16). Joseph stood before Pharoah and interpreted the dream (7 years of abundance in the land followed by 7 years of a horrible famine). God's favor led Joseph all the way from a servant to being the second in lead of Egypt next to Pharoah all because HE LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF GOD AND OBEYED!

     When God spoke the interpretation of Pharoahs dream, joseph didnt run off on a tangent and make things up and add things. He told Pharaoh exactly what the Lord had told him and it all came to pass. Pharoah entrusted the whole land of Egypt to Joseph so much so that when the famine came, Josephs brothers came to buy grain from him ("thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" PSALM 23). When they came, they BOWED before Joseph, not even realizing that it was their younger brother that they sold into slavery.

     Joseph, above and beyond being thrown into a well, sold into slavery by his brothers and being wrongly accused and thrown into jail remained faithful to God and in the end, not only did  his dream come to life (his brothers bowing before him), it was so much greater then he could have EVER imagined. Today, I want to encourage you all to not allow what is happening around you to dictate what the outcome will be. Through so much, Joseph just remained attentive and obedient unto God! If Joseph never got sold into slavery he would have never met Potiphar which would have not led to his false imprisonment and interpreting pharoahs servants dreams and ultimately, he would have never been chosen to go see Pharoah and interpret a dream that saved the whole land of Egypt from dying off completely!

See how God works? Down can very well be up!

God gave you the vision. He gave you the dream. Granted you are attentive unto His voice and seeking his face and will, Everything is working in your favor!!!!!!!!...no matter what it appears to be.