In 1976, Doug DeCinces replaced a legend, Brooks Robinson, at third base for the Baltimore Orioles. No matter how well he played over the next six years, all that mattered to fans was that he wasn’t Robinson, “the Vacuum Cleaner.” Even when he hit 28 home runs in 1978, he got mostly one kind of mail: hate mail. “The experience made me a stronger player and probably helped me stay in the game as long as I did, “he said. “I grew from it.”

Genesis 39 – Trials

Like Doug DeCinces, Joseph was rejected by his own people and grew from it. Enslaved by Gentiles, Joseph’s character shined like a bright light in a dark world. In all the adversity of slavery and prison, God was with him and granted him success in everything he did (Genesis 39:23). Joseph’s trials were merely stepping stones to becoming Egypt’s prime minister. His humiliation resulted in his exaltation! In this sense, his life resembled the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joseph suffered through the death of his dreams. There was no way he could fulfill the dreams himself. God would have to do it. But God’s way up is often down. Joseph’s path to the throne went through prison as a loving God who worked all things together for good (Romans 8:28). He does the same in our lives. God uses all our heartaches and sufferings for His glory and our ultimate good.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete believe that God’s building method gives them a job to do and people to obey. He tests them as servants before He promotes them as leaders.

Bible Memory Verse – “And Yahweh was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that Yahweh was with him and how Yahweh caused all that he did to succeed in his hand.” Genesis 39:2-3 (LSB)