Joseph was robbed of his identity as the favoured son; they stole his coat to show it.
Joseph refused to be identified as a traitor and an adulterer; he abandoned his cloak to prove it.
Joseph became the ruler of the land; the garments of royalty declared it.
It took thirteen years and three coats for Joseph to discover his identity.
It would be easy for someone in his sandals to lose heart, to be forced to accept the overwhelming circumstances, to be compelled to give up, but the clothes of authority that he needed to wear demanded success; the leader that he was called to be required no less.
Identity is no easy assignment; it seems to bring with it the very struggle that could derail it. Joseph could have quit, and we would never have known. Conversely we also never would be taking courage from this story of the Amazing.
God was at work in Joseph’s life; growing up he saw his dad struggle with God, and he must have learned it well.
“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.” (Acts 7:9-10, NIV)
We are instructed in the scriptures that God does not show favouritism. That means that what he does for one he will do for others. That means:
God is at work in your life!
He calls you son, and he calls you daughter he identifies you as his.
What clothes do you need to put on?
You Don’t Have To Live; You get To!
