The Door

Doors are an interesting subject to open up a blog with. They can metaphorically represent to many things. There is one theme that seems all have in common, a choice. A choice on whether you should enter or turn away. Choices is what I would like to talk about today. How do we go about making the big decisions in our lives? Should I take that new job? Move to a new city? Move back home? Invest in crypto? We all have big questions haunting us daily. I believe the bible (Don't run away) has the answers we need to make confident choices. There is a story in the old testament (that's the first part) That gives us a great example of this.

Joseph was the 11th son of a man named Jacob, and his story is found in Genesis 37–50. As a 17-year-old boy sheep herder. Jacob had an overt favoritism towards Joseph because, He was the son from the wife he loved.(He had several; its complicated) This causes his older brothers to resent him as you can imagine. Jacob gave Joseph a highly decorated coat and his brothers hated him all the more. To make matters worse, Joseph begins having dreams that show him as the leader of his brothers. the animosity towards Joseph peaks when his brothers plot to kill him as he approaches them one day out in the desert. Reuben, the oldest, objects to outright murder, so instead, the brothers sell Joseph as a slave and trick their father into believing he was killed by animals.

Joseph is sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar. Potiphar was the captain of pharaoh's guards. A very high position in the most powerful nation in the world at the time. Eventually he becomes the supervisor of Potiphar’s household. Joseph excelled at his duties and became one of Potiphar’s most trusted servant and was put in charge of his household. Potiphar could see that whatever Joseph did, God looked favorably on him and he prospered in all that he did. However, Potiphar’s wife attempts to seduce Joseph, and when Joseph refuses her (several times), she falsely accuses him of attempted rape. Joseph, although innocent, is cast into prison.

Ok, crazy story so far, right? So why the obscure story? Well let's look at the actions of our friend Joseph. Joseph had a choice to make when he was ripped away from everything he knew and was sold to a foreign land. Can you imagine being sold of by your own blood to another country? He kept his cool even though he was out of control and stayed true to himself. He was hard working and honest and that proved to advance him in Potiphar's house. So just when it starts to turn around here arrives this crazy lady looking to cheat on her husband. Joseph had a huge decision to make. There is a couple questions I think Joseph considered before he made his decisions to work hard and then go to prison.

1. Does this line up with who I am?
2. Would I want to tell this story?
3. Am I lying to myself?

For working hard as a slave, he had to think and go through these questions. As for the Mrs. Potiphar, I think for Joseph this was a quick NO, NO, NO. He said, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" Joseph knew who he was. He didn't lie to himself. He sure didn't want to tell the story about Mrs. Potiphar.

Apply this to your question. Should I take that new Job? Does it line up with who you are? Could you see yourself working in that capacity? Would I want to tell the story to my kids about landing that job? Am i being completely honest with myself or am making it seem better than it really is?

The story ends with Joseph saving his family when he is promoted to Pharaoh's number 2. Joseph stayed true to himself and had one awesome story to tell at the end of his life. I hope this inspires your own decision making and gives you the answer to the right door to go through.