What we do, when we think no one sees, Matters

I’ve recently read Genesis 41:1-40.
It’s the part when Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, and is then raised to the position of Pharaoh’s number one man.

This time, a thought occurred to me. A report about Joseph, would have gone ahead of him, before Joseph came into Pharaoh’s presence.

It’s obvious really. Of course questions would be asked about a prisoner who was going to be brought before Pharaoh.
Is he violent?
How does this man respond to authority?
Can this prisoner be trusted to not misbehave in front of Pharaoh?
He was in Potiphar’s service, what does Potiphar say about this Joseph?
What do those in the prison say about Joseph?

If a bad report went before Joseph, then would he ever have found himself face to face with Pharaoh?

I do think that is safe to say that the prison staff would have given a good report about Joseph as…

Genesis 39:20-23
²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden. ²² 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. ²³ 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.

Now, it seems to me that because Joseph acted in a trustworthy way, and with integrity, with the little that he had been given. Was this in part, why Joseph then found that he was elevated to the highest position possible in Egypt.

Genesis 41:38-40
³⁸ So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

How much of the report that Pharaoh heard about Joseph, helped Pharaoh to make his good decision to raise Joseph up to his new position? How much of what Pharaoh heard, helped him to come to the conclusion that, “there is no one so discerning and wise as you.” ?

What we do, when we think that no one is watching, matters.
It certainly appears to have made a difference for Joseph.

In the account of Joseph, are we seeing the principal that Jesus teaches us in a parable, play out before us?

Luke 19:16-17
¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Joseph wasn’t just given ten cities to take charge of, but the whole of Egypt to take charge of.

If we work well with the little that we are given, will we then be given more?
More responsibility?
More blessings?
See more of Our Lord God’s Kingdom come, in our own lives?

How different would the account be, if Joseph had let bitterness and anger take charge of his actions?
Thankfully Joseph didn’t go down the route of anger and resentment. Instead, he worked with honesty and integrity, which lead to many people being provided for, in a time of famine.

What kind of report will go before us?
Will it be a report that we will be happy for others to read, or one we would rather hide away from?
When Our Lord God reads our report, will He say to us, “Well done, my good servant!” ?

What we do, when we think that no one is watching, matters.