The Extensions of Our Legacy

UV 1044/10,000 The Extensions of Our Legacy
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Genesis 49 v 22

The name “Joseph” or Yosef in the original Hebrew means “he will add.” The Lord will bless the lives of the faithful and He will add no sorrow to it. He will make us a fruitful bough by a well. We will be like a tree planted by the river side whose roots run deep into the soil to access the seeping underground streams of water from the river. We will be like tree that bear different kinds of fruit, every month of the year. Our lives will be blessed, fruitful and productive. We will be fruitful consistently not just in a season of plenty when things are favourable and when we are expected to do well but also in a season of famine when things are unfavourable for growth and contribution. We will be like Joseph who aimed to do everything well. Joseph excelled wherever he went- at home among his brothers, in the household of Potiphar among the slaves, in the prison among the prisoners, in the palace of Pharaoh among the ministers of the realm. His influence spread from the four walls of his home in Canaan to the four walls of his master’s home in Egypt. It then spread to the four walls of the prison where he was incarcerated. Thereafter, it spread to the four walls of the palace of Pharaoh. Thereafter no walls could contain his influence. It spread to the whole of Egypt and wafted its way back to Canaan where he began and ultimately it spread to the whole world and every generation since as it was incorporated in the Word of God as a template of what God can do when you let Him make your body His temple.

Like Joseph, many archers will fire their burning arrows at us just as his jealous brothers did, just as Potiphar’s adulterous wife did with her false accusation, just as the fellow prisoner forgot the good his prediction brought him. We will have three types of arrows fired at us: temptation from within to indulge ourselves, to be conceited and proud, the arrows of our colleagues and fellow beings and the arrows of forces of darkness meant to defeat us, to neutralize our growing influence. People will hate us without adequate reason and some will conspire against us. Only a legend will leave a lasting legacy. God wants to make us part of an incredible story, a legend for our times.
As the hand of the Lord is upon us, we will be looked upon with favour by the persons who matter like Joseph’s father, the slave owner, the overseer of the prisoners and Pharaoh himself. He will make our bow strong and our hands will be strengthened by the cornerstone of Israel, the Shepherd Jesus. He will make our lives fruitful and blessed with blessings from far above, deep within, all around and will send blessings on our spouse and our offspring. We will break the boundaries and limits set for us so that the overhanging fruit of our lives will satisfy the need of people all around. In every area of our lives, we should stretch ourselves so that we reach the limit of our aspirations. Once we overreach that limit, a new boundary or goal should be set. So the Lord will add to us. The well will get deeper and bigger. The walls will keep falling. As we expect more in faith, we will receive more strength, more power, more blessings. Even the branches or extensions of our influence and legacy will exceed our natural abilities and our expectations.

Prateep V Philip