In Genesis 48:21-22, it says “ Then Jacob said to Joseph, Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, the land of your ancestors, and beyond what I have given your brothers, I am giving you an extra portion of the land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow”.
The double portion is the favour portion. It is a portion that is more than what others get! It is the extra portion and an honour portion. I pray that God will favour and honour you in this season, receive it in Jesus name. Amen!
The double portion is usually given to the firstborn to honour them but in the case of Joseph, He wasn’t the firstborn.
Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn born but he wasn’t given the portion of honour instead he received a double portion of curses, as we see in Genesis 49:4 “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiles thou it: he went up to my couch.
Beloved many people are missing out on their portions by unrighteous acts and carelessness. A man who plays with sin plays with his destiny. Sin is a destroyer!!!
Reuben dishonoured his father’s bed. He exchanged a few minutes of pleasure for a lifetime of pressure. The World English Bible version puts it in a better way “Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch”. The meaning of this is that Reuben will experience heat and this pressure will cause everything he does to evaporate. You know the way water turns to vapour when it passes boiling point and you will not see it, this is the way Reuben will disappear from the corridor of destiny. I want to pray for you now by the mercies of God you will not disappear from the map of destiny in Jesus name. Amen!
Back to our text. Jacob called Joseph and told him like he was the firstborn, why?
- Joseph by favour overtook Reuben.
Jacob said I am giving you an extra portion! Your brothers all have one portion, but you will have double! This land wasn’t just an inheritance that Jacob got from his father but the one he fought for by himself. This was a special possession that had his honour.
The portion represented His strength, victory, and honour but He gave this to Joseph. The double portion wasn’t given to Joseph by chance or by just praying for it. Joseph had the dream, but he had to position himself for the double portion!
7 Things That Joseph Did to Position Himself for a Double Portion
1. JOSEPH DID NOT MIND TO BE DIFFERENT
We are living in a generation where many are copying and following the trend even when it is ungodly. They say in the world if you can’t beat them, you join them but that’s from hell. We are not competing with the world. Stand up and be different even when you’re alone, God is with you!
Joseph was different from His brothers, he would always report their evil doings to their father. Genesis 37:2, “This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half-brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing”.
- Joseph stood up and was different, are you?
- Joseph standing up for righteousness! Standing up to what was godly positioned him for a double portion!
There are some people who will say “What is Joseph’s business?” We need to understand that Joseph wasn’t reporting them to get them into trouble but to get them corrected and put them in the right path.
It is not a sin to report bad things you see people do. It is not pointing a finger, it is standing up for what is right!
2. JOSEPH WAS HATED BUT DID NOT HATE
The Bible says Joseph was hated by his brothers, but he didn’t hate them. Joseph loved them even when they hated him. Genesis. 37:4 says “But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him”. This hatred made them almost kill him and eventually they sold Him.
When Joseph saw them in Egypt, he could have shown them hatred and done to them what they did to him, but he didn’t. Jesus says “Love those who hate you! Love your enemies!” We can see that in Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
Grace to love those that hate you, receive it now in Jesus name. Amen!
3. JOSEPH FEARED GOD
To fear God is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13 NLT says “All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption, and perverse speech”. Joseph had the opportunity to have an affair wife His boss’s wife without the boss knowing but He refused. Genesis 39:9, Joseph said to Portipher’s wife, “No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God”.
When you fear God, you keep His commands! When you fear God, you practise His Word! and that’s why the bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
Beloved where is the fear of God today? No more reverence for God! People just live and do whatever they like and say God has forgiven me!
I declare that the fear of God will be restored in our hearts in Jesus name!
4. JOSEPH PREPARED TO SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD
Do you know that some people will go through life being a sadist, and regret doing good if they found themselves in the position that Joseph found himself?
- Joseph’s brothers hated Him for His dreams, the dreams that God gave him.
- Joseph’s brothers hated him for his godliness.
- Joseph was sold into slavery and put into a foreign prison for being accused falsely!
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you suffer for being righteous? When you face persecution for doing nothing other than pleasing God? Take the position of Joseph and be glad! Be happy! Be excited! Joseph will see sad prisoners and encourage them and even interpret their dreams. In Genesis 40:6, “And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad”.
Don’t allow what God has put in you to go through what you’re going through right now. Joseph was in prison but His gift for interpretation of dreams wasn’t in prison, it was free to be used to bless others.
I encourage you today, to pray for others even when you need prayers. Sing and Bless the name of the Lord even when you need some encouragement yourself. Don’t let your persecution or challenges change your gift or ministry! Minister through that Challenge in Jesus name!
5. JOSEPH ALWAYS TOOK CHARGE
It takes discipline to take charge! Every believer is a leader! Joseph went to Potiphar’s house, and he was put in charge of other Servants in the house. Even when Joseph went to Prison, he was also put in charge of other Prisoners. I am not surprised that when he went to Pharaoh, he was again put in charge.
Proverbs 22:29, “If you do your job well, you will work for a ruler and never be a slave”. Those who do their jobs well will take charge!
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23.
6. JOSEPH FORGAVE HIS BROTHERS
Joseph forgave His brothers! Genesis 50:15-21 (NLT), says “But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. ‘Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,’ they said. So, they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you, for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So, we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.”
So, Joseph reassured his brothers by speaking kindly to them.
- Forgiveness is something we give to release ourselves!
- Don’t imprison anyone in your heart because you’ll be the one suffering the pain.
- Unforgiveness will cause bitterness that will poison you! Poison kills!
The Lord admonished us in Ephesians 4:32 that we are kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven us”.
7. JOSEPH WAS A MAN OF GREAT FAITH
Joseph believed every word that God had spoken. He lived every day knowing that God would take care of Israel. When He was about to die, you see a man of Faith speaking in Genesis 50:25, “And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, God will surely visit you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place”. Then, in the book of Exodus 13:19, Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here”.
430 years later, the words of faith were fulfilled, and the bones of Joseph were carried out of Egypt.
Faith is the currency of the kingdom! Faith will make you prevail! Faith will position you for the double portion!
I declare your faith is growing now in Jesus name!
By faith, you will receive a double portion in Jesus name!
– Pastor Ovie Emannuel
