Joseph: The Moral Authority of Holiness

Joseph is loved intensely by his father and hated intensely by his brothers. The fault for this is with Jacob who obviously and openly played favorites among his sons. Yet this favored position of Joseph's strikes a trend in his life. Those in authority over him regularly held him in great favor.

Genesis 39:2 says that Joseph was prosperous or successful. His prosperity wasn't material wealth. It wasn't even that prosperity that exempts him from massive trials and difficulties. It is the prosperity that rises up to reveal itself in the trials; that manifests itself when confronted with adversity.

It was the Prosperity of trust in God.
It was the Prosperity of fellowship with God.
It was the Prosperity of Holiness before God.
These points of prosperity built up a moral momentum in Joseph's life and granted him favor and authority with men.