Keep calm and carry on

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offences to rest. Ecclesiastes 10: 4 NIV

If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses. Ecclesiastes 10: 4 Amplified

I am sure you will have seen one of the Keep Calm and Carry On posters, T shirts, mugs and so on that are prevalent everywhere nowadays. They and all the subsequent spin offs in the Keep Calm range are based on a Second World War Ministry of Information poster that was prepared in case of imminent invasion. Funnily enough these posters were never used and it was only because a book shop owner found one of the few remaining ones in 2000 and put it up in his shop that led to its current fame.

 This verse from Ecclesiastes could be wonderfully illustrated with a Keep Calm and Carry On poster.  The context of this verse is that of a king or ruler losing his temper with a courtier or servant who has not actually done anything wrong. The courtier is advised not to stamp out of the king’s presence in anger and offence but to stay where they are and keep calm. This we are assured will lay great offences to rest.

Few of us will be in this particular situation of serving an earthly king but the same principle can be applied to those who have some authority over us whether our boss at work or the leaders at church. Too often when we are grieved and offended by false accusation or just a misunderstanding, the first temptation is to storm out of the room or reply angrily to what is being said.

However, the same principle that the Teacher advises can be applied here. It is better to stay put and keep calm. Often that in itself will calm the whole situation down. Leaving in a huff inflames an already inflammatory situation.  Calmly explaining yourself if asked is fine but yelling and justifying oneself, does not help. In fact I think justifying yourself is often unnecessary. If the accusation or comment is false, the truth always comes out in time. God will always justify you and if you know that you have done nothing wrong, then you can rest in that assurance.  

The Teacher of Ecclesiastes, who was probably Solomon, would have had a kingly perspective on this and he knew what he was talking about.  Sometimes the pressure of kingship or leadership will lead to a king or leader speaking out inappropriately and maybe falsely maligning someone. He was not condoning it but showing the best way to deal with a situation like this.

Keeping calm, showing respect and carrying on shows great dignity on your part and you in turn will be respected.

 

Freedom in prison

From the minute Joseph entered Potiphar’s house as a slave, the Bible says that ‘The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.’ (Genesis 38:2)  Joseph served faithfully and well and everyone could see that the Lord was blessing him and Potiphar.  Potiphar trusted Joseph with everything in his household and Joseph was learning valuable life skills for God’s destiny for his life. 

God’s plan was that Joseph would be second in the land of Egypt, with only Pharaoh over him. He would need to understand, amongst many things, about Egyptian life and culture which I am sure he knew little about.  He would need to know how to run a nation and he started off by learning to run a household.  What the devil had meant for harm, God was using for good. 

The devil then ‘attacked’ Joseph again using Mrs Potiphar.  The devil hoped he would either give in to the sexual temptation and be discredited or be wrongly accused.  He resisted the temptation but Mrs Potiphar wrongly accused him and he was thrown into prison for something he had not done.

We do not know if Potiphar asked Joseph for his side of the story when his wife accused him. Either way he believed his wife.  Remember there are always two sides to a story and always find out the other side before making your mind up.

Twice now Joseph was at the mercy of other people and ended up in less than desirable circumstances.  The first time he went from being a favoured son to being a slave and then he went from being a favoured slave to being a prisoner.  Both times the devil tried to steal his destiny and his favour but no one can steal God’s favour from your life unless you let them.  Again Joseph could have been embittered, angry and resentful and again he rose above his circumstances and feelings and served where he was.  ‘But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder.  So the warder put Joseph is charge of all those held in the prison and he was made responsible for all that was done there.  The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. (Genesis 39: 20 -23)

God did not place Joseph in prison to teach him the character and life skills needed to become second in Egypt but God used the circumstances to teach him many valuable lessons.  God may not have instigated your circumstances; they may be from the devil or from men’s evil plans but God will use everything to do you good if you let him.  There is nothing he cannot turn around and God is with you and God’s favour is on you. 

Joseph may have been in prison but he was not a prisoner – he was a child of God on whom God’s favour rested.  Joseph did not let the circumstances imprison him to other’s people’s plans.  He walked free in the favour of God in prison and God blessed him and all those around him. 

Today do not be a prisoner of past or present circumstances and what other people or the devil has done to you.  Be free in Jesus.  In the midst of your circumstances walk free as a child of God.  Resist the work of the devil, forgive those who have hurt you, bless them and ‘and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28)