Leverage or Not? - Genesis 40-43

Joseph must have been a young man of great character. He is tossed in a pit by brothers, he is accused of rape, he provides a life giving interpretation to a baker and he is still forgotten. How would you and I then respond to Pharaoh's request for another interpretation of a dream? Imagine the opportunity Joseph had at the very moment he heard Pharaoh's dream and knew he had the interpretation of it. I think, personally, I would have leveraged my opportunity. Maybe ask for a cruise to the South of France. Maybe ask for a trip to Disney in exchange for my wisdom. He could have at least asked for his brother's heads on a plate ... or, maybe demand that Potipher's wife has to publicly confess his innocence. But, Joseph, true to form, demonstrates character and trust in God. He gives honor to God for his skills. He gives honor to God for what God is about to do. He gives honor to God for His Sovereignty. It takes a lot of faith and understanding of God's sovereignty to not use a situation like this for your own advantage. God had directed Joseph's life for all this time. He knew that God had allowed these things to teach him and was willing to use these "circumstances" in his life to fulfill God's plan for him. Perhaps the only thing worse than not recognizing that bad circumstances in life are God's way to prepare us and put us where He wants us is that we realize it and then don't use what He has given us when He wants us to use it. Bad circumstances are in God's control and He uses them to equip us for the moment He can use that training. Don't leverage that opportunity ... use it to Glorify Him.