Jacob had ten sons before Joseph was eventually born; he even went on to have one more son (Benjamin) after having Joseph. He had twelve sons in all, but in the end, Joseph was favoured above the rest of the sons. In the midst of twelve sons, Joseph was the most loved. If it was about loving the youngest son, Jacob should have loved Benjamin most, but he still loved Joseph the most. Joseph was preferred above others.
Friend, hear me as I hear the Lord: you will be preferred. Despite the crowd of competitors around you, you will be the preferred one. Despite being in the midst of people who came ahead of you, you will be preferred; despite being among those who may even have come later than you, you will still be preferred; despite not being the one who should be rightfully chosen, God will give you the favour of being preferred.
Joseph was preferred, not because there were no competitors, but despite the presence of competitors and rivals. Hear me as I hear the Lord: your rivals will still be there and you will be preferred; your competitors will still be there and you will be preferred; your colleagues will still be there and you will be chosen and preferred ahead of them; others will join you in jostling for opportunities, but you will be chosen; others will run the same race with you, but in the end, you will come out tops.
Joseph did not do anything special before he was preferred above others; it was not about efforts; it was all by grace. Your efforts may not give it to you, but grace will bring it to you. You may not have the advantages that others have, you may not know the people they know, you may not tick all the boxes that they have ticked, but you will still be the preferred one.
Focus on God and forget about whosoever is ahead of you or indeed whosoever is latest in town. When Jehovah is involved, you will be preferred.
