November 25, Genesis 39
The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. - Genesis 39:2
When we last saw Joseph, he had been mistreated by his brothers, sold into slavery, transported to Egypt and sold to a high-ranking Egyptian. In today's chapter, it seems like Joseph's situation goes from bad to worse when someone lies about him and he is thrown into prison. Yet this chapter tells us over and over that "the Lord was with Joseph." How can that be true when Joseph's life was in such a terrifying free fall? The Bible assures us that God is with his people in Christ today. What lessons about that are here for us?
Chapter 39 says Joseph was successful in both places we see him. In Potiphar's house, he rose to be in charge of the man's whole household and life. The Lord blessed Potiphar’s house and fields under Joseph’s hand. So the Egyptian master turned everything over to the Hebrew slave. Later in prison, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners and made him the administrator of the place. He arrived as a prisoner and rose to be the prison keeper. Once again, it happened just as it did back at Potiphar's house. The Lord was with him and his superiors saw the advantageous results of God blessing their business through the bright young Hebrew's efforts. When a man or woman honors God, he or she becomes trustworthy and dependable. Dishonest and unscrupulous bosses may not appreciate our commitment to excellence and integrity, but smart bosses can see what Potiphar and the warden saw.
It's obvious that the LORD being with Joseph did not shield him from difficulties. God was with him in and through the hardships, but he did not keep him from experiencing these dark circumstances. God was no less with Joseph when he first went to prison than when he was put in charge. But his first days there were rough. "His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;" (Psalm 105:18).
Joseph faced genuine temptations, even though the Lord was with him. He suffered the bitter consequences of hatred and slander after he resisted Mrs. Potiphar's advances. It had to be disheartening when Potiphar believed her lies and threw Joseph into prison.
Those developments came about precisely because the Lord was with Joseph. I'm sure his loyalty to Potiphar was a factor in refusing Mrs. Potiphar's invitation. But his loyalty to God was what he emphasized in his refusal. "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (verse 9). Joseph had to know the risk of refusing a woman who had considerable sway over her husband's opinion. It was risky to tell her “No.” But he stayed steadfast day after day, refusing to listen to her or lie with her.
When she grabbed him by the coat and insisted on having her way, Joseph modeled a powerful principle: Flight is better than fight in the face of some temptations. Joseph was vulnerable. He was young and attractive. The woman pursuing him had some power and control over him. Still he refused and ran away. His running was not cowardice; it was wisdom. Truly God was with him as he pulled free and fled.
Do you think Joseph was disappointed and discouraged by all that had happened to him since the day his brothers had thrown him into the pit? Who wouldn't be? But he never lost his awareness of God being with him. He knew the good things that were happening to him were the result of God's hand on him. He could not have known or imagined God's design in all that was happening to him. God had put the young Hebrew among the Egyptians on a path that would lead to unimaginable power and control over a whole nation. More important to our continuing story, from that position where God put him, Joseph would save his father and the whole family from starvation, and fulfill God's prophecy to bring them to Egypt.
When strong temptations come, we need to remember that God is with us, and that to sin by giving in to the temptation is to sin against God. We may not understand God's purpose in our disappointments and hard experiences, any more than Joseph could when he was enslaved and imprisoned. But if we will trust him and be loyal to him, even in adversity, God will keep his promises to be with us and make all that happens work out for our good.
Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
Comments