“THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH!”

 Genesis 39:2;6;11-21                                          (ESV)

[2] “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH”, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

[6] So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.  Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 

[11] But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, [12] she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. [13] And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, [14] she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. [15] And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” [16] Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, [17] and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. [18] But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

[19] As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. [20] And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and HE WAS IN PRISON. [21] But “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH” and showed him steadfast love and GAVE HIM FAVOR in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

The wife of Potiphar was deceitful and conniving.  She wanted to have her way with Joseph but he wouldn’t yield to sin.  Joseph refused her advances and was ultimately placed into prison for doing the right thing, even though he was innocent of her accusations.  He was placed into prison, “the place where the king’s prisoners were confined”, but “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH” and used his apparent misfortune for HIS GLORY!

Even though I try to “see it all as coming from ME” (as Dr. Charles Stanley spoke in an interview), acknowledging that ALMIGHTY GOD would allow difficult times in my life is hard to swallow sometimes.  If GOD is such a good GOD, why does HE allow unpleasant, even painful events in my life?  

Joseph was imprisoned in “the place where the king’s prisoners were confined” so GOD would be GLORIFIED!  GOD interpreted dreams through Joseph, and that would lead him into the presence of Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt.  Yes, “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH”, even though he was in a place of despair and ridicule and Joseph knew that GOD was IN CONTROL!  

When things become chaotic and seemingly “out of control” we must remember that our GOD IS IN CONTROL, not only of us, but in control of everything around us!  HE is grooming me for HIS GLORY, regardless of the uncertainty and madness of circumstances.  Joseph was promoted to second in command of this world behind Pharaoh, although he found himself unjustly imprisoned.  Never forget that “THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH”, not only in the “good times”, but more importantly in the bad!!!