Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. Genesis 39: 20-23, NKJV.
Merciful God, Friend of the unfortunate, and the outcast; please show us Your mercy as we meet around Your Word today. In the holy name of Jesus Christ we ask these blessings. Amen.
As we continue with our Nuggets of Grace, we arrive at the story of Joseph. He is one of my very favorite Bible characters! He reminds me of one who is very near and dear to me, and whom I love dearly. One of my prayer partners and I gave him the name of Joseph. He is our twentieth-century Joseph! He has accepted the name.
When I think of the life of Joseph, I cannot help but think of God’s faithfulness! What a wonderful God we serve! I wonder how many of us are taking God at His Word? I wonder if we are convinced that once a Word goes out from His mouth, it will find fulfillment! It will accomplish what He sent it forth to do (Isaiah 55: 11)! Nothing can keep that from happening! And He has promised never to leave us alone. Read His promise for yourself: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43: 2, emphasis provided)!
So when Joseph went down to Egypt, “God was with him”– just as He promised! And when God is with you, the world will know. They will notice that your behavior is out of the ordinary, positively. Potiphar noticed that there was something special about Joseph. Therefore, he put him in charge of his household. Listen to this account: “The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate” (Genesis 39: 2-6, emphasis provided).
Now that period in Joseph’s life we can understand, and appreciate; because all was going well for Joseph. But according to our Scripture for today, that is not the end of the story. Joseph ends up in prison! Let us not lose sight of the fact that the promise is not, that we will never be in the water or the fire. The promise is that these elements will not overcome us! That is the promise! And they were fulfilled in the life of Joseph. The rivers of lies told by Potiphar’s wife did not “sweep over” him; because the Lord was with him! The fire of the prison did not “burn” him, nor did the flames of her infamous report set his reputation “ablaze.” And even in the prison, he was put in charge! Even in the prison, “God gave him favor,” in the sight of the prison keeper! Because the LORD was with him!
What would keep us from trusting a God like this? He never left Joseph’s side! Joseph was taken away by deceit and treachery, from the house of his earthly father, by his brothers. But nothing, or no one, can remove us from the presence of our Heavenly Father. For He has promised to be with you and me always, and nothing can keep that from happening! Hallelujah!