Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. (39:1–4)
How awful to be rejected and sold into slavery by one’s brothers and taken to a foreign land! But God was with Joseph and caused him to succeed in all that he did, so he ended up in charge of everything. Life had become good for Joseph because of God’s blessing. But along comes Joseph’s master’s wife, who “cast her eyes on Joseph and said, ‘Lie with me’” (Genesis 39:7). We know from the previous verse that “Joseph was handsome in form and appearance” (Genesis 39:6). Joseph refused to lie with Potiphar’s wife, although she asked him day after day. Finally, when she “caught him by his garment, saying,‘Lie with me’” (Genesis 39:12), he ran off, leaving his garment in her hands. She then framed him, using the “proof” of having his garment. She said he had tried to force her to lie with him, but then ran off when she screamed. Her husband, Potiphar, put Joseph in prison.
But even in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed” (Genesis 39:21 – 23).
What a roller coaster of a life: favored by his father, hated and sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become the top man in Potiphar’s household, framed and imprisoned, and now he’s in charge of all the prisoners. He is still in prison, though. But God is, and always has been, with him.
It is easy to be on top of the world when things are going well. I want so badly not to let my emotions be driven by circumstances, not to let disappointing or difficult things get me down, remembering that God is always with me and is always in control. A lot of what happens to us, including (especially?) the negative, is for our training, our discipline (Hebrews 12:11).
May we practise on the little, trying things that come our way daily, so that our faith muscles will strengthen as we trust God and not let ourselves be tossed about with the daily ups and downs of life.
Prayer: Lord, help me to always remember that I don’t have to fear whatever situation I find myself in, or even get “down” because You are always with me. Help me to represent You well as I go about my life, and may Your favor be upon me and my family and all those who are part of Your family. Amen.
