I have often heard people say, particularly when they are going through difficult times and tough situations, something along the lines of the following statements:
The key phrase in all of Genesis 39 is this, 'the Lord was with him.' It occurs again and again. Let's recap so we can feel the weight of this important phrase. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was abandoned and betrayed by his brothers. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was thought to be dead by his father. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was a slave living in a foreign land, working for a foreign master, worshiping under foreign god's.
Wait a second here, hold on a 'cotton-picking' minute (long minute, I suppose). Isn't the phrase 'God is with' supposed to end differently? Doesn't 'God is with me' mean that 'I am set?' Doesn't 'God is with me' mean that 'I face no temptation?' Doesn't 'God is with me' mean 'I can do no wrong, fear no pain, have no fear?'
Well yes and no. You see, God was with Joseph and because of this truth (remember our big three: God is in control, He doesn't waste anything and we must keep our eyes on Him), we learn that even though all those horrible things had happened to Him and were happening to Him, God still caused Him to prosper in all he did. God being with Him did not, however, mean that his life was be a bed of roses and that all would always be well.
In fact, this chapter reveals a staggering reality that we must all come face to face with. Even though God was with Joseph and even though Joseph did the right thing (more on that later), Joseph was still falsely accused of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to prison bearing a punishment he did not deserve (sounds familiar, right!?!?). Yes, that's right - just because God is with someone doesn't mean that circumstances will always go our way. Yet, it does not change the fact that God is with us - He is at work on our behalf and because of this truth - the truth that God is in control and that He doesn't waste anything, we must always keep our eyes on Him.
Here is how this works in Genesis 39. First of all know this, Joseph was the 'total package.' The Bible tells us that he was handsome in both appearance and ability. He was a handsome man and was multi talented and saturated with ability. This fact alone was enough to catch the eyes of his master's wife. Now, get the setting: a young handsome man in a foreign land working in the home of his master who has repeatedly, over the years, neglected his wife: Uh - Oh! So, the likely scenario develops. She finds him attractive and she pursues him. Now in our modern times we would expect Joseph to enjoy the pursuit and return the sentiment. Put yourself in his shoes, slave in a foreign land, alone with with a lonely woman who wanted to be with him. You look around and think, no one will see, no one will know, etc. etc.
But remember, God was with Joseph and Moses (the author) implies that Joseph recognized this as well. This truth, this one truth alone, caused Joseph to do the unthinkable: to refuse her advances - to do the right thing! Because God was with him, his decided (yes decided - he chose) to resist temptation. And herein lies another dilemma, you would expect it to work out for him, right. He did the right thing after all, but remember, a woman scorned . . . She flips it all around and accuses him of actually trying to rape her.
God is with Joseph, so to whom do you think they listened? Well let's just say she kept the house and Joseph - the one who had remained faithful and resisted temptation to the point of running from it - ended up in prison. This is how God works in our life. Just because He is with you does not mean that you will not be mistreated. It does not mean that you will never be lied to, or that you will never have pain, that you will never be imprisoned or even killed. What it does mean is this: God is with you! And that, friend, is enough!
Join us Sunday as we explore the story of Joseph and experience the truth that God is in Control, that God doesn't waste anything and that we must, MUST keep our eyes on Him!
God be with Us!
Biz
- Why has God abandoned me?
- Why has God allowed this to happen to me?
- Doesn't God care about me and my situation?
The key phrase in all of Genesis 39 is this, 'the Lord was with him.' It occurs again and again. Let's recap so we can feel the weight of this important phrase. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was abandoned and betrayed by his brothers. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was thought to be dead by his father. God was with Joseph, yet Joseph was a slave living in a foreign land, working for a foreign master, worshiping under foreign god's.
Wait a second here, hold on a 'cotton-picking' minute (long minute, I suppose). Isn't the phrase 'God is with' supposed to end differently? Doesn't 'God is with me' mean that 'I am set?' Doesn't 'God is with me' mean that 'I face no temptation?' Doesn't 'God is with me' mean 'I can do no wrong, fear no pain, have no fear?'
Well yes and no. You see, God was with Joseph and because of this truth (remember our big three: God is in control, He doesn't waste anything and we must keep our eyes on Him), we learn that even though all those horrible things had happened to Him and were happening to Him, God still caused Him to prosper in all he did. God being with Him did not, however, mean that his life was be a bed of roses and that all would always be well.
In fact, this chapter reveals a staggering reality that we must all come face to face with. Even though God was with Joseph and even though Joseph did the right thing (more on that later), Joseph was still falsely accused of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to prison bearing a punishment he did not deserve (sounds familiar, right!?!?). Yes, that's right - just because God is with someone doesn't mean that circumstances will always go our way. Yet, it does not change the fact that God is with us - He is at work on our behalf and because of this truth - the truth that God is in control and that He doesn't waste anything, we must always keep our eyes on Him.
Here is how this works in Genesis 39. First of all know this, Joseph was the 'total package.' The Bible tells us that he was handsome in both appearance and ability. He was a handsome man and was multi talented and saturated with ability. This fact alone was enough to catch the eyes of his master's wife. Now, get the setting: a young handsome man in a foreign land working in the home of his master who has repeatedly, over the years, neglected his wife: Uh - Oh! So, the likely scenario develops. She finds him attractive and she pursues him. Now in our modern times we would expect Joseph to enjoy the pursuit and return the sentiment. Put yourself in his shoes, slave in a foreign land, alone with with a lonely woman who wanted to be with him. You look around and think, no one will see, no one will know, etc. etc.
But remember, God was with Joseph and Moses (the author) implies that Joseph recognized this as well. This truth, this one truth alone, caused Joseph to do the unthinkable: to refuse her advances - to do the right thing! Because God was with him, his decided (yes decided - he chose) to resist temptation. And herein lies another dilemma, you would expect it to work out for him, right. He did the right thing after all, but remember, a woman scorned . . . She flips it all around and accuses him of actually trying to rape her.
God is with Joseph, so to whom do you think they listened? Well let's just say she kept the house and Joseph - the one who had remained faithful and resisted temptation to the point of running from it - ended up in prison. This is how God works in our life. Just because He is with you does not mean that you will not be mistreated. It does not mean that you will never be lied to, or that you will never have pain, that you will never be imprisoned or even killed. What it does mean is this: God is with you! And that, friend, is enough!
Join us Sunday as we explore the story of Joseph and experience the truth that God is in Control, that God doesn't waste anything and that we must, MUST keep our eyes on Him!
God be with Us!
Biz
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