-January 13, 2022-
Good morning, happy Thursday,
“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 he served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.”
Genesis 39:2-4).
Joseph is one greatest Bible characters. He was a wonderful type of Christ. Everything that happened to him is an example to all believers in the Lord. God allowed his brothers to sell him into slavery so he would save his family and the whole world in one of the worst famines the world has ever seen. But God allowed trials, hardships, and temptations in his life, as He does in our lives as well. He faced many disappointments. He obeyed God, trusted in Him, endured, and persevered.
Joseph worked hard, carried out his duties honorably and faithfully, and never complained or asked why all these bad things were happening to him. God was with him and made him successful in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife, however tried her utmost to seduce him. He refused her advances day by day. She was likely a beautiful woman. The devil always employs the best to tempt us to get us to fall.
Others in the Bible refused the devil’s tricks: Daniel and his three friends refused to eat the king’s food and drink his wine; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to bow to the king’s golden image; and Daniel refused to stop praying to his God. Quite a few years ago, to try to stop drug abuse, they had the slogan, “Just say No.” Sadly, it didn’t work, but it works for us as believers by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Potiphar’s wife, grabbed Joseph by his garment, and he ran out of the house, leaving it behind. She false accused him of attempting to assault her. Potiphar found out, got very angry, and had Joseph thrown into the king’s prison. Potiphar could have had him executed. But he knew his wife.
Then in the prison God blessed him also. The keeper of the prison showed him mercy and committed all the prisoners into his authority. We know that he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker. The former was restored to his position, but the baker was executed, just as Joseph said would happen. Joseph asked the butler to remember him so he could get out of the prison because he was innocent. The butler forgot about him for two full years. Another hardship and disappointment.
When we honor God, He honors us. That does mean that things will be easy, fair, or painless in our lives. God uses our trials to build us into vessels that He can use for His glory. When Pharaoh had a dream, none of his wisemen could interpret it. The butler told the king of Joseph and how he can interpret dreams. They brought Joseph out of the prison and he interpreted his dream, and Pharaoh appointed him to be second in command in Egypt and oversee the time of great posterity which was then followed by a severe famine. Everyone had to go to Joseph for food.
May the Lord help us to trust Him in the hard times as much as in the easy ones. We can’t get discouraged or complain. God has a plan for us as He did for Joseph. We must refuse this world and all its sinful pleasures. God always gives us something better. We must be good employees and godly servants. Let us always do what is right in God’s sight.
Have a blessed day trusting in God’s plan though we can’t always see what He is doing at the time. Stay safe and healthy,
In His grace and service,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 