Gen 39:2a,3,21,23b "The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man...And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand…But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison...the Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper."
So Joseph was sold to slave traders and the slave traders sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and a captain of the guard. Right away, Joseph was put in a position where he could have major influence…and he did. He was in the house of Potiphar and it seemed like everything he touched turned to gold…and Potiphar was the recipient. Talk about a good purchase! Since Joseph was so successful, since his hand brought about prosperity for Potiphar, he decided to put Joseph in charge of his entire house. He trusted him, as my old boss would say: "with uncounted change"…but this was more than change…it was everything. Joseph was in charge of it all and Potiphar did not pay attention because he knew that Joseph would do him right.
A problem arose, however, with Potiphar's wife. She wanted Joseph's body and Joseph refused, so she accused him of trying to rape her and Joseph found himself in prison. Not very successful…not very prosperous…not true. Even in prison everything Joseph touched turned to gold. So much so, the keeper of the prison repeated the example of Potiphar and put Joseph in charge and "…did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority…".
What's the deal? Joseph is living in the lap of luxury and in charge of it all, and Joseph is living in prison and in charge of it all. Why? How could this happen? How did this happen?
Five small words: "The Lord was with him…". It wasn't Joseph. It wasn't his smarts. It wasn't his ability. It wasn't his wisdom. It was God. It is interesting, but when you look at the Hebrew, the words say: Jehovah-Joseph. It is a pairing. It is a partnership. It is God and Joseph together. God working through a man. Sure. God could have accomplished what He wanted to do without Joseph. But He didn't. He wanted to work through this man to bring about prosperity for Israel.(Jacob, but eventually the nation itself.) And the way that it happened was that God was with Joseph. God brought about success and prosperity. He made everything Joseph touched turn to gold. In the good places (the palace) as well as the bad (prison).
I wonder if I could be paired with God? I wonder if someone could write: Jehovah-Glen? I wonder if my relationship with Him is such that it is considered a partnership? Is God working through me no matter what the life circumstance? I want that. Yes, God is with me. He said: "I will never leave you nor forsake you", but I am asking myself: "Since this is the case, what is the fruit?" What do I see Him doing through me? He worked through Joseph. He wants to work through me too.
1 comment:
This reminds me of when I once said about a ministry I was serving in that I felt like God was working "in spite of me". Everyone seemed to think that was normal, but I wanted more than that. I want to know that I am partnering with God to do His will. That we are on the same page and I am following where He is guiding and doing what He wants me to do. Yes, He will work "in spite of me" in the sense that it is not me or my talent, but all Him. However, I want to be serving in communion with Him.
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