JOSEPH: Trusting God by doing what is right.
| The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. (Genesis39:2-4 ) |
Do we trust God in all situations and at all times? Are we faithful even in the small things? Joseph was a godly young man who walked before his Father in absolute integrity. Some people behave differently depending on where you meet them. You meet them at church, and they are one person; meet them in town and they are someone totally different.
After Joseph was sold as a slave, an Egyptian officer named Potiphar bought him. Joseph's life seemed to have fallen apart: To begin with, he was stripped of his coat. He was separated from his beloved father. He was betrayed by the very people who should have loved him most. He was sold as a slave and carried off to a strange land to live as a slave. I can imagine the fear that must have filled his heart and the hurt that must have shattered him. He must have questioned if God still loved him. At every stage Joseph would have been feeling hopeless. Imagine the disillusionment over the shattered dreams he had shared with his family.
While the events of Joseph's life appeared to be out of control, everything that occurred was controlled by God. It is amazing to see that Joseph trusted God whether things were going badly or well. Joseph was acting as a witness to the world that the Spirit of God was within him. How do we live today?
I am fascinated by the words of Joseph when he tempted by Potiphar's wife. He said, "How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God?" It is amazing to note that he does not say that he cannot do such a thing because he might get caught, or because this might bring trouble for both. For Joseph, adultery with his master's wife would be a sin against God. Standing against such kinds of sin does not always guarantee success in life. In fact, it will often become a cause of trouble in our life, and that is exactly what happened to Joseph. It is however important to remember Hebrews 13:5, God reminds us, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'"
You and I have the same protection that Joseph enjoyed. We do not have to become bitter or succumb to an unforgiving spirit. We can display a sweet spirit, even during the most trying of times, with our Lord's help. And so, like Joseph, we can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future, we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature, no circumstance, no disaster in our life, can ever separate us from his love!
Tichaona Nigel Chikanya, a husband to Savior and a father to Deuel.
