May 4

"The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” —GENESIS 39:2

For the better part of Joseph’s early life, he endured hatred, abuse and violence. His father favoured him, but his ten older brothers thought he was arrogant, and were filled with jealousy and rage. With the intent to kill him, they threw him down a well, but instead sold him as a slave to Ishmaelite traders. He was auctioned off in Egypt and bought by a high official named Potiphar. Potiphar trusted Joseph and gave him complete command of his affairs, but Potipher’s wife continually made sexual advances, which Joseph refused. Having been rejected yet again, she falsely accused him of trying to rape her, and Joseph spent prime years of his life imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. 

How did Joseph not only survive through these tribulations, but earn the respect of Potiphar and others, including officers and inmates where he was imprisoned? Five times it says in Genesis 39 that in both his master’s house and later in prison, “The Lord was with him.” That does not mean in a general sense God was with him, but in the very particular sense that when you saw Joseph, met and interacted with him, you became aware that God was here; God was with this man. Joseph’s identity was completely secure in God and that was manifested in his character, his wisdom and his godliness.

When our circumstances are good, it becomes quite easy to draw our security from that. In fact, our health, family, work, finances and friendships could all be going extremely well, but what happens if just one of them falls apart? What happens if there’s a sudden illness, a job loss, marital breakdown or unexpected tragedy? Just one thing falling apart will usually have a snowball effect. What is the state of our security then?

We know Joseph was living in a situation he did not choose, but in times of trials and hardships, he knew God was with him. His security and identity was not in his work, but in the Lord. Entirely dependent and trusting of God, Joseph rose from a prison dungeon to become Prime Minister of Egypt, and for the rest of his life was held in high regard throughout the land. 

Many of us find ourselves in situations we certainly do not like and did not choose, but like Joseph, we need to live in an active, intimate relationship with God. When we are with God, He is with us, and particularly in the hardships, we have that deep inner peace, knowing our security lies in God alone and He knows what He is doing. 

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be secure in You, so that regardless of circumstances, You are all I need. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: Where does my security lie?