In The Darkness
Read This Week: Genesis 39
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. – Genesis 39:20-23 NIV
Genesis 39 is a profound exploration of resilience, integrity, and divine providence. Within its verses lies the captivating story of Joseph, a young man sold into slavery who rises from the depths of despair to become a beacon of hope and righteousness. Through the lens of this chapter, we embark on a journey that delves into the complexities of human nature, the dynamics of power, and, once again, the benefits of enduring faith in the face of adversity.
At its core, this section recounts the trials and triumphs of Joseph, who finds himself in the household of Potiphar, an Egyptian official. Despite being torn from his family and thrust into a foreign land, Joseph demonstrates unwavering integrity and diligence in his service. His remarkable qualities do not go unnoticed, as Potiphar soon entrusts him with managing his entire household. However, Joseph’s ascent to prominence is abruptly interrupted by a test of character that will define the course of his destiny.
Enter Potiphar’s wife, a figure whose advances Joseph steadfastly rejects out of loyalty to his master and fear of sinning against God. Faced with her relentless pursuit, Joseph stands firm in his principles, refusing to succumb to temptation. Yet, his refusal incites the wrath of Potiphar’s wife, leading to false accusations of assault and resulting in Joseph’s imprisonment.
Joseph’s faith is tested once more in the darkness of his confinement. Yet, even in the depths of despair, he finds solace in the knowledge that God remains ever-present, guiding him through the trials that beset him. Through divine intervention, Joseph gains favor with the prison warden, who entrusts him with overseeing the other prisoners. He shows amazing resilience despite injustice and adversity, and his unwavering commitment to righteousness and faithfulness to God ultimately paved the way for his redemption and eventual ascension to a position of authority in Egypt. In this, we witness the intricate interplay between human agency and the Lord’s providence, as Joseph’s steadfastness in adversity aligns with God’s overarching plan for his life. He grew in spiritual stature and maturity in the darkness.
Like many others in Scripture, this chapter shines a light on the nature of power and moral responsibility. While tempted, Joseph’s refusal to compromise his principles underscores the importance of ethical conduct and the dignity of every individual. His exemplary behavior starkly contrasts the moral failings of those around him, highlighting the transformative power of integrity and virtue in the midst of a corrupt and fallen world. This shows us that in our own age, which is marked by moral ambiguity and ethical compromise, we, too, can be examples of hope and inspiration. We can emulate Joseph’s unwavering faith, resilience, and commitment to righteousness, knowing that even in the darkest of times, God’s hand remains ever-present. We, too, can be a light in the darkness.
Genesis Chapter 39
Verse 11: Then it happened about this time that Joseph went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the men of the house were indoors.
Verse 12: And she caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me! But he lift his garma in her hand and fled and got out [of the house].
Verse 13: And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled away.
~The Deceit of Seduction~
God Is Saying To Me:
A truthful and committed relationship with me will always lead you in the right direction. Staying focused in times of temptation is a righteous act. Desires of the flesh will come, but strength in me supercedes the pitfalls staged around you. Always remain vigilant, seeking my response in the heat of the moment. Make sure you’re not placing yourself in temptable places. Sin follows you but you follow me! Always remember that! RUN from sin and flee the consequences because the enemy desires to set you up for failure. Do not fall victim to life’s traps. Be wise and remain sinless to lusts of the world. Remain faithful to me and allow me to protect you from worldly decision making in the flesh. There are too many pleasures of the world to seduce you, but nothing can match my pleasures and treasures that I have in store for you.
What This Means To Me:
God desires for us to be committed to him 100%. He blesses us with wisdom, peace, joy and desires for us to always be in right standing with Him. We must remain steadfast in dedication to Him. Storms and temptations will come, but He is our hero, not our villain. He provides all that we need and builds a hedge of protection around us. He is always faithful and blessing us and working things out for those that love Him and are called to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Thank you God for your unwavering spirit that never forgets us, lives within us and protects us from all of evil if we lay down the lust of the world and follow you! ❤️
When faced with adversity, do we truly transform our challenges into the best possible outcomes? Do we quest for excellence rather than mere survival?
As Christians, it’s our calling to navigate and thrive in every circumstance. Many hold back, constrained by limiting beliefs instilled from an early age, where mere participation was mistaken for achievement. However, true merit extends beyond just showing up or blending in with mediocrity.
It’s about outshining and striving for unparalleled excellence in our endeavors, regardless of obstacles. It’s about achieving, excelling, and exceeding expectations against all odds. Winners stand out not because they show up and compete but through their relentless efforts and achievements. Winners are winners, not just participators. The adage that success is “10% inspiration and 90% perspiration” underscores the triumph of hard work over inherent talent.
The world is full of gifted individuals who waste their potential and let it wither away. As Christians, we’re entrusted with the divine mandate to elevate the gifts God has bestowed upon us, crafting something magnificent. This pursuit not only manifests God’s principles and ethics in our lives but also blesses us abundantly and serves as a transformative influence on those around us.
1. Divine Providence: Recognize that every good and perfect gift originates from God, the fountain of all blessings.
2. Resourcefulness: Where we stand or what we possess matters little. The essence lies in our initiative to utilize what we’re given, irrespective of our circumstances.
3. Fundamental Virtues: Placing God first, coupled with unwavering integrity and a diligent work ethic, paves the path to true success.
In essence, this perspective challenges us to redefine our understanding of achievement, urging us to embody and demonstrate the full extent of God’s transformative power through our actions and lives.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Genesis 39
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Genesis 39:. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand.
4 So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge.
What can we learn from Joseph’s life?
What was God doing in Joseph’s life?
God was saying to me
It’s important to always remember that I’m always teaching you something in everything you do and go through.
You are my daughter and a servant in Our House for the kingdom of heaven.
Yes I’m always training you, I’m always there for you and I Am with you to help you because I love you!
As you go through life it may feel like it’s hard sometimes because everyone will not want to be committed, they may not want to listen, even give you a hard time because you’re wanting to help them.
But like Joseph you want your heart to stay focused on serving others, do the best that you can for those who I give you., I will give you favor as you serve Me. I chose Joseph because I knew his heart and I knew he would be faithful, he is a good example for those who want to learn from Me through Him.
Joseph was learning to care for people.
I know you are too! Keep going and keep learning it all works out in the end!
Thank you my daughter I love you!
Thank you, father God for loving me and taking the time to train me, you always give me the best people to help me.
What this means to me is that my heart is full of love because of my father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that lives inside my ❤️
Reading about Joseph’s life, encourages me to keep serving and trusting God, because he is faithful and I want to be faithful to him. I love to learn from Joseph’s life to see, even in the hardest suffering things that he went through that he kept focused on God‘s purpose for his life. He was called to serve, and to stay focused on God‘s purposes, that in the midst of all of it that people would look to God and what he was doing. That’s what I do every day to seek the Lord with all my heart love him, worship him and do all that I can for the kingdom of heaven thank you God that I get to do a little part in this world before I go home to be with you. ❤️️
This week in Genesis 39 I got a song
Worship
Let’s come together to worship our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord, lifting our hands praising our Lord, we are blessed blessed because our Lord gives us grace and mercy. He loves us so much Our Lord is always faithful. Our Lord is always faithful so let’s be faithful to our Lord he loves having a relationship with you and me so don’t be afraid to ask our Lord, he will help guide us through He is our teacher. Our counselor are everything. We are blessed blessed because our Lord loves us. We are blessed blessed because our Lord loves us. Amen.
Our Lord loves us, especially when we put him first and ask him before we do anything. We should always ask our father he loves when we go out and share his love and his word with others. Thank you, Jesus.