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The LORD was with Joseph


Alan

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The LORD was with Joseph”

Genesis 39:1-6

Genesis 39:1-6, “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, brought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down hither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous 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 that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.”

Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Joseph had faith and loved God. Joseph was a good man” and righteous in his heart and in his relationship with God. God allowed the evil actions of his brothers in order to test Joseph and to prepare him for the responsibility to rule Egypt. Therefore, the steps of the good (in the sight of God) man, in any generation, in any country, in either the Old or New Testament dispensation, are ordered by the LORD.

Psalm 17:3, “Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” When Joseph was a slave, God tested Joseph to see if Joseph loved, and trusted in God, with his heart. Joseph, like Job, had integrity... Joseph was determined not to transgress God and His ways. Like Job, Joseph was upright, feared God, and hated evil. Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”

One of the highest respected men in the Chinese church in China, Wang Ming-Tao says, “Those whom God uses, who can be used by God, must be of noble morality and conduct, and a good reputation among men. God is a holy and righteous God, He will only use those men who are also holy and righteous men.” 王明道說「神所要使用,能使用的,也是高尚的德行和好名聲的人。神是聖潔公義的神,他所要使用的人也是聖潔的人。」1 Free translation by the author.

If we are to walk with God then we must be in agreement with God and His ways. The ways of the world are not in agreement with God and we must be separate with the ways of the world. 2 Corinthians 6:14 & 15, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness: and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

The false gods, idols, and beliefs of the false religions of this world, have no place in the life of the individual who wants to walk with God. 2 Corinthians 6:16 & 17, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” The world is an harsh environment for every saint. Like Joseph, we need to keep ourselves separate from the evil things of this world and walk with God.

Joseph is an example to the Christian who desires to serve the Lord in a harsh environment. Joseph felt that he was serving God whether in his father's house, among his deceitful brothers, in the hands of an Egyptian master and under the authority of the king of Egypt. The Lord Jesus said, Luke 19:17, “And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”

Every Christian can examine the example of Joseph and Job and serve the Lord Jesus as a servant in any occupation and the Lord can be with you.

The LORD was with Joseph

Joseph had a good relationship with God. Every day, Joseph walked with God. Even in the times of his distress Joseph walked with God. Like Job, Joseph separated himself from the sinful habits and ways of this world and walked with God. Joseph is an good example to the Christian. If we want to have a good relationship with God, and have God with us, we need to hate evil and not transgress the ways of God.

As the LORD was with Joseph, the apostle Peter states, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38 Joseph was an example of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God prospered Joseph and his work

Joseph walked with God. Because Joseph walked in the ways of the Lord, separated himself from the evil ways of this world, God blessed him, his work and his relationship with other people.

God wants to prosper the Christian. 3 John 2 and 3, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest proper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.” Please notice, we need to walk in truth. We need to walk in truth in our talk, our character, and in the doctrines of the scriptures.

God is willing to help us spiritually, mentally, in our family life and in our work. God wants every Christian to be stable. Colossians 2: 6 & 7, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Joseph was separated from the evil things in this world, walked with God, and was established in his conduct, and in the truth.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand

Joseph was completely trustworthy with the physical possessions of his master. Joseph did not steal, did not pilfer, did not miss-use, and did not cause any harm to the physical goods in the house of his master, or under this direct control. Joseph was faithful in all that was under his authority. Joseph is an excellent example for the saint who works for other people in any occupation. Every Christian in any endeavor of work; whether in a factory, a business, a store, an office, a government bureau, the military, and in other occupation, should be the most trustworthy individual the boss has.

Joseph was a goodly person and well favoured.

Remember Psalm 37:23? “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” We need to learn how to be good in our conduct. In the eyes of the world, in the eyes of his Egyptian master, Joseph had a strong testimony.

The character of Joseph was like the character of the Lord Jesus. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52

Lastly, Paul the apostle stated that the man who is the bishop, or elder, or pastor, of the church, should be of likewise character and conduct. “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:7

1Wang Ming Tao, Treasuries of Wang Ming Tao, Volume II The Hard Road, (Touliu, Taiwan: Conservative Baptist Press, 1996), Page 314. 王明道,王明道文庫,第二冊,小徑(臺灣台中:浸宣出版社,1996),314頁。

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Thank you Alan, this was a blessing to me. In reading this devotion I was drawn to contemplate the exact opposite of the character that Joseph showed throughout his life. To the wise Christian Joseph's life and upright lifestyle are much more than examples of how a Christian should live; they should also serve as examples to those who may have a tendency to let their feet slip just a little. Those who do so forget that it is not man they deal with, but they are dealing with an Omniscient God who sees and knows and justly rewards everything.

There are extremely negative consequences for an unjust steward that could follow him his entire life and negate any work attempted for The Lord:  Num. 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

 Luke. 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 

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20 hours ago, Jim_Alaska said:

Luke. 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 

Thank you for your kind words Jim.

As you mentioned in Luke 16:12, one of the tests in the life, in the life of the unbeliever, and the believer, is for God to see how we treat the possessions, and well-being, of other people. If we are are not faithful in what another man has; how can we be faithful in what God wants to give us?

Paul the apostle further stated, "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" 1 Corinthians 4:2 a steward is to faithfully take care of another man's possessions and faithfully do the duty of another man. Paul is primarily stating this conduct of a man's character to the minister of the gospel. Therefore, as stewards of the grace of God, as stewards of the proclaiming of the gospel of God,  we are to be found faithful in our personal conduct, in the ministry, and in doctrine.

Edited by Alan
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Brethren

I do hope that this series of devotions on the life of Joseph is a blessing and an encouragement to all of you in your personal walk with the Lord.

Niagara Falls

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Thanks Alan! The story of Joseph is a perfect example of not only humility, but strength being perfected in our weaknesses -- such as the apostle Paul in his frailties. Both were dependent upon the Lord and His sovereign decree. What Joseph's brothers meant for evil -- God meant for good. Joseph was debased . . . and in the Lord's perfect timing -- he was exalted (cf. Matt. 23:12). Who knows what could/would have happened if God had decided to remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh"...

God Bless!

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I appreciate your comments Dan.

I also appreciate your reference to Matthew 23:12, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Joseph was a humble person who relied upon God, never got bitter, nor arrogant, but waited for God to fulfill His prophecy in His timing.

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Yep! Weve all heard the old adage, "sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's gone." God most assuredly gives Grace to the humble, and that applies in all areas of our life and walk with the LORD -- and not just our Salvation. When I was homeless, I would be in a clique . . . and we would band together in an effort to assist each other with ideas on how we would get off our feet and off the streets; we wouldn't just fend for ourselves, but we would help each other. Most of us (through prayer) got off the streets eventually, and some were more "successful" and had better homes and jobs. There were a few from the "homeless" crew who became too complacent and bragged about how much wealth they've obtained from once being homeless; and to make a long story short . . . a few of them ended up getting demoted at their jobs and had to settle with living in apartments. They were fuming as a result of this and blamed it all on God, and asked, "what did Ido wrong?" They failed to appreciate the fact and the vital life lesson that even though they had been demoted and lost their houses -- it was still a "step-up" from being homeless. 

The more humble we are . . . the better the "chances" our prayers will be answered. I always realize that in ALL my prayers -- that we often need to depend on the prayers of those who have prayed BEFORE us -- so that God's divine providence can be accomplished synergistically through other members of the body of Christ. I personally do NOT have any desire to obtain more materially than what the LORD has already supplied according to His riches and glory. I am absolutely content with living in a small cottage with a stove, bathroom, and a couch where I can lay my head. I have declined job offers that had salaries much higher than what I am earning now. I did so  because it would take too much time off of my life from doing my labor of love -- which is serving the LORD. Pride often times leads to greed and a haughty attitude towards others, and this is a dangerous way to live; because this will ultimately lead down a path of destruction where there awaits a cliff that they will plunge off of it blind-folded to their demise.

God Bless!

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Thank you for your testimony and thoughts about the homeless and how a person should deal with the extreme trials that can came to our life.

I also appreciate the following comment that you made as it also pertains to this lesson on Joseph and being a servant in the house of Potiphar.  "They failed to appreciate the fact and the vital life lesson that even though they had been demoted and lost their houses -- it was still a "step-up" from being homeless. "

In my next devotion on Joseph, Genesis 39:7-23 (primarily verses 21-23), we will notice that even as Joseph is brought further down in the station of life, in prison, 'demoted' as you wrote, he still remains steadfast in his faith towards God, maintains his integrity, and works at his demoted station in life as diligently as before.

 

Edited by Alan
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