RPG Adults
JOSEPH PROVED HIMSELF
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Genesis 39:1-10
Psalm 23
God sends us miseries
not to make us worse but better.
JOSEPH PROVED HIMSELF
Joseph, hated by his brothers, but chosen of God to be the deliverer, was sold by the Midianites to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. In this important household, Joseph began to prove himself by his character and his capabilities. Both are vitally essential in the making of a good administrator and ruler of people.
From the outset, Joseph distinguished himself as a godly and exceptionally able person. He must have made known to Potiphar his faith in God. “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen 39:3). So, Joseph was made overseer over his house and all that he had. That led to even greater prosperity for “…the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake…” (Gen 39:5). What Joseph’s tasks were, we are not told, but we may call him the chief manager. His performance was uniformly successful. Joseph saw his servanthood in this foreign home as an opportunity to prove himself. There was no need nor ground for self-pity. He had committed his way to the Lord, so wherever the Lord put him, he was contented. When he arrived in Egypt, Joseph was just over 17 years of age. It is likely that he spent at least ten years serving Potiphar and growing in stature both physically as well as intellectually. Verse 6 indicates that Joseph was an attractive person and very personable (“well favoured”).
Joseph was tall and handsome. By and by, Potiphar’s wife began to entertain seductive thoughts towards him. She must have been tremendously persuasive. It could be so “hush hush.” What pleasures and delights were calling! But Joseph had his sense of right and wrong. He saw the whole proposition for what it was: a sin against God and against his master. Yielding to his master’s wife would be betraying the trust his master had put on him. Joseph was a man of honour. He honoured God and his master. He refused to go along.
THOUGHT: The Lord made all that Joseph did to prosper.
PRAYER: Guide me in Thy path, Father. And may I be submissive to Thy guidance.