In our story Joseph was thrown into a dry cistern by his brothers because they hated him. Later they took him out of the cistern and sold him to Midianite traders who would take him to Egypt.
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
Joseph’s journey to Egypt would have taken several weeks traveling over desert terrain covering about 300 miles. What would he have been thinking about? What kind of prayers did he pray? If I had been Joseph I would have been doing a lot of reflection along the way.
Joseph makes it to Egypt and then is sold to the captain of the guard for Pharaoh. When all seemed lost, the Lord did rescue Joseph, but not in a way he thought of or imagined. As we go through life much of what we experience along our faith walk is not what we would have planned out. Although in life we maybe in a difficult situation, as we turn to the Lord, He can enable us to see light in the darkness.
Although Joseph was a slave, he was determined to be the best he could be where the Lord had placed him. A once arrogant young man was being refined by the Lord for future plans He had for him.
Although none of us want to sign up for difficult times in life, it is those times when we grow the most spiritually and come closer to God. Throughout history the persecuted church always finds its legs and moves forward in ways they never could imagine.
Take time and look back on your own life and reflect how the Lord was with you during difficult times. Give thanks to God how He has preserved you for such a time as this.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 39:1–6). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.