Genesis 39: The Lord is with Me!
I was led to study the beginning to get an understanding of why It was so imperative that Jesus died on the cross for us. I’ve read Genesis repeatedly and every time I get something new out of it. We’re going to study Genesis 39:1-6 in the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). Before we start, let me give you a summary of what has taken place, many of you have read this but this is for the ones that haven’t.
Jacob, who is called Israel (the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham) has 12 sons. Jacob was in love with Rachel, and he waited 14 years to marry her. When time passed Rachel had conceived and Jacob was in his old age. Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob. Even though he is the second youngest son he was looked at as special to his father, which indicates Jacob giving Joseph a robe of many colors. Joseph’s brothers are envious and abhor him because Joseph is loved the most by his father. Joseph has all these dreams of him exalted while his family bows to him, and why did he tell them that? The feelings they had for him got even worse! Well one day as the brothers tended the flock Joseph went after them to check up on them and while he was headed toward them, they plotted to kill him. But the older brother Reuben was like no we’re not going to kill him, let’s just put him in this pit, so all in all they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, and they took him to Egypt.
In chapter 39 verse one, we see that Joseph has been taken to Egypt. His brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites, and an Egyptian named Potiphar bought Joseph. I love this part in verse two, it states, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man…” I love this verse because even though Joseph was taken from home, and had become a slave in another country, God was with him, and he was a successful man. How on earth did you become a successful man in slavery? When you are told what to do, you don’t have anything, and you’re probably wearing rags. “The Lord was with Joseph…” Now this is important, to be with the Lord there is a responsibility and a requirement that you must face. You must choose either the God way, the good way, or the wrong way. If you choose to be with the Lord, then you choose the God way. There’s integrity in not sleeping with other people’s spouses and not stealing, having grace when people have done you wrong, forgiving, being faithful, and being wise, being obedient to God. Maybe just maybe this is what being successful is to God.
A scripture that comes to mind with this is Psalms 1:3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” When we are with him and he in us we must be like a tree planted in the soil, our roots shall be so deep that it’s hard for it to uproot. When there is a storm and the wind is blowing forcefully you see the tree staying in its place, not wavering. When we are with God all our needs are supplied, he is the rivers of water, he is the living water, and nothing goes lacking but everything we touch and surrounding us will prosper.
God is so Good! Even when we feel as though life is beating us down every way is wrong and the walls are crushing us in. God is good no matter what! Next time we’re going to look at Genesis 39:3-6, until next time. Be Blessed!