An Overwhelming Sense of God and His Purpose (Genesis 39)

Genesis 39:2 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

The character of Joseph in this chapter and throughout his life is remarkable. He resists anger, sexual temptation, bitterness, and impatience. All through his life, he seems to show essentially the right response and the right attitude no matter how mistreated he is. How was he able to do it?

Could it have been this little phrase, “the Lord was with Joseph”? We are told in 39:2 that the Lord was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man. We are told in 39:3 that his master saw that the Lord was with him and made all he did to prosper. When in prison, due to false accusations, again we are told that “the Lord was with him” there and made what he did to prosper.

We could praise Joseph for how he was able to stand, but maybe we should give God the glory for being with him, for prospering him, and for strengthening and assuring Joseph that He had a far greater plan for his life!

We get some insight into Joseph’s thinking in 39:8-9 when propositioned by Potiphar’s wife. He basically says, I have the greatest position in my master’s house, so how can I sin in this way against  my position and the God who has given it to me?

We too need a sense of purpose and destiny that is far bigger than the pitfalls of life. We need to know in our hearts that God has a plan for our lives, a destiny that involves no less than to be “conformed to the image of God’s son” (Romans 8:29). God is doing a work in us and through us for His honour and glory. Why would we play with petty things and indulge in silly sins when we know that the Lord is with us and wants to prosper us and work in us for His glory?