Joseph: Trust and Obey

A few days ago I read Genesis 39, the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. There are a few things that stuck out to me.

The first one was recently pointed out in Sunday school. In verse 9, Joseph says, "How then can i do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Joseph understood how terrible sin is. He had no regard for how it would affect his life to refuse the wife of an officer of Pharoh. He trusted God to take care of him and committed to obeying God. Joseph didn't have an attitude of "I've been good and look how God has rewarded me" which would have been an easy response in his situation. In verse 12, we see him fleeing from sin, literally. This should be our response. I am too quick to make excuses and toy with sin. I need to have the perspective of Joseph. I need to realize the terribleness of my sin against a Holy God and flee from it.

The second thing that sticks out to me is how often God says he is with Joseph and he is blessing Joseph. In Joseph's situation it would be so easy and natural to see only the bad and blame God. But, because of his perspective, Joseph was able to realize and enjoy the blessings of God.

v. 1 - We see God directing Joseph's path
v. 2 - The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man
v. 3 - His master saw that the Lord was with him and the Lord caused all he did to succeed.
v. 5 -  The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. The blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and field.
v. 21 -  But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in sight of the keeper of the prison.
v. 23 - ...the LORD was with him.  And whatever he did the LORD made it succeed.

So many people in Joseph's situation would see only the injustice he suffered again and again.I know I would. I easily become focused on what "I deserve." So many people would question God's goodness and His hand in these evil events taking place in Joseph's life. But the whole time God was with Joseph. And hew as blessing him and directing his path.

No matter what the situation in life, I want to remember, like Joseph, how great sin is. I want to trust and obey. And I want to remember that God is with me and see his many blessings.