Scripture to Read: Genesis 39:1-2
As we begin our journey this week through Genesis 39, we’ll start to unpack Joseph’s life. Joseph was the eleventh born son of Jacob and the firstborn son of Jacob’s wife, Rachel. As we read Genesis 39:1-2, we are reminded that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers to the Ishmaelites, also called the Midianites in Scripture. The Ishmaelites had gone down to Egypt and while in Egypt, they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, to be Potiphar's slave. What we must not miss is what God shares with us in Genesis 39:2,“ the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.” God was using Joseph in miraculous ways, and it was God who was making Joseph successful, even in slavery. If we’re not careful, we can fall into the trap of complaining to God when we are placed in a terrible or difficult place. Yet, God wants us to TRUST Him no matter what our circumstances might turn out to be. God will always see fit to carry out His perfect plan and as He does, we have to choose to walk in obedience to Him so that we do not miss His handiwork in and through our lives. Here in Genesis 39, we’re going to see how God took care of Joseph and was preparing him for something Joseph could not even imagine during this time in his life. If we’re in a hard time, let’s fully trust God because we can’t see how He’ll use it in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today through Joseph’s difficult circumstance that you needed to learn?
2. How are you trusting God daily, even when your circumstances seem so hopeless?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!