Scriptural Basis: Genesis 40:6-15; 23
MEMORY VERSE: Let them give thanks to the Lord His unfailing love. Psalms 107:21
The life of Joseph in the home of Jacob was mixed up with love and hatred. The father loved him and demonstrated this love by sewing for him a richly ornamented robe His brothers hated him of their father’s favoritism and above all, for Joseph’s bad report about them to their father.
At seventeen he had already shown signs of obedience to the God of his father. An opportunity came when Jacob’s sons got rid of their brother Joseph by selling him into slavery. God did not intervene and bring him back home, but rather in that situation God kept on blessing him. His master Portiphar took notice of his own prosperity because of Joseph and entrusted all that he had to Joseph’s care.
Joseph’s physical appearance attracted Portiphar’s wife because the Bible says Joseph was well-built and handsome. Portiphar’s wife enticed young Joseph to have sexual relations with her. But he refused. “No one is greater in this house than I am” was Joseph’s comment. That elevation did not put pride into Joseph. He feared God…”how then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Though Portiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. When Portiphar’s wife held Joseph to forcefully lie with him, Joseph ran away leaving his coat in the hand of the woman. The Bible says we should flee fornication.
The woman’s lies with Joseph’s coat as false evidence put Joseph in prison, but God did not take him out of prison immediately. God was with him in prison. When God’s time was ripe Joseph became next to Pharaoh in rank. People knew Joseph more than they knew Pharaoh because Joseph was put in charge of the whole of Egypt.
If in your present situation God seems to be silent, remember Joseph. The delay is for a purpose. Keep your trust in Him and the blessing will flow even in the present situation. When the intervention days, God is doing it for a purpose.