At seventeen, he was kidnapped by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and hauled off to Egypt. Not only was there no light at the end of Joseph’s tunnel, there seemed to be nothing but tunnel.
Yet Genesis 39:2 records, “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man,” working for one of Pharaoh’s officials. Not only that, the verse goes on to say, “His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.”
Far From Home
Sounds nice and tidy—unless you’re Joseph. He was still far from home. Still far away from familiar surroundings, familiar food, and—of course—his family. To Joseph, it probably didn’t feel like the Lord was with him. After all, things got worse!
When falsely accused of sexual advances toward his boss’s wife, Joseph was immediately thrown into prison. He must surely have felt he was far from the goodness of God.
Not so. Genesis 29:21 records, “The LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
Genesis 39:23 comments, “The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him.”
Ever True
Here again, on a purely human level, it might not have appeared that, detained far from home, accused of a crime he did not commit, the Lord was “with” Joseph. But God’s Word is ever true.
And as a good student of the Bible, you know that Joseph’s story, in fact, does have a pleasing turnabout. After Pharaoh dreamed two confounding dreams, Joseph interpreted the dreams and wound up second in command over all Egypt. And yes, Joseph is ultimately reconciled with his family.
Which brings us to your story. Maybe you’re facing unthinkable rejection, insurmountable obstacles, or unimaginable pain. Consider: God is with you. Even if it doesn’t feel that way.
Hebrews 13:5 assures us, “for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU.'”
Worth Hanging On To
You’ve heard Joseph’s story many times. You know the life lessons. Still, it’s a good idea to place a bookmark in a verse like Hebrews 13:5. Because unimaginable trouble may be on the way. And when it comes, we’ll need something to hang on to that’s worth hanging on to.
For He Himself has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” -Hebrews13:5
