Genesis 39:1-3
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
Genesis 39:22-23
And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
Genesis 41:37-40
This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
Joseph's life is a picture for all of us to learn from. Joseph is a young man, who, like Job, was used to accomplish something great for God, without Joseph's immediate knowledge. God had allowed Joseph's brothers to sell him into slavery. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold into Potiphar's home and immediately rose to the rank of second in command. He would soon be accused of a crime he did not commit and be placed into prison for it, with a trial. In prison he was placed, once again, second in command. And then, outside of our reading today, Joseph is taken out of prison and rises to power again, only to be placed "second in command" to only Pharaoh. God is able to place us where He wants to place us and honor us the way He wants us to be honored. Joseph had time in a pit and a prison. He was a slave and accused of being a rapist. He was fearful and tormented and made to feel like a package to be sold and traded. Yet, at each stop God had bless Joseph. God, despite our position in life, can and does provide blessings to us and those around us as a result of His working in our lives. God is moving Joseph, like a chess piece across the game-board of life, into position to become the sole person in charge of all the food in the land. This will bring his father, Jacob (Israel) into Egypt, where God, with a powerful hand, can redeem them. The truth is we are all in God's hands for Him to do what He when He wants and how He wants. This truth can either be very reassuring to the saint or a threat and an affront to the sinner. God put Pharaoh where He wanted for His purpose (Romans 9:16-17). God put Joseph in the midst of Pharaoh. God would eventually destroy the Pharaoh of the land, even though God's hand was on Egypt and they all could have turned to God in faith. They had Joseph in their midst. Yet, they would reject the very truth in front of them. Joseph was placed where he needed to be at the hand of God. It is never recorded, in any portion of Scripture, that Joseph complained or rebelled against God. The truth is we are all exactly where God wants us and He can bless us the way He wants and use us for the reasons He wants us to be used for His greater plan.
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