GENESIS 39:19-23 – As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: DON’T TRUST CIRCUMSTANCES OR FEELINGS. Let’s put ourselves in Joseph’s shoes. He has displayed faithfulness to his God by refusing to commit adultery with Potiphar’s wife. His display of love for God in persevering against this difficult temptation makes him a model of godliness for all of us. His reward? Not at all what we would think. Today’s scripture reveals the “prize” for his commitment to the Lord – prison; a room in a dark and dreary prison cell. For what? Doing right. What a sudden change of circumstances and feelings for Joseph! One minute he is in the favor of Potiphar enjoying the privileges of such a position. Then because of a lie from a woman who was denied the pleasure of sin, he is under the wrath of Potiphar and punished. There is a lesson for us from this . . . life is full of unexpected changes and difficulties and they may occur quickly, but the “real” lesson of today is about the unchanging nature of God’s love.
In the midst of Joseph’s difficult change of situation, one might be tempted to question the presence of God’s love for him. Yet, this is exactly what is emphasized. While Joseph was languishing in prison, he was not alone or absent from God’s love. We read – he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Did Joseph’s circumstances appear to show God loved him? On the surface, no, not in human reasoning. Did Joseph feel God’s love to Him? Highly unlikely. He is suffering and in pain. Yet, and here comes the lesson. God’s care, love, and Presence toward Joseph were not removed because of his circumstances and feelings – But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
We must not interpret God’s love for us based on our circumstances and feelings. Both change and are unreliable. And often our circumstances are difficult and emotional pain very deep, making these poor judges of anything, especially God’s love for us. Our confidence in God’s love is based on His unchanging Person and promises. To trust circumstances and feelings as measurements of God’s love will lead us to doubt, fear, anxiety, and a lack of assurance of His love. Remember, faith sees beyond the seen and felt to the true realities of who God is based on what He has said in His Word!
PRAYER: “Father, help me not allow my circumstances and emotions measure Your love for me.”
QUOTE: “We must not determine God’s love to us by our circumstances but His unchanging Person and Promises.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim