#105 Lord With, Lord Willing Genesis 39

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. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Genesis 39:1-6 ESV

We return to the story of Joseph, and though he is a captive in the house of Potiphar, the passage also notes that he becomes a successful man. Potiphar is the captain of Pharaoh's guard, and so a man of much responsibility. He sees that the Lord is with Joseph, and  he elevates him to overseer of all his house. A man who is in charge of other men, and responsible for those most powerful in his kingdom, must consider Joseph the greatest of blessings. In a fallen world, honesty becomes a commodity. The servant that can be left unsupervised and be trusted with all his master has, would be a rare and precious find indeed. I have known men to be paid well for the amount of work they do, and yet still need someone to make sure they do that much. We complain when we are hired for an agreed upon wage, and I agree there are two sides to this, but it is often from the one who does the least that I hear the most complaint. Joseph was sold into this position, and so by matters fair and unfair, he would have space upon his shoulder for a reasonable sized chip. He does not carry one though, and instead serves Potiphar as unto the Lord, so much so, that the servant does not need sight of the master, and becomes the overseer. Joseph does not whine or take the route of the lazy, nor exercises the excuses that follow their course. There is no discussion of his perception being his reality. The reality is that his brothers sold him and he is now a slave. He did not sign on for any of this, and yet by the grace of God, he has become a blessing. These six verses speak volumes to me. I wonder, am I blessing?

Matthew 25:14-30English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one,to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked andslothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’