Because the Lord was With Him...

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” ~ Genesis 39:2-3, NKJV

Joseph consistently impressed those around him. Potiphar, his Egyptian master, made him overseer over all that he had; in fact, he so trusted Joseph that he left everything in Joseph's hands, and did not himself know what he had except for the food that he ate. Potiphar's goods prospered under Joseph's stewardship, and Joseph never let him down. Joseph was imprisoned only because of the lies of Potiphar's wife, not because of any crime which he committed. But even in prison Joseph found favor with those around him! The keeper of the prison committed all the prisoners to Joseph's hand, "whatever they did there, it was his doing." (vs. 22) The keeper didn't even look in to anything under Joseph's care, "because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper." (vs. 23) Later we see how Joseph so impressed Pharaoh that he was made second-in-command of all Egypt. Now Joseph was likely a diligent, exemplary young man, faithful and honest in all his doings, but Scripture does not lay the credit for his greatness at Joseph's feet. The narrator specifically and repeatedly identifies the Lord as the reason for all the favor shown Joseph. Because the Lord was with him, because people saw the Lord, not Joseph, when they looked at him, Joseph met with such favor. God is desirable to man. God is everything we are not: righteous, loving, sovereign, peaceable, truthful, pure, diligent, faithful, joyous, patient, kind, just, wise, and above all, good. God is so much these things that they can scarcely be ascribed to Him as adjectives - instead He is their source, their definition. For all he is in rebellion against God, man wants what God is. What God is "works." His attributes make the world go round. They bring prosperity and stability. Joseph, the man who had God with him, was so impressive and conspicuous - a metaphorical giant - precisely because God was with him. As believers, God is with us, as well; we have the Spirit of God living in our hearts, and God Himself walks with us throughout our lives. His favor is on us and He is jealous for our well-being. But when people see us, do they see Him? Can they perceive His presence overshadowing our own fallen selves? When they are with us, do they come away feeling as if they had been with Jesus? Oh, that this would be true! I pray that as I study God's word and apply it to my life, I would come more and more under the influence of His Holy Spirit. May He so overshadow me that it's not me people see; it's the Lord.

By Rebecca...