At first glance, Joseph’s story reads like a set of extraordinary circumstances lived by an ordinary man. If that’s the case, it would be enough to hold our collective attention for a moment, but not one second more. So why is it we are still talking about him?
Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob (Genesis 37:3). You may have heard of his coat of many colors, or perhaps the time his brothers sold him into slavery (vv.3, 27–28). Joseph stood firm against the temptations of Potiphar’s wife, even though doing so landed him in prison. (Genesis 39). He’s the one who relocated the baby nation of Israel to Egypt and protected them from eventual famine (Genesis 47).
These are the facts we see on the surface, but look again. There is an undercurrent to Joseph’s story that points to a deeper truth. We see it written all over Genesis 39. We read that the Lord “was with Joseph,” and when his master realized this, he also saw that “the LORD made everything he did successful” (vv.2–3). The Lord remained “with Joseph and extended kindness to him,” blessing “the Egyptian’s house” and making everything he did successful (vv. 5,21–23). It’s clear that while on a human level Joseph’s life was marked by betrayal, fear, and desperate circumstances, on the supernatural level, his story is about so much more—because of God’s favor.
When Joseph’s brothers plotted his death—
God preserved his life.
When the schemes of man made Joseph a slave and a refugee—
God gave him favor in a foreign land.
When he was falsely accused and thrown in jail—
God infused Joseph’s prison time with purpose.
When there was no way for Joseph to free himself from his shackles—
God set Him free.
When Joseph was cut off from his family—
God made a way for radical reconciliation.
When Joseph lived in a land of famine—
God filled his storehouses.
Joseph was a nobody. Just an overlooked kid with a string of bad luck. Nothing to see here—but God. God was using the circumstances of Joseph’s life to tell a bigger, more important story: the story about His glory.
God’s story of grace is the undercurrent of our lives too. He proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He remains faithful to us, even when we are not (1 Corinthians 10:13). He is “rich in mercy, [and] because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. [We] are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4–5).
The reality of God’s grace turns every moment of rejection, every false accusation or overlooked achievement, every fear and every famine, into an opportunity to showcase His glory. He is the point—not us. Thousands of years later, we are still compelled to remember the story of a shepherd boy turned slave, who was transformed from a prisoner into a man of great power—not by Joseph’s strength of character or accomplishment, but by God’s design and power.
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51 thoughts on "Joseph in Potiphar’s House"
“The reality of God’s grace turns every moment…into an opportunity to showcase His glory.”
May this be my focus today.
The undercurrent. I feel it, I know it and yet, sometimes the trials seem to have no purpose. But years later, I look back and am overwhelmed by His goodness. Beauty from the ashes that, quite frankly, I was the one who lit the match and torched my own life! But God. He sought me and bought me and redeemed me. So thankful this morning!!!
As I read this beautiful reminder this morning, I’m overwhelmed with the goodness and awesome timing of God. We will finalize our daughters adoption in a few hours after many delays and unforeseen glitches. At times, it didn’t make sense and didn’t see the point of our struggle and trial. God is master of the universe and He always has a plan and is on time. I’m thankful to read this passage this morning and be reminded that even when we walk through trials, god is with us, for us, and grants favor. He has sure done that with us and for us in this season.
Praising God for you and your daughter’s adoption!!!!! Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations ❤️
Praying for the adoption to go well, for you, for your daughter and for your daughter’s birth family.
We adopted our daughter 16 years ago! Congratulations on the adoption and may God continue to pour out His favor on your family.
❤️
A wonderful day!!! We adopted 3 children, all now adults. Two are following the Lord… a beautiful blessing
Wonderful wonderful news! I’m praying for your family!
I enjoy reading Christian fiction, as long as it is light – for me, meaning…it has adversity, but not overwhelmingly so. There are times to “breath” written in, lots of scripture guidance, hope, and of course, “good” always wins in the end. Books, whether fiction or nonfiction, have a marked beginning and ending. When things are intense, I can see there are only a hundred or so pages until everything works out.
Joseph didn’t have the benefit of seeing the timeline of his life. As far as he knew the most-loved child season would last forever. When sold into slavery, I imagine he hoped for rescue at first, but then made the best of his, “new normal.” He lived a similar roller coaster ride in Potiphar’s home, and the prison – rising to great influence and success, only to have it unjustly taken away again. Because we have read the story before, we know how it ends – but, Joseph didn’t. And, to his credit, every time his “new normal” changed, he did the one thing he knew was right. He trusted, and continued to live for God. And, every step of the way, God remained faithful.
As we sang in church yesterday about being thankful for God’s faithfulness, I thought about the blessing of time and how it allows us to build a treasure chest of memories of God’s faithfulness in our lives. The longer we live, the more the treasured memories of God’s goodness build up. There are times when circumstances hit us – times we hold onto the God we know and trust as He carries us through our “new normal.” There are also the times when He has written in “just breathe and rest” times. Moments in every day where He has touched our lives with beauty. His breath, His touch, His love is written into each of our lives, for we are His.
Heavenly Father, Lord God, we thank You. We praise You. We ask not just for eyes to see but, to have your vision. We ask not just for hands to work, but to bring honor and glory to You in all that we do. We thank You. Even now Lord, in good or loss, we trust, we wait, we love. Thank You Lord.
And in the end we win!
Amen!
Amen
Angie, thank you so much for this comment & for touching on the “new normals” of Joseph’s life & how he handled them. I need that reminder!!
God is so faithful the storms come and go, and we are continually molded into His child. We always come out a better, wiser aha child of God.
Wow so good. I am so glad that the Holy Spirit lead me to this plan. I may feel alone but God is with me. The situation may seem dark but God is light!! The storm may rage and rage but the Son of God is in the boat with me. I may be depressed but I see the light of God lighting the way to victory. We are never alone. He is always with us and always shows us kindness like He did with Joseph. It just may look a bit different.
God is all in when it comes to His people. He is not indifferent or distant. He is intentionally involved. We, on the other hand, are often blind, deaf and dumb when it comes to His activity in our life. We don’t see His hand because our eyes are on our circumstances. We don’t hear His voice because we are too busy to be still. We are silent when we could speak the Truth because we don’t want to offend others. He is working His plan even when we are not. God remains faithful and focused on His purpose. He is with us always. What a comfort. What a gift. What a God.
God’s story of grace is the undercurrent of our lives too. I love that! This is such absolute truth!
I look back on the many, many, many trials and tribulations this 60 year old has come through, overcome, been freed from, saved from.
My But God.. times!
I can only speak of Gods favour… I can only speak of Gods grace.. I can only speak of Gods goodness and mercy that has followed me all my life…
I can but only Praise, worship and Glorify the One who holds this undeserving sinner right there in his hands, in His love, in His heart..
God is the point of my life..!
Amen!
Happy Monday my dears… with love and hugs to all..❤
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