Page 11 - Living Light 90

Friday September 5 - Betrayed again
When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Genesis 39:19
We began the week reviewing how Joseph’s older brothers set upon him, conspired together and sold him into slavery. It was a terrible betrayal by those he lived with, those he should have been able to trust to look after him. But out of jealousy and spite, they turned against him, sold him as a slave and then lied to their father about what happened.
Now, once again, Joseph is set upon and betrayed – this time by Potiphar’s wife who is upset that Joseph denied her repeated requests to ‘come to bed’ with her. When Joseph makes his dramatic escape, leaving his cloak in her hand, she uses that as evidence to viciously lie. She plays the victim and accuses him of attacking her. She completely distorts the truth about Joseph so that Potiphar, burning with anger, puts Joseph in prison. Now Joseph finds himself not only a slave, but a slave falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned.
It seems horribly unfair, but as we read on in his story, we find that Joseph’s imprisonment, in the end, led to the saving of many lives. This reminds us of Jesus – betrayed by a friend, then falsely accused, lied about and sentenced not to prison, but to death. That death, however, was necessary for God’s plan of salvation, and because of it all who call on Jesus’ name are saved.
Thank you, God, that you always have the big picture in mind. Help me to see things not just from my perspective, but from yours. Amen.
Saturday September 6 - The Lord with Joseph
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour... Genesis 39:20-21
There’s no doubt that things are looking bad for Joseph. He’s been lied about, his integrity attacked and discredited. He’s been falsely accused and the man whose honour Joseph sought to uphold has believed lies about him and imprisoned him. It doesn’t seem like things could get any worse for Joseph. However, that’s only true if you don’t include God in the events taking place. The good news for Joseph is the ‘but’ in his story: ‘But the Lord was with Joseph while he was in prison, showing him kindness and granting him favour in the eyes of the prison warden.’
Joseph’s circumstances were bleak, but he wasn’t alone. God was with him. We’re not told how God’s kindness manifested itself for Joseph, but it’s reassuring to know that it did. I believe that when times are hard God is at work, manifesting his kindness in people’s lives. I know he’s often done so in mine. In times of trial and challenge, I’ve tried to discipline myself to notice what I call God’s ‘grace notes’ – those signs of his kindness and grace that I could easily miss if I wasn’t paying attention. They remind me that I’m not on my own, but that God is with me and at work in my situation, no matter how bleak it may seem at the time.
Thank you, Lord, that you are always with me. Thank you for your kindness. Help me to get better at recognising where you are at work in my life. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY