Jesus, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. It seems to me that he had every reason to be mad, resentful, depressed, frustrated, and rebellious. But instead, he put his complete trust in God. He allowed God to give him some life-classes that would prepare him to rule second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt. Show me how trust and resistance are supposed to work as You take me through Joseph’s life.

Gen 39:1-2 (NIV) Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Jesus, help me have a good attitude and trust God no matter what happens to me. Help me do that so God will be with me and prosper me. Joseph had a situation that could have caused him to hate God. How could a loving God do this to him?

Gen 39:3-5 (NIV) When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

Jesus, like Joseph, I know that God has wonderful plans for me. Since He does, help me resist the temptation to develop bad attitudes. Sometimes I feel like I have as many reasons as Joseph for misunderstanding, being convinced that I am being mistreated, and feeling like God has abandoned me. But, help me trust God and resist my body, the world, and the devil. Let me do this so wonderful opportunities will come my way through the God I trust. It may not be easy to resist the flood of pain, confusion, and temptations of the devil; but, make it clear to me that it will be worth it.

Gen 39:6-9 (NIV) So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” BUT HE REFUSED. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Jesus, I see the difference between Joseph and Simon the sorcerer. Joseph had a clean heart; Simon needed to: Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. Help me be like Joseph and repent and resist all the things my body, the world, and the devil are TRYING TO bringing into my mind and heart. Help me do like him and allow God to fill my mind and heart with trust. Help me see that it’s not easy trusting when I don’t know what is going on.

Gen 39:10 (NIV) And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Jesus, teach me that I can never let my guard down, my body, the world, and Satan are constantly at work. But, help me understand that, that doesn’t mean I spend all my time watching out for an attack. That means I put a lot of time into devotions, prayer, praise, listening to good Christian music, reading good Christian books, reading my Bible, going to church, and allowing God to fill me with His great power.

Gen 39:11-12 (NIV) One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Jesus, help me always remember that it is important what I do with my body. Joseph not only refused to go to bed with her he refused to even be with her. Help me not put myself in bad places and just try to mentally resist them. Empower me to resist by staying away from questionable situations.

Gen 39:13-15 (NIV) When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” Jesus, help me not expect my resistance to always produce victory. My body, the world, and the devil won’t like me trying to live the victorious Christian life. They will retaliate.

Gen 39:16-19 (NIV) She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Jesus, show me that things may be nice where I am now; I may be trusting and resisting and being blessed by God. But, God may be ready to graduate me and put me in my next life-class.

Gen 39:20-21 (NIV) Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Jesus, Joseph could have stopped believing in trusting and resisting. He could have decided that it didn’t pay off. But, help me see that God needed Joseph in prison where he could get him before Pharoah. Even if it is hard for me to see the benefits of trusting and resisting, teach me that if I keep doing them, I will EVENTUALLY end up in the awesome plan for my life like Joseph did.