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Daily Devotion: Genesis 39:1-5

Genesis 39:1-5    "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous 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 that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field."

Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery for a handful of silver. The Ishmaelite traders brought him to Egypt. There, they sold him to a man named Potiphar. Potiphar held an office of some importance in Pharoah’s service. 

Notice the language that Joseph was brought “down” to Egypt. I cannot help but think of our Lord Jesus as I read this phrase. He came “down” to this sinful earth to be a servant (Phillipians 2:5-8). There has never been One who was more faithful.

The LORD was with Joseph. The LORD was also with Jesus throughout His life here. The LORD caused His will to prosper in Jesus. Joseph was a prosperous man despite being a slave and in bondage in Egypt. He was prosperous because the LORD was with him. Regardless of our circumstances today, we are still prosperous if the LORD is with us. 

God allowed Potiphar to see that He was with Joseph. Potiphar understood that the LORD made caused the work of Joseph to prosper. It was not due to Potiphar’s hand at all. The LORD caused Joseph to find grace in Potiphar’s eyes. There is another parallel here with Jesus as He was said to increase in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

Potiphar put Joseph in charge of all he had. From the time he did so, God blessed Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. The LORD blessed all that was in Potiphar’s house and in his fields. His home and his lands prospered because of Joseph’s favor with God. 

Dear ones, know that God is still the same today. When Jesus oversees all we have and are, God blesses us for Jesus’ sake. Our prosperity is not found in what we own or the position that we hold. True prosperity is the result of God being with us whether we are paupers or princes. May you truly prosper today!

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