Context No. 2506 of 4322 · Genesis

Genesis 39:1-6: in context

1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. 2The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. 4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. The LORD’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. 6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.

Joseph, sold into slavery and carried down to Egypt, ends up in the house of Potiphar. And the refrain that governs the whole scene is simple: the LORD was with Joseph. He prospers, his master notices, and everything is put into his hands, until Potiphar leaves all his affairs to Joseph and the LORD's blessing rests on the Egyptian's whole house for Joseph's sake.

Remember where Joseph is: a slave, betrayed by his brothers, in a foreign land he did not choose. And still, the LORD was with him. God's presence did not wait for Joseph's circumstances to improve; it went with him into the low, unjust place, and made his faithful service there fruitful, even overflowing onto the household of his master. This cuts against the idea that God is near only when life is going well. Joseph had every reason to think himself abandoned, and instead God was with him precisely in the place he would never have picked.

Do I believe God is with me and can bless even in the low, unchosen place I did not want to be, the way he was with Joseph?

Sources

Genesis 39:2: The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3: His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:5: the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake.