Living the Dream: A Devotional for Students Through the Life of JosephSýnishorn

Day 13: Faithful God

Let’s do a quick recap through Joseph's life! Here's what we've learned...

• Joseph was his dad’s favorite, so his brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery.
• The man who purchased him was named Potiphar, and he was an officer of Pharaoh.
• God was with Joseph, and Potiphar noticed. He was treated well and given authority over Potiphar’s entire household.
• Potiphar’s wife tried to sleep with Joseph and then accused him of trying to sleep with her.
• Joseph gets thrown in jail.
• God is with Joseph in jail, the prison guard noticed, and Joseph was placed in charge of all the other prisoners.
• Joseph interpreted dreams in the prison and after two years was able to interpret them for Pharaoh.
• Joseph entered the service of Pharaoh and was placed in charge of storing and distributing food before the famine.
• When the famine came, all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.

Throughout our study, we've seen that Joseph experienced many challenges- more than most people would ever see in their lifetime. But we've also been able to read how he was delivered from each of them. God was continually faithful to Joseph and blessed him in so many ways.

It's no different when we get to the end of his story. The famine comes just as Joseph predicted. So, in an effort to find food, Joseph's dad sends his sons to buy grain from Egypt because they were known to have enough. Little did they know who would end up being their source of help and provision.

Years and years have gone by for Joseph and his family. Over that time, Joseph could have chosen to hold a grudge and grow resentful towards his brothers for what they did to him. After all, he had authority in Egypt and could have sentenced them to death at first sight. But Joseph chose to take care of them instead. He gave them grain and, when he revealed his identity to them, the first thing he said wasn’t how much he hated them. It wasn’t how horrible his life has been up to this point. Some of his first words were:

“Come close to me…I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”-Genesis 45:4-5

Joseph tells his brothers not to be angry with themselves, but to praise God because lives had been saved. Instead of seeing the hurt and broken path that led him to that moment, Joseph saw the faithfulness of God. He witnessed that God could redeem a hopeless situation and turn it for good.

God's faithfulness didn't end with Joseph's story. He still promises He is with us today in whatever circumstance we face. His faithfulness never ends. We can place our hope in Him and trust that.

"The Lord is faithful and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." -2 Thessalonians 3:3

*Optional Additional Reading Gen. 42-50*

Reflect:

How have you seen God take a hopeless situation and turn it into good?

Spend some time praying for someone in your life who is going through a difficult circumstance. Ask God to use the hardship for His glory and show His faithfulness to them.