On morning I started to read the story of Joseph again (Genesis 37, 39 – 50).  Specifically I read Genesis 37:18 – 36 and then skipped over to Genesis 39:1 – 2.  To sum up the story: Joseph’s brothers were extremely jealous of him due to their father’s favoritism towards him.  The multicolored coat was a symbol of that favoritism.  In that culture, gifts like that were usually reserved for the first born son; Joseph was number 11 out of 12.  One day while the brothers  were away from home tending to their flocks, they stripped Joseph of his coat, threw him in a pit and had a meal while they decided what to do with him.  One of the options they were considering was to kill him.

Well it just so happened while they were eating, a caravan of Ishmaelites were traveling to Egypt.  They got the “great” idea to sell their brother as a slave.  After they sold him, they took his coat, shredded it and covered it with the blood of a goat.  They wanted it to appear to their father that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal.

Joseph was eventually sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer, and began his life as a slave.  Verse 39:2 caught my attention.

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.  He was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.” (NASB)

The first part of that verse really got me thinking.  How could Joseph be a slave and be successful?  For you and me as Christians, as we go through difficult times in life, we tend to ask several questions like:

• How in the world could I have so much bad happening in my life and God be with me?  I don’t feel it.
• And if God is with me, how in the world can I be a success one day, given all the mess going on?  Stated another way, “How can I be a success in a mess?”

First of all, the verse led me to look up the word, “successful”.  In Hebrew the word comes from the word “tsaleach”, which means:

• To push forward, to break out, come mightily
• To cleave, penetrate and then advance

It also means:

• To make prosperous, bring to successful issue

Knowing the rest of Joseph’s story helps us see the hand of God and what “being with him” means.  As a slave in Potiphar’s house, Joseph learned and honed his administrative skills.  His efforts were so successful that Potiphar left the responsibilities for running his household in the hands of Joseph.  That success was directly due to God’s interaction in his life.  God allowed Joseph to “push forward” even in a state of slavery.

Joseph maintained his integrity and thus honored God by resisting the advances of Potiphar’s wife.  He “pushed forward and advanced” in integrity.  Even though her lies led to Joseph’s imprisonment, the scriptures tell us that God was still with him and directly intervened in his behalf (Genesis 39:19 – 22).

The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s area of responsibility.  God used this time in prison to develop Joseph’s administrative skills at a higher level, i.e., an entire prison as opposed to a single household.

Now Joseph didn’t have a clue what God was ultimately up to: running all of Egypt and putting him in a position to save his family from starvation a couple of decades later.  But this brings up an important point:

• God’s ways are above our ways.

Read Isaiah 55:8 – 9.  In the midst of a “mess”, it is very difficult or even impossible to see anything other than what’s right in front of us.  We can’t see “down the road”; we can’t see the “big picture”; our circumstances and emotions won’t let us.  All we know is that there is a mess in front of us and we want immediate relief.

Two things to remember:

1. As a child of God, He promises to guide your steps (Psalm 37:22  24).
2. God’s works in some amazing ways.

To clarify the second point, read Isaiah 55:10 – 11.  The Lord provides a slick way to describe how His Word works. (“Slick” is just my way to say, interesting, neat, fascinating, ingenious, or as my kids used to say, “that’s dope”).

God makes the analogy between His Word and water.  Water doesn’t provide a loaf of bread immediately, but through a process, over time, involving other people.  God’s Word accomplishes His purposes and He does it in ways that are above our imagination, through a process,  over time, and involving other people.  Joseph never would have imagined that his being a slave would eventually lead to him being in a position to save the lives of his father and the brothers who once thought about killing him.

Joseph’s success was not just freedom from slavery, or prison, or becoming prime minister of Egypt.  His success was pushing forth in the midst of his trials, advancing in integrity and honor to God in spite of temptation and coming out mightily in forgiveness when he had the power to kill his brothers.  God brought him to a successful issue in the accomplishment of His purpose (Genesis 45:7 – 8).

So success is really tied to advancing through the trials and accomplishing the plans and purposes of God in your life.

Key points to remember:

1. God is with you if you have accepted Christ as your savior and Lord.  He actually dwells inside you by His Spirit.
2. God has promised to direct your steps.
3. God’s direct intervention in your life comes in a variety of ways and people.
4. God’s implementation of His plan for your life is a process and occurs over time.
5. You may not see the “big picture” of God’s plan of your life until near or after its completion.
6. If you can’t see His hand, trust His heart.

The last point was told to me by a pastor friend of mine when I really needed a word of encouragement.  The more time you spend with Him, the better you will know His heart and experience the success He has for you.