Jacob prospers wherever he is because the Lord is with him. (Genesis 37-41)

37:3-4

Joseph was Jacob’s favorite. The scriptures are clear about this. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”

Of course, Jacob’s family was unique. There were four mothers. I imagine that Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah felt secondary to Rachel. I’m sure their resentment transferred to their own children. Jacob’s preference for Joseph added to how they felt. In fact, they hated him.

It’s part of the natural man to be jealous and to covet. We often don’t care about how much we have - we just want more than who is next to us. It’s all based in pride and something that we all need to overcome if we want to be like Christ.

Christ didn’t spend one second concerned that less righteous people had nicer houses and clothes than he did. He wasn’t worried about Roman rulers having more influence over the public than he had. Christ didn’t compare. We should follow his example.

39:1-4

One thing that we will see again and again is bad things happening to Joseph and, with the Lord on his side, he’s able to prosper wherever he is. ”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.”

This is a good example for all of us. We should make the best of whatever situation we are in. It was very unfair what happened to Joseph. He could have dwelt on that constantly. He could have felt sorry for himself. He could have let his unjust treatment weigh on his mind night and day. Instead, took advantage of the opportunities in front of him.

Another thing to learn from this is that, with the Lord on our side, we will prosper. It may not be financial, but we will prosper. The likelihood of ourselves being prosperous increase dramatically when the Lord is with us.

39:5

”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.” Can others be blessed because of your righteousness? Sounds like yes. We hear that the families of missionaries will be blessed because of their service. We hear that grandchildren will be blessed if retired couples and sisters serve missions. A household, a family will be blessed by your righteousness.

39:9-10, 12

Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph. I’m sure his goodness and success made him appear very appealing. She asked him to “lie” with her. Joseph had a good spiritual compass that knew right from wrong. He knew that if he slept with her, that it wasn’t fair to Potiphar and it was a sin. His response to Potiphar’s wife was clear: “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

She didn’t just ask him once. She asked him every day. Every day he rejected her. “And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” I believe that, if he was a free man, he would have simply quit. He obviously knew that the best way to resist temptation is to not be near it.

A great example of this is in verse twelve. “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” He didn’t reject her and stay in the house. He left. He didn’t just walk out - he fled.

This is a great example of how we should avoid temptation. We shouldn’t flirt with temptation. We shouldn’t see how far from the edge we can go. We shouldn’t go to places where temptation exists. We should avoid temptation by not being close to it.

39:21-23

The most extreme example of how the Lord prospers the righteous is the example of Joseph in prison. It‘s also a great example of, if we are righteous, the Lord is with us no matter the location. It’s possible that we can stand in holy places no matter where we are placed. In this case, “…the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.“

Just like Potiphar, the keeper of the prison saw the strengths of Joseph and gave all responsibility to him. “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.” The Lord allowed Joseph to prosper while in prison.

This is a good example of how ‘prosper’ doesn’t always mean to prosper financially. Obviously, Joseph wasn’t getting rich in prison. But he was, no doubt, prospering spiritually. He prospered in gaining experience and expertise in leadership and management and resolving various concerns.

Joseph’s professional training began under Potiphar and continued in prison. He grew in his skill wherever he was. He prospered. Why? Because the Lord was with him.

40:6-8, 14, 23

While Joseph was in prison, he ’served’ a butler and a baker of Pharoah. I think it’s notable that Joseph was observant and caring for these fellow inmates. They must have appeared troubled after they both had dreams. “And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?” In a place where everyone was imprisoned and sad, he is able to notice when other inmates were a little more sad. I’m certain that he was being sensitive to a prompting.

They tell them about their dreams and complain that there is no interpreter of it. “Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God?” I think it’s interesting that Joseph directs them to God rather than men for an interpretation of the dream. I’m sure that Joseph listened to promptings of the Spirit for their interpretation.

After Joseph correctly interprets the butler‘s dream where the butler would be reinstated as butler, he asks for a favor. “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” He wants the butler to think of him and show kindness. He sees it as a possible way out.

But, unfortunately, the butler forgets about him. “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” To the butler, Joseph was insignificant. Or, he was self-centered. Or both.

This could be another example of something bad happening to Joseph - the fact that he was forgotten. But, as we’ll see, the butler’s forgetfulness eventually proved to be provincial for Joseph.

41:12-15

Now the Pharoah had a dream that needed interpreting. It as at this point that the butler remembered Joseph. Consider if the butler would have explained how Joseph interpreted his dream when he was released. It might have meant very little to Pharoah. But, because Pharoah himself had a dream, now the butler’s information would be valuable.

“And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.”

It is a great example of how a seemingly bad event turns into a beneficial one for someone who trusts in the Lord.

41:16, 33, 37-40

If there ever was a time to take credit for something, it would be for Joseph to take credit for the interpretation of Pharoah’s dream. He has everything to gain from taking credit. He has an opportunity to gain favor in Pharoah’s eyes and possibly leave the prison. Instead, Joseph gives credit to God. “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

When we are about to take credit for some talent or accomplishment, we should give credit to God. We should give credit to the Spirit for the inspiration we receive. It is never internally generated but is always a gift from God.

Joseph is sure to invoke God in the importance of the dream. “And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” Joseph was also wise in suggesting that Pharoah look for someone wise. “Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.”

Of course, Pharoah makes a good decision. “And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”

It’s a miracle that Pharoah was so impressed with Joseph that, not only did he release him, he made him ruler over all of Egypt. I am sure that the Spirit softened his heart and prompted him in this direction.

Again, the Lord was with Joseph in whatever situation he was in and allowed him to prosper.

The more Joseph gave credit to God, the more doors opened for him. It is this way for all of us.

41:47-48

Joseph was wise in preparing for that which was to come. “And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.”

I believe we are approaching the end of our years of plenty. The opportunity to gather is about at an end. If you’re reading this, I hope you’ve gathered food and supplies for the trouble that is coming. We have been warned to have a years supply for decades. The time for warning is passed.