Focus Chapters:
- Genesis 37-38
- I Chronicles 2:3-6
- I Chronicles 2:8
- Genesis 39
Standout Verse(s):
THE ACTION
Genesis 39:20 NLT
So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.
THE REACTION
Genesis 39:21-23 NLT
But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Observation (s):
- Even when Joseph was put in prison, God did not forget him. God’s love is unfailing even as your situation gets darker. Joseph went from being a slave to being a slave and a prisoner, yet God did not forget him.
But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.
- God’s favour made Joseph the favourite wherever he went. He was the favourite of his father. He was the favourite of Potiphar. He became the favourite of the prison warden.
And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
- With favour comes responsibility. As Joseph found favour in the eyes of his keepers, his responsibilities and successes increased while his keepers’ worries decreased. He was charged with leading others and ensuring everything in the prison was as it should be. He gained more responsibilities because the men with whom he had found favour trusted him to execute.
Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison.The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Application:
I used to wonder why I was always being singled out to lead. For three consecutive years at church, I was the Assistant Youth Secretary, Sunday School Teacher, Praise and Worship Leader and teacher at the Evening School. I could not hide or run from it! At times, I felt so overwhelmed and would often wonder why I was continually singled out to do more. Now I understand! Favour is a sign of trust. Favour comes with more responsibilities and opportunities to decrease the worries and burdens of our keepers and increase our successes. Like Joseph, God’s favour on our life primes us to find favour in the eyes of others and make us primes candidate for successful leadership.
We should also be heartened by the fact that God will continue to be with us no matter what we are experiencing or the paths we have to tread. Even in the darkest situation, God is with us and will demonstrate His favour in the same manner in which He was with Joseph, the slave, and Joseph, the prisoner.
