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A Blessed Partnership, March 9
Genesis 39:1-6
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man.... And his
master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that
he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:2, 3
.
Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king’s guard, in
whose service he remained for ten years. He was here exposed to temptations of
no ordinary character. He was in the midst of idolatry. The worship of false gods
was surrounded by all the pomp of royalty, supported by the wealth and culture
of the most highly civilized nation then in existence. Yet Joseph preserved his
simplicity and his fidelity to God. The sights and sounds of vice were all about
him, but he was as one who saw and heard not. His thoughts were not permitted
to linger upon forbidden subjects. The desire to gain the favor of the Egyptians
could not cause him to conceal his principles. Had he attempted to do this, he
would have been overcome by temptation; but he was not ashamed of the religion
of his fathers, and he made no effort to hide the fact that he was a worshiper
of Jehovah.... Potiphar’s confidence in Joseph increased daily, and he finally
promoted him to be his steward, with full control over all his possessions....
The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph’s care
was not the result of a direct miracle; but his industry, care, and energy were
crowned with the divine blessing. Joseph attributed his success to the favor of
God and even his idolatrous master accepted this as the secret of his unparalleled
prosperity. Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could never
have been attained. God was glorified by the faithfulness of His servant. It was
His purpose that in purity and uprightness the believer in God should appear in
marked contrast to the worshipers of idols—that thus the light of heavenly grace
might shine forth amid the darkness of heathenism.
Joseph’s gentleness and fidelity won the heart of the chief captain, who came
to regard him as a son rather than a slave. The youth was brought in contact with
men of rank and learning, and he acquired a knowledge of science, of languages,
and of affairs—an education needful to the future prime minister of Egypt
[75]
12
Ibid., 214, 217
.
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