Daily Devotional Genesis 39:1–6
According to the Department of Justice, there has been a 49 percent increase in human trafficking cases in the United States between 2011 and 2021. This form of evil is nothing new. In the Bible, Joseph was a victim of trafficking. Hated by his brothers, he was sold to slave traders, and then purchased by a wealthy Egyptian.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you.
DEUTERONOMY 31:6
Joseph’s life had a dramatic downward spiral. He had gone from being the favored son of a wealthy father to a slave in a foreigner’s household. He was treated like a commodity by his brothers, traders, and his new owner. Yet through all this, we are assured that God had not forgotten or given up on him. Twice we are told that “the LORD was with Joseph” (vv. 2–3). Genesis 39 also highlights that God’s blessing was on him (vv. 3, 5).
God has not promised the followers of Jesus an easy life. Jesus warned, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). But, just as with Joseph, the Lord promises that He will be with His people. Jesus’ parting words to the disciples in the Gospel of Matthew were: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
God is with us in our joy and in our suffering. Even more importantly, God equips us with everything we need to accomplish His purpose for us. As the Psalm states, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4). For Joseph things were going to get worse before they got better, but God was with him through it all.
Go Deeper
Contrast God’s blessing described in Genesis 39:3 with the actual events happening in Joseph’s life. What might have caused Joseph to doubt God’s presence? Why do we sometimes doubt that God is with us?
Pray with Us:
In all the difficulties he encountered, Joseph could have doubted God. But today’s reading assured him (and us) that “the LORD was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:2). Lord, we ask for faith to believe it for our journey through life as well.
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