The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man...
Genesis 39:2, RSV
We might be tempted to read right past this phrase if we didn't know the setting. You see, Joseph had just been sold into slavery - by his own brothers! Why did they do that? It was because Joseph was highly esteemed by his father and his brothers were jealous. So they tied him up, threw him in a hole, and when the first group of likely people came along who would take Joseph in a direction far away from his father and his home, they sold him.
And now Joseph is a lowly slave. The situation would seem desperate except for one large factor: God! Joseph had found favor in the eyes of the LORD and the Lord was determined to make Joseph a successful man. It didn't matter that Joseph was now a slave in a houseful of slaves, God was determined to give Joseph success so Joseph became the slave in charge of all his master's household.
Then, just when things seemed to be going great, Joseph was betrayed and sent to prison. But no matter, for God was determined to make Joseph successful. So, despite the fact that Joseph was just one prisoner in a jail full of prisoners, he soon was placed in charge of them all, again, because God was determined to make Joseph a success. Then, when the time was right, God brought Joseph out of prison and placed him as an official of Pharaoh in a kingdom full of officials - not just any official, but one who would be placed in charge of the entire nation of Egypt.
How do you go from being tied up in a hole to being the chief official under the most powerful ruler in the most powerful kingdom on earth? We just read it:
The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man"
So what does that have to do with us today? Just this: If you and I set our hearts upon God, if we will serve His Son Christ Jesus with all of our hearts, then it doesn't matter where we start out. You can be in prison or a slave or tied up in a hole - it simply does not matter when you have the favor of God and His power behind you. The fact is that when the LORD is with you you are, by definition, a success.
If this is true, (and it is true, you know) then what can keep you from being a success if you are determined to serve God and His Son? Nothing! How can we know this? The Bible tells us so! This is why we study!
Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3, NIV
Today is day 10 of the thirty day challenge to study through the Books of Moses, as a part of the overall challenge to study through the Old Testament in 120 days. The reading for today is Genesis 37-40. May God richly bless you and give you success as you commit your life to He and His Son!