Prison and a Promotion

Scripture:

Genesis 39 - 41


Observation:

Life is not fair!

        ❑ A favored son, sold into slavery.
        ❑ A favored slave, whose master “held nothing back except...his wife,” thrown into prison based on one false accusation.
        ❑ A favored prisoner, promised help in getting released but forgotten for TWO YEARS.

BUT “the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor ... and whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” - Genesis 39:2a1, 23b


Application:

Life is NOT fair. Even once we become children of God, life is not fair! So how can we cope when the storms of life are howling around us?

1. Focus on Jesus (put God at the center of your life)
   • “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33
   • “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13
2. Trust that God has a plan and that He is in control
   • “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:9
   • “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11
3. See the unfair situation as “spiritual opportunities” to mature
   • “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:2-4
   • “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” - Romans 5:3-4

Prayer:

Thank You, God for the tough times! Thank You for using them to grow me more into Your likeness!