It´s Thursday (30)

'The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.,' Genesis 39:5.

Having been sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself in Egypt and was purchased by the captain of the guard to Pharaoh, a man named Potiphar. Although he could have had a far worse master, Joseph undoubtedly was not where he would wish to be. Yet we read, 'the Lord was with Joseph,' (vs 2). Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation and wonder why God has allowed it, or why he does not rescue us from it. We can so easily assume that if God was really with us he would not have allowed us to suffer so and as a result might think he has left us.

The fact is, to achieve his purposes through us, he might well take us though dark and unpleasant experiences. Joseph could so easily become bitter or morose with self-pity, but he didn't. From what we read he trusted God and made it his business to let his light shine, whatever his situation. He focused on being a blessing. And 'his master saw that the Lord was with him,' verse 3. Are those around us always aware that the Lord is with us in our attitude, our words and our actions I wonder? Potiphar was blessed as a result of having Joseph in his home.

I am reminded of that young Israelite girl that the Syrians took captive and was made to serve the wife of Naaman, (2 Kings 5:1-3). The Syrians probably killed her parents when they took her captive. She might have had every reason to feel bitter towards her nation's enemies, yet she made herself a blessing to that household. Someone else might well have taken delight at seeing the one responsible for their suffering suffer too. But that young girl was full of compassion for Naaman even though, as the commander of the king's army, he was ultimately responsible for her situation.

When life is just not fair, when we are badly treated or put in a situation we would rather not be in, may we not be focused on the injustice of it all, but seek out how God might use us to be a blessing there. It may well be that God deliberately placed us there for that very purpose. God bless you all.