Joseph’s brothers despised him because he was their father’s favorite of the twelve. Because of their father’s open partiality, the brothers hated Joseph and would not even say a kind word to him.

Then one night Joseph shared a dream with his brothers.

“We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” (Genesis 37:7 NLT)

Well, this stirred up Joseph’s brothers’ hatred toward him even more. They said to him, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” (Genesis 37:8 NLT)

Sometime later Joseph had another dream with the same meaning. This caused the brothers to become even more jealous of him.

After that, the brothers went out to pasture their father’s flocks. They had been gone for some time without a report. So, Joseph’s father sent him out to check on his brothers.

Once Joseph found his brothers, they plotted to kill him. However, one of the brothers convinced the others to throw Joseph in a cistern to leave him to die. But then they saw the traders coming by and sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver. The traders took Joseph to Egypt where he was to be sold.

At seventeen, Joseph became a slave in a foreign country. Joseph was purchased by Potiphar, the captain of the guard for Pharaoh.

At this point, when something tragic happens or life does not unfold the way we dreamed it would, we must make a choice.

We can either trust God to work out the circumstances or we can turn away from God.

Trusting God leads to deeper intimacy in our relationship with the Lord. Turning away from God allows a root of bitterness to separate us from the Lord and His plans for us.

Joseph trusted God.

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:2 NLT)

Potiphar recognized God’s favor on Joseph and promoted him to be his personal attendant. Joseph was placed in charge of Potiphar’s entire household.

Things seemed to be going well for Joseph considering he was an Egyptian slave. Trusted by his master, Joseph was given complete administrative responsibility over the household.

Joseph had settled into a “new normal” routine. But just when things seemed to be under control, another test came along. Potiphar’s wife began to have inappropriate desires for Joseph as he was quite a handsome young man. When Joseph refused to sleep with her, he fled the room leaving his cloak behind.

When Potiphar’s wife realized she had Joseph’s cloak and she wanted to retaliate against him as she did not get her way, she screamed and accused him of attempted rape.

Joseph landed in prison over this false accusation. Once again, Joseph had a choice to make—trust God or be bitter about it.

“But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.” Genesis 39:21 NLT

Because the favor of the Lord was upon Joseph, the warden placed Joseph over the other prisoners. God caused Joseph to succeed even while in prison.

When we place our trust in God, His favor will cause us to succeed no matter where we live.

When inmates trust God they prosper in prison. My incarcerated son has a teaching gift and started tutoring other inmates so they can pass their GED exam. Now the education department has set it up so that this has become his job. He chooses to trust God.

When we as family members trust God, we prosper in our lives. God gives us the grace and wisdom to grow in His counsel. Personally, God has blessed me with a work as a virtual assistant working from home for a company half-way across the country. This came after I made the choice to trust God with my son’s life in prison.

When difficulties arrive, we have a choice—trust God or be bitter.  Resolve to trust God.

Scriptures for Meditation:

And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
(Psalm 9:10 ESV)

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
(Psalm 13:5)

But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
(Psalm 31:14)

When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
(Psalm 56:3)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NIV)

Let’s pray:

O Lord, “You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God and I will exalt you” (Psalm 118:28). Sovereign Lord, You are God! Your word is trustworthy, and You have promised good things to Your servant. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but I trust in the name of the Lord my God. I trust in You Lord, for I say You are my God. When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Lord, Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in You. I trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways I submit to Him and He will make my paths straight. I won’t allow my heart to be troubled, for I trust in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, Amen. 

If you have a testimony of how God has shown you or your incarcerated loved one favor, leave a comment below.