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Utterly Pure and Persecuted

“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he refused. ‘With me in charge,’ he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care…One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

– Genesis 39:7-9,11,12

Yesterday, we looked at the beginning of the story of Joseph. He was a young and naive dreamer who was sold into slavery by his brothers in their jealousy. After being sold, Joseph’s saga progressed, and he ended up in the household of a wealthy Egyptian named Potiphar. Because he was such a hard-working and honest slave, he was elevated to the head of his master’s household and was put in charge of everything he had. He was at the top of the heap, like a CEO of the estate. He may have even wondered if this was the destination the Lord had revealed to him in his dream years earlier — a place of power and responsibility. 

Things were going along swimmingly for Joseph until Potiphar went away on a trip and left his wife at home. She had the hots for Joseph and she attempted to seduce the young twenty-something multiple times. One day she got really aggressive. In an effort to resist her advances and get away, Joseph ran but caught his robe on the way out. It tore, and he left naked, which equated to total shame in that society. You see, Joseph was willing to face the humiliation of nakedness in an effort to do the right thing in the eyes of God and his master! Unfortunately, feeling humiliated by his rejection, Potiphar’s wife decided to get even with Joseph. She made up a story and told her husband she was raped! What a low blow to a man who was trying to do everything right. While most Biblical heroes were incredibly flawed, Joseph was making every effort to live uprightly in the eyes of God. Yet he still ended up in trouble, and this time, he went to prison! 

Friend, even if you are utterly moral, utterly pure, utterly sound, and good from beginning to end, you may still fall victim to unfortunate circumstances. As hard as you try to be perfect and as firmly as you believe that your faithfulness will spare you hardship, it just isn’t true. It’s not easy to accept, but following the call of Jesus may require that you endure pain, persecution, and even imprisonment. Far from being a sign of His judgment, these trials are actually living proof of His presence, and when they are redeemed, they will become your crown and glory! Though it is the least pleasant, suffering is the part of your journey that prepares you to take on and uphold the greater responsibilities the Lord has for you. Discomfort is your friend; believe that today and watch as your perspective begins to shift!

Prayer


Jesus, I want to do the right thing before you, even if I suffer for it, because I know that you will redeem every difficulty and turn it around for my good.

Reflection


Have you ever been punished for doing what was right in God’s eyes? How did He redeem your situation?

If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.  

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One Response

  1. Thank you for the daily devotionals! I always forward to them as they provide strength each day.

    God bless!

    Carole

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