1/19/21

"And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man;..." (Genesis 39:2)
Paul said, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Joseph was Abraham's great grandson. He was Isaac's grandson, and the son of Jacob. But, more than that, he was God's child! When you are a child of God, the LORD is with you! Amen! Praise the Lord! And Hallelujah!
So, that means that you will never have any problems, and you will always be rich. No, it does not!
It means that God will always be with you, and will take good care of you, no matter the circumstance.
Joseph was hated by his brothers. (Genesis 37;4-5) But God was with him.
Joseph was sold into slavery, and reported dead to his father. (Genesis 37:28, 31-32) But God was still with him.
Joseph was a slave in Egypt, far from home. (Genesis 37:36) But God was with him.
Joseph was slandered, and thrown into an Egyptian prison. (Genesis 39:7-8, 12, 17-20) But God was with him. He had not forsaken Joseph.
Joseph was forgotten in prison. (Genesis 40:23) But he was not forgotten of God.
Joseph had a very turbulent life upon the earth, to this point. But he was not forsaken of God through it all. In point of fact, the Bible says that Joseph was "prosperous". "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man:..." (Genesis 39:2)
Man's idea of prosperity is a lot different than what the scripture just described.
But, when you stop and think about it, wouldn't you rather be in prison with God than in a plush mansion without God?
Remember Luke 16, and the story of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man fared sumptuously every day, while the beggar starved at his gate. They both died. The angels came for the beggar, and carried him to heaven. The rich man lifted up his eyes in hell.
The beggar didn't go to heaven because he was poor. You only get into heaven through Jesus!
The rich man didn't go to hell because he was rich. You can only get into hell because you don't have Jesus!
So, we can deduct from the story that God was with Lazarus, even though he was poor, and begging. And that God was not with Dives, even though he was rich and fared sumptuously everyday.
"Oh, precious Lord, please help me to be content in what ever state I am in, as long as you are with me. Amen"
If you are a child of the Lord, please find comfort in the fact that, "God is with you". And if God be for us, who can be against us!
From my heart to your heart.