“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8
In Genesis 37-50, the Bible recounts the story of Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob, known for his unwavering trust in God, his rise in Egypt, and his admirable forgiveness toward his brothers. But Joseph’s journey was not an easy one. At a young age, Joseph became well acquainted with adversity. Betrayed by his brothers, taken from his homeland, and sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph would have experienced intense doubt and loneliness. What hope did he have in such a bleak situation? Where could he find comfort in a foreign land? How could he possibly thrive?
From what happened in Potiphar’s house, we can see that Joseph feared God and wanted to be right with Him. The Bible tells us that Joseph became a successful man in the house of his Egyptian master, Potiphar (Genesis 39:2). Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and it was the Lord who allowed him to prosper. When Potiphar’s wife tempted him, Joseph held fast to the right because he knew that he could not sin against God nor the master God had placed him under. Yet, Joseph suffered for his integrity. He was unjustly accused, removed from his position of authority, and thrown into an Egyptian prison. But the Bible tells us that the Lord was still with Joseph and gave him favor in the sight of the prison keeper (Genesis 39:21-23).
Whatever Joseph did, the Lord made him prosper because he remained right with God. Joseph remained in that prison for years, forgotten by the butler who promised to remember him, and left with no hope for his future. In this prison, Joseph had no other choice but to trust in God alone. There was no other hope and no other comfort; yet, the Lord’s presence was more than enough. Joseph could learn to trust that God had a plan for him and would work everything out. When Joseph had no one else to turn to, no person in whom he could hope for rescue, God was always there.
Joseph’s trust in God was cultivated through his adversities and clearly seen when he stood before Pharaoh and acknowledged his own inability to interpret dreams, but trusted that God was the bringer of peace (Genesis 41:16). Through experience, Joseph had the peace that God could give His people through His presence, even in the hardest situations—this was a truth he could powerfully declare. God continued to be faithful; even Pharaoh acknowledged that God’s Spirit was in Joseph (Genesis 41:37-38). The relationship that Joseph had with the Lord allowed him to thrive, wherever he was. Whether he was a slave, a prisoner, or second in command in all of Egypt, Joseph could rest in knowing that the Lord was with him, and when he was right with God, he would be blessed.
When Joseph was reunited with his brothers, he did not seek revenge but chose to forgive. In Genesis 50:20, he says: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Joseph received the power and freedom to forgive because he understood God’s ultimate sovereignty. The situations that he went through—God would use them all for good, to fulfill His ultimate plan. Joseph had thrived because he knew that the Lord was faithful and sovereign. Even when men around him tried to harm him, his God was his shield, glory, and the lifter of his head (Psalm 3:3).
We may not face the same incidents as Joseph, but the lessons we can learn from his life apply to the tough situations we face and help us thrive.
1. We can learn that God is sovereign.
God tells His people in Isaiah 46:9-10: “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.’” No matter what hardship we face or where we find ourselves in life, it is never a surprise to the Lord. The situations we are in can draw us closer to the Lord, and God will redeem every moment and work all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We can thrive in any area of our lives when we submit to His will and surrender to His perfect plan. God will bring us to the place that we need to be when the time is right. Just as he brought Joseph to Egypt to save many people from famine, we can trust that there is an ultimate purpose for each step in our journey. Like Job, may we come to proclaim: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2)
2. We learn the beauty of God’s presence.
In Psalm 16:11, David writes that in God’s presence is fullness of joy. Even in the lowest points in Joseph’s life, the Lord was with him and gave him blessings, success, wisdom, and discernment. Whether he was in prison or beside the Pharaoh, God’s presence was with Him. This promise is true for us. Jesus promises that He will be with us “even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). God promises that even when we pass through the waters, He is there beside us (Isaiah 43:2). There are many circumstances in life that make us feel alone, abandoned, or forgotten. Yet, just like Joseph, we can trust that God is always with us and faithful not to leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Like David, may we learn to say: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
3. We see that God’s timing is perfect.
In Lamentations 3:24-25, we read that “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Waiting is never easy, and in Joseph’s case, it was easy to lose hope altogether. Thrown into prison unjustly and forgotten for years, Joseph had to trust that God would make everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). When Joseph finally stood before the Pharaoh, he was thirty years old—more than a decade had passed since he had been sold into slavery. Yet, God exalted Joseph at the perfect time to prevent the famine and save lives. God orchestrated everything so perfectly that Joseph’s own brothers came to buy grain from him, and he was able to forgive them. When we are locked in the prison cell of our own mind, unable to see the future or to remember the dreams of the past, God is still working. God has ordered everything in His perfection, and the only way we can thrive is to acknowledge it and declare like David, “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:14-15a).
To be like the fruitful tree described in Jeremiah 17:7-8, we must abide in the Lord, trusting and hoping in Him. We can only abide when we understand important truths about God’s character. Joseph’s understanding of God didn’t change according to his circumstances. God was not less sovereign when Joseph was in prison. Joseph’s status and seasons in life changed, but God was the same. When the time of drought and heat came in Joseph’s life, others could see his leaf was still green because his roots were deep in the Lord.
When difficult situations arise in your life, is your response like Joseph’s? Are you content to wait for God’s timing? Are you focused on His everlasting character? Do we truly believe that God is sovereign over every detail of our lives? Joseph knew who his God was. God rewarded his trust and allowed him to thrive in an unlikely circumstance—all because he held fast to what was right and put his hope in the Lord. God does not change—He is El Olam, God Everlasting. God wants us to thrive. Let us trust and hope in Him alone.
Written by NBB Alumna: Annelisa Stephen
