06/02/2017
Today’s Verse
“These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt.” — Acts 7:9-10 NLT
Devotion
Joseph was well thought of by his father Jacob. As a result, his father showed him favor in various ways. This did not sit well with his brothers – the “patriarchs” of our verse for today. In order to get rid of him, they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph served his master well, but he was unjustly thrown into prison anyway.
Judging solely on the basis of what happened to him, you might think that God was against Joseph. You might even think that God had forsaken him. Our verse for today, however, says just the opposite. It says that “God was with him.” Further, it says that God “rescued him from all his troubles.” Even further, it says that “God gave him favor before Pharaoh.” Despite what you might think, then, God was working in Joseph’s life even when he was having trouble.
In the same way, judging solely on the basis of some things that have happened, you might think that God is against you. You might even think that God has forsaken you. What was true for Joseph, however, is true for you. Despite everything that has happened, God is with you. “He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Further, God is not simply with you, He is also working to rescue you from all your troubles. He not only sees to your welfare while you’re in the midst of them, He also works to rescue you from them. “I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him” (Psalm 91:14-15).
Even further, God is not just with you, He is not just working to rescue you, He is also giving you favor with the people who are in a position to bless you. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor” (Psalm 84:11 ESV).
Today, therefore, don’t be so quick to think that God is against you or that He has forsaken you. Don’t be so quick to descend into that kind of negative thinking.
For God is with you – just like He was for Joseph.