GIVE YOU PEACE
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Number 6:24-26, ESV
Theme: God’s power and purpose are evident, even amid our deepest trials.
FAVORITE SON
God’s favor rested upon Joseph from the time of his birth. He was the favorite son, born of the favorite wife. But favor is different from favoritism. In Genesis 37, his father Jacob gave Joseph a special gift, a coat of many colors, rich and opulent in that day. When his older brothers saw this extravagance, they were infuriated. “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him” (Genesis 37:4, ESV). The brothers kidnapped Joseph and contemplated murder. They told Jacob he was dead and sold him into slavery.
GOD’S FAVOR
Favoritism did Joseph no good, but the favor of God brought him into the house of Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard, an officer of Pharaoh. There, Joseph was diligent and successful. Even the Egyptian officer recognized Joseph’s success was due to God’s favor. Furthermore, Potiphar promoted Joseph to overseer of his household...and God blessed the Egyptian’s entire household for Joseph’s sake! Still, the favor of God did not keep him from trouble. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. Though he was honorable and ran from the temptation, in her jealousy and anger, she accused him of attempted rape. Potiphar believed her, and Joseph went to jail.
Again, Joseph found favor with the jailor and was promoted. “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21, ESV). In fact, the warden of the prison gave Joseph charge of the entire prison and “paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge” (verse 23), trusting him completely.
EVIDENCE OF GOD’S GOODNESS
You may already know that Joseph later found that same favor with Pharaoh, becoming second in command of all Egypt. You may know that he saved the people of Egypt and the known world from famine. His fame and his success were great because he was greatly blessed and favored by God. Notice that God’s favor certainly didn’t mean he did not face trials. Kidnapping and false imprisonment seem the worst possible of trials to me! But God’s favor protected and encouraged him throughout those challenging times. Joseph’s history and remembrance of God’s rescue continued to give him confidence that God would come through again. So, he kept doing his best, remaining faithful and diligent. God’s favor is not a free pass; it’s His over-arching tenderness and protection of us.
CHECK IT OUT
If you are interested in archeology and how science dovetails with the Bible, check out this video on the granaries of Joseph.
Make It Personal: As the song we sing during worship states: “I see the evidence of Your goodness all over my life, all over my life. I see Your promises in fulfillment, all over my life, all over my life.” Sometimes we need to look back and see that evidence: how God has answered prayers and rescued us. Sometimes we need to look forward by faith, assured that God’s favor still rests on us and that His purposes will be fulfilled. Be deliberate in looking for and acknowledging God’s favor and care for you.
Pray: God, You told the priests to bless the people and pray that Your face would shine on them. You answered Jabez’s prayer for favor. So, Lord, we come and ask you to bless us, keep us, and show us favor with others. Be gracious to us. We come to You humbly, repentant, desperate for Your face to be towards us and for us. We acknowledge with gratitude Your kindness to us. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
Read: Genesis 39:2-6, 20-23; Psalm 90:17; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Luke 2:52
Weekly Memory Verse: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8, ESV