Study The Word

Genesis 39:1-4
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

When God gives you a dream, it often doesn’t unfold in a straight line. Just look at Joseph! He received this incredible dream of prominence (Genesis 37:9-10), yet shortly afterward, his jealous brothers sold him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. Imagine the confusion, the betrayal! His dream seemed to be slipping away, replaced by hardship and injustice. But here’s the powerful truth we must grasp: even in the midst of adversity, “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered.”

חסד  chêsêd  –  steadfast love – unchanging, unending, loving-kindness, faithful love, unconditional love, patient love, giving love

This is a profound principle for every child of God pursuing God’s call: as you faithfully follow the path of God’s dream for your life, you will prosper in everything you do. Even when circumstances are dire, even if you’re sold into slavery or falsely accused and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:20-23), God’s presence – Christ in you brings an unstoppable success. The jailer himself saw it! “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

That word translated “mercy” is the Hebrew word “hesed” which I have always tried to explain to God’s children that it is not mercy in the sense of the English understanding of mercy. In the Hebrew the word hesed is love, the love God would have for someone. It is used to describe when God extends His love towards someone. In many other verses hesed is translated as “lovingkindness”. Hesed is an extending, a reaching out of the love of God.
So, when you read that verse and it says “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy,”
what it literally means is that “the Lord was with Joseph and He stretched out – extended His love toward him, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” God sending Jesus Christ to be crucified for us, without us even asking, knowing or understanding is the greatest demonstration of God’s hesed. Romans 5:8 put it beautifully and says “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Getting back to Joseph’s life, we see that because of hesed, no matter what opposition rises against you – false accusations, attempts to get rid of you, attempts on your life or to stop you dead in your tracks – in those moments always know this: The Lord is with you. He will show you hesed, and He will grant you favor turning every circumstance meant for your demise to work out for your good. (Romans 8:32)

So, hold fast to the dream God has placed in your heart. No matter the detours, the setbacks, or the unjust circumstances, the Lord is with you and greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world(1 John 4:4) . He is orchestrating every step, turning challenges into opportunities for your prosperity and His glory. Because His dream for you is inextricably linked to His grand purpose of reconciling the world to Himself.

Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, thank You that as I pursue Your dream for my life, You are with me. I thank You for Your hesed, that causes me to prosper in everything I do, even in the face of adversity.  Thank You Father for Your precious gift of the Holy Spirit that is in me turning every challenge into an opportunity to fulfill Your purpose in Jesus name, amen.

Speak The Word
In my pursuit of God, and His dream for my life, He gives me success in all my endeavors. No false accusation or opposition forged against me can stop me, for God’s love and favour are upon my life in the name of Jesus Christ.