From Success to Setback

Joseph’s story occupies more space in the book of Genesis than the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, or his own father, Jacob. He was the son of Jacob’s true love, Rachel, and his own brothers hated him.

Their antagonism and hostility toward him, fueled by envy, began to grow, and ultimately they decided they wanted to kill Joseph. But they changed their minds when a group of Midianite slave traders passed by. So they sold Joseph to them for 20 pieces of silver. Then the Midianites brought Joseph to Egypt.

Potiphar, the man who purchased Joseph, was very powerful, the head of Pharaoh’s palace guard. Joseph was so responsible, so hardworking, and so full of integrity that Potiphar gave him more and more responsibilities. Ultimately, he put Joseph in charge of his entire estate.

However, Potiphar’s wife was determined to sleep with Joseph, who kept refusing her. She was far from subtle about it, and one day when the other servants had left the house, she grabbed Joseph and pulled him down on the bed.

Joseph ran out of the house as fast as he could, but she falsely accused him of rape. So Potiphar sent Joseph to prison.

How easily Joseph could have been discouraged. How easily he could have said to God, “Lord, I can’t take this anymore. First, my brothers sell me into slavery, and then this woman tries to entice me. I resisted her, and then she lied about me! Now I’m in prison. This isn’t fair!”

It wasn’t fair. Yet the Bible never tells us that Joseph said anything to that effect. He could have felt like God had forgotten him, but the Bible gives us this very important detail: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:21 NLT).

The Lord was with Joseph as he sat there in that prison. And wherever you are today, the Lord will be with you, too.