"But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy,
and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison"
Genesis 39:21
A man was a climber in his vocation. He was ambitious and wanted to get ahead. Therefore, he made it his business to socialize with the right people, and to try his best to build a network of support. He was doing all the things that he thought would work for him. The only thing wrong, it simply wasn't working. So, he became discouraged and gave up. Not long after that, he was given a promotion that moved him to another city. As a believer, while working in that city, he was involved in planting a new church of his denomination. As he looked back on it, he really believed God gave him favor for a promotion to move him for a higher purpose, to help plant that new church. I believe he was right.
Joseph, in our verse for today, was falsely accused of infidelity with Potiphar's wife. In prison, he must have been tempted to think that God had forgotten him. Far from it. God was with him and gave him favor with the guard of the prison. Later, he received favor from God with the Pharoah of Egypt, and became his chief advisor. God gave him favor to put him in a place of kingdom service. Only God could have given favor to raise a man from prison to the second highest position in the nation.
God is able to give us favor to place us in a position where He can use us for His purpose and His glory. God is with His children everywhere, all the time. We cannnot earn His favor nor maniplulate it. It always comes through His mercy. When He gives us favor with a person or a group, it is always for a kingdom purpose.
Prayer: Father, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives. Fulfill Your purpose in our lives for Your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
