Genesis 39:19-21 - Perseverance
      
    
              Scripture:
              
              Genesis 39:19-21
              19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which
              she spoke to him, saying, " This is what your slave did to
              me," his anger burned. 
              20 So Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail,
              the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he
              was there in the jail. 
              21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to
              him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
              NASU
              
              
              Thoughts:
              
              This is from the life of Joseph, a true hero of Genesis. 
              Perhaps no one else in Genesis depicts such consistent
              faith in God.  Most telling in this account of his
              imprisonment for refusing to commit adultery (see the
              verses below), is the lack of any mention of Joseph
              becoming bitter.
              
              Genesis 39:12-14
                12 She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!"
                And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went
                outside. 13  When she saw that he had left his garment
                in her hand and had fled outside, 14 she called to the
                men of her household and said to them, "See, he has
                brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came
                in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. 
                NASU
                
              
              Joseph has descended from being the favored son of a
              wealthy shepherd
              
              Gen 37:3-4
                3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons,
                because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a
                varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father
                loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated
                him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. 
                NASU
              
              
              
              to a slave (verse 19) and now a prisoner (verse 20), all
              because of the sins of others.  What incredible
              perseverance this man displays!
              
              
              Prayer:
              
              Lord, please give me this supernatural perseverance,
              also!  When wronged, I so quickly turn to my own defense. 
              Instead, let me be patient, waiting to see what You are
              doing behind the scene.  Help me.
              
              Amen