Joseph was blessed.
God was with him when he received a prophetic dream, he received on ornate robe, he was sold into slavery, and he was wrongfully accused of something he did not do. The scripture says, “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:23 It’s hard to believe that God can be with us during times that are both bad and good. How can a good God allow bad things to happen to a good person? If God was with Joseph, then how could he be sold into slavery or be falsely accused and thrown into prison for something he did not do? Well, let us take a closer look. The scripture says, “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of him and said, “Come to bed with me!” But Joseph refused. He said, “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:2-9 One day Joseph went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside. Potiphar’s wife took advantage of the situation. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” Joseph ran - but he left his cloak in her hand. She called her household servants and said, “Look, this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” Genesis 39:12-18 Potiphar's wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until her husband came home. When Joseph’s master heard the story his wife told him, he burned with anger. He took Joseph and put him in prison, The scripture says, “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:20-23 Upon closer inspection it appears bad things happen to people not because of God, but because of humans. Of course God is sovereign, and he could step in at any moment. He could end all sin at any given time. And He will. God could utterly destroy us, like he did with the flood during the time of Noah; like he did with Sodom and Gomorrah; and like he will do on the final day of judgment. The Lord first used water, but fire is coming - Jesus warned us. He said, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under UNTIL it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:49-51 The Lord allows bad things to happen because he is slow to anger; because he is kind and merciful! Instead of destroying all humans who are driven by perpetual sin, the Lord shows mercy and patient endurance. The Lord is waiting. He is patiently enduring. We must read what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2. “Do not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in, for that day will not come UNTIL the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 You see, God has an appointed time. “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 (This was written by Paul) The Apostle Peter said, "Let us remember that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” 2 Peter 3:5-15
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