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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The DEEP

God's Presence

is the ultimate encouragement.

Genesis 39:11-23 (ESV)

But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.

This passage is notable for what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that Joseph was depressed – or even sad. This is a study in faith conquering adversity.

Imagine just how much cause Joseph has to be depressed, or even to doubt God. He’s done nothing wrong and yet evil people with evil intentions have made him a slave – and now a slave in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. How can a just and loving God allow that?

It’s easy for us to see the purpose in all this; we know the ending. But Joseph doesn’t, and he’s right in the middle of the stink and the pain and the doubt. What’s keeping him afloat? Obviously Joseph can’t know how this is all going to work out, but he knows something. What?

The text tells us, repeatedly, that the LORD was with Joseph. The reason this was so helpful to Joseph is simple – he paid attention. God hadn’t bailed Joseph out of his situation (yet) but He had shown him that he wasn’t alone.

And Joseph noticed.


Joseph’s faith was rock solid because he knew that God had not abandoned him. God was there and, since He’s God, in control. That gave Joseph comfort when all else was uncomfortable.

One of the main functions of a church is to uplift people who are struggling. Just being there for someone is bracing. It’s a big boost when they see that God and his servants are available.


The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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