One of the key phrases, and possibly the controlling phrase, of the entire Joseph story is this one: "The Lord was with Joseph." [Genesis 39:2; 39:23] This whole narrative, which reads like a dramatic play, has as its central idea that God is with Joseph. The phrase - or a similar one - shows up later in Judges 1:22, "Not the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them." Clearly, the writer of the Judges saw this controlling idea, and draws it back out here to remind his readers that God has not forgotten them. Let me offer just a couple of quick points on this:
- We saw in the creation story that God was literally with Adam and Eve, walking with them and talking with them in the garden. Even though the curse of the fall has come upon the people - including separation from God - hasn't meant that there is no relationship with God. He is still with his people.
- God promised Abraham to make a great nation of him, and that he would be God to him and to his people. In other words, God would be present to his people, and be with them.
- We see this again in the Joseph story that God is with his people. No matter what happens, God has not left his people on their own.
- Fast forward to the New Testament, when one of the names of Jesus is Immanuel, meaning literally, "God with us." [Matthew 1:23]
Where ever you are and whatever is happening in your life, know this - that God is with you, too. He has promised to be with his people, and to never forsake them. If you look for him, you will find him, and he will be with you wherever you are. Now that's a promise!
