Since the middle of March, we have been dealing with a deadly virus – Covid-19. There have been 3.37 million cases of Covid-19 as of Monday and 137,000 deaths attributed to the virus. In Michigan, we have 6,317 deaths attributed to the virus.
I thought about the “Stay Home. Stay Safe” mantra our governor has been using for the past four months and I thought about Joseph when he was thrown into prison, a “quarantine” of sorts, and what lessons we might learn from him.
GOD BLESSES JOSEPH – 39:1-6:
1. God blessed Joseph in all that he did.
2. Potiphar then trusts Joseph with all that he had.
3. Joseph was a handsome man.
SATAN TEMPTS JOSEPH – 39:7-20:
This is the largest section of the chapter. First, we see the temptation itself: 39:7-9.
We see Potiphar’s wife’s persistence and how she lies about Joseph in 39:10-12.
Potiphar’s wife tells a lie about Joseph to the other servants in 39:13-18.
JOSEPH IS UNFAIRLY QUARANTINED – 39:19-23:
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Even quarantined, God blesses Joseph. Joseph prospers, and things go well for Joseph.
Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on this story in the context of our own recent quarantine and the “Stay-cation Bible School” we will be putting together.
STAY:
Let me build an acronym off the word “Stay” as we think about Joseph and his quarantine:
Stay selfless – When Joseph was in prison, he did everything he could to serve Potiphar. He was selfless. He served his master even though it was not fair to be where he was. He knew he could not change it, so he served his master. He was selfless. Let us continue being selfless and putting other’s needs ahead of our own desires. If people wish us to wear a mask or to keep 6’ away from them, not to shake hands, hug, or whatever, let’s be selfless. Just because we may not be concerned about the virus does not mean others are not concerned. Be selfless.
#2 – Stay thankful – Count your blessings. Appreciate what you have. I do not know what was going on in the mind of Joseph during those two years of quarantine, but I know – because he said so – that at the end of his life, he was able to thank God for putting him in the position he was in so that he could save his people and the world from those seven years of drought and famine. Joseph told his brothers, when they repented of selling him into slavery, he said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (50:20). Joseph was thankful.
#3 – Stay active. The worst part of this quarantine, as far as the church is concerned, seems to be that it gets us away from being active in our church activities. We have cancelled a number of activities, evangelism activities and fellowship activities and Bible-teaching activities. You know, only God Himself knows if that was the right choice to make or not. There is not a single person on this earth who can say, “Yes, it was the right choice to make” or “No, it was not the right choice to make.” I’ve heard a lot of people express their opinions but that’s all it is, is just an opinion. We need to stay active in doing good, in keeping relationships strong, and being active in worship and service to Jesus Christ. Joseph was active while he was in prison and that’s how God prepared Joseph for what was coming in the near future.
#4 – Finally, Stay yielding. Submit to Jehovah God. Joseph accepted what God had given him and he continued to serve God, to yield to God. We need to continue yielding ourselves to God, to His guidance, to the future that He has set out for us. Submit to God and He will exalt you at the right time.
As we continue, to some degree, in this quarantine: Stay Selfless. Stay Thankful. Stay Active. Stay Yielding.
Paul Holland
