A God Entranced Vision of All Things; I came to know this phrase as the title of the book by John Piper. However as I look at the life of Joseph in Genesis I see it again. Regardless of circumstance he found himself in Joseph trusted God. One example that stands out specifically is his interaction with Potiphar's wife. Genesis 39 begins "now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard and Egyptian, had brought him from the Ishmaelites who brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master." Joseph was walking in obedience to God in a circumstance he did not choose. He walked in faithful obedience to God as a slave and He gave him success. In fact the Bible says that his master put him over all of his house, he had no concern about anything except the food he ate
The Bible says Joseph was handsome and Potiphar's wife was attracted to him. She pursued him daily, but he rejected her. He did not embrace temptation; rather he embraced the mission God had for him and the tasks set before him each day. Then verse 11 and following says "the one day when he went to the house to do his work in none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by the Hezbollah, saying 'lie with me.' But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house." Even in the midst of this great temptation Joseph was faithful. If we look back in verse nine we see why Joseph was faithful. He looked at how Potiphar had treated him but he didn't say, "how could I do this great evil and sin against Potiphar?" As Potiphar's wife tempted him he said, "how could I do this great evil and sin against God. His chief concern was not what Potiphar might think, but what would God think. How could he offend His Lord and King.
His action cost him his position. He was placed in prison. We know looking back that God would continue to cause him to succeed even in this dark circumstance. Joseph however looked forward with faith. He believed obedience to God borne out of faith was the way to live. Because the fact that there is a God, the living God impacts everything. Oh they God would give me, that he would give us a God entranced vision of everything. Lord, grant us this today.
Love the story of Joseph. How he responds to his brothers later on, convicts me every time I read it.
Posted by: Mel | April 17, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Good words. Me too!
Posted by: Chase | April 17, 2009 at 03:48 PM