“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
Scripture tells us that concerning Joseph, who was sold as a servant and slave into Egypt, when he was bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, that “…his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.” (Gen. 39:3) How did Joseph prosper? God gave to him success in his endeavors as a servant, specifically enabling him to be faithful and wise, and in particular, remaining faithful to God, even in a time of temptation. The blessing of God was upon Joseph, and it was in the form of his devotion to God, against whom he would not commit great wickedness, and sin. God prospered Joseph in Potiphar’s house, but then, circumstances changed, and he was put in prison, falsely accused. However, God was with him. Joseph would live by the same principles in prison that he lived by in Potiphar’s house, only this time, it would be faithfully ministering to fellow prisoners. Again, “…the Lord was with Joseph, … ‘and whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper.” (39:23) What was it specifically that God enabled Joseph to prosper in? It was in his service to God, learning well the great lessons of faithfulness as a servant, but more so, learning to depend upon the faithfulness of God to meet him. For the remainder of his life, the lessons learned in Potiphar’s house, and those in prison, would be applied and followed, even to the day when he was made governor over all the land of Egypt. His devotion to God remained intact. His dependence upon the faithfulness of God, increased with the responsibilities which were committed to him. God would prosper him not only in a prison but as the governing authority over Egypt, and this, so that the purposes of God would be accomplished. God would use Joseph to save a nation, his family, and plant the seeds of a new nation which would four hundred years later come out of Egypt and go to the promised land. When God works to make to prosper an individual, in things great or small, in circumstances that are difficult, and those that are welcome, He does so to reveal His mercy and grace, His goodness and love, that many will come to know Him. It is always with eternity in view, and that which will last for His glory, and the eternal blessing of men.
The question then must be asked, “How can one personally, individually, know the intervention of God? How can one know His saving grace, and at the same time, experience His guidance, keeping, and blessing? It all begins with surrender, the surrender of the heart to Him, being willing to follow Christ. Why? To truly believe in God, in Christ, is to not only acknowledge that He IS God, has ever been so, and ever will be, the “same yesterday, today, and forever.” It is to trust Him for the mercy and grace to commit oneself and all that one has to Christ, for He is Life eternal. To know Him is to live.
As the creation began by the spoken Word of God, so the response of sinful man to receive the mercy of God begins with the knowledge of the word of God, the acceptance of it, and obedience to it. Just as there is power in the precious blood of Christ to cleanse a heart from all sin, so there is power in the word of God to save, strengthen, guide, and provide. God works in accordance with His word. The man who delights in His law, mediates therein to believe God according to it, will know the saving power of God by His Spirit, as he lives to obey.
Dear Father, Prosper us this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.