3-27-21 Today in the Word

POTIPHAR'S WIFE - A GOD OF ABSOLUTES When teaching communication skills, I caution my students against the overuse of absolute descriptors. Words such as “never” and “always” should be used sparingly since they rarely reflect the reality of human action. However, Genesis 39 is filled with absolutes. First, we are told that the Lord was with Joseph—in absolute ways. Notice the use of words like “everything” and “anything.” The Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did (v. 3). Potiphar entrusted to his care everything he owned (v. 5). Because of Joseph, the blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had (v. 5). The contrast between what the Lord was doing in Judah’s life (putting his sons to death; see Genesis 38) and what He was doing for Joseph could not be greater. Then temptation came in the form of Potiphar’s wife. In response to her seduction, Joseph reiterated the absolute nature of Potiphar’s trust in him. “My master does not concern himself with anything . . . Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife” (vv. 8–9, emphasis added). Joseph stands strong, recognizing that to sin against Potiphar was to sin against God. But Potiphar’s wife was persistent and tried again. This time, she kept his cloak and used it against him. Notice that this was the second time Joseph’s coat had been used against him. Potiphar sent Joseph to prison. However, God was with Joseph and his character remained the same. As a result, “the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there” (v. 22). God continued to give success to Joseph “in whatever he did” (v. 23), another absolute! >> Take comfort today in the absolute nature of a God who always cares for His children and never changes. While your circumstances may change, God never does. PRAY WITH US We are constantly adjusting to change, both good and bad. Today, Lord, we pause to rest in your unchanging ways. Thank you for being a God we can depend on.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-17-23 Not in a Billion Years

Not In A Million Billion Years :: By Dave Hubley Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles (There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) Several years ago, I had a conversation with a guy in a waiting room while getting an oil change (in the car, not me). I don’t recall exactly how the conversation originated or how it progressed, but I have never forgotten it. As I recall, it had something to do with evolution and an article that was contained in a “waiting room magazine” that was available there. He made the observation that God was “something that man had made up.” I can’t recall the exact reason he used to justify his opinion, but it had something to do with the usual reasons people give: Weak-willed people needing a crutch, and blah, blah, blah. I engaged him in a “witness,
Read more

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th
Read more