Bible Reading: Genesis 39 | John 11 | Psalm 39
Devotional for February 24, 2025
Reading: Genesis 39 | John 11 | Psalm 39
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Genesis 39
Genesis 39 resumes the story of Joseph, picking up where it left off at the end of Ch. 37. Joseph is now in Egypt and working for Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. There are two things to take note of in this chapter. First, God is with Joseph. Despite the hardship that has come to him, God's presence is near him. Four times in this chapter, reference is made to that fact. There is a link between God's presence with Joseph and his commitment to God. We draw comfort from that truth as those seeking to serve the Lord with our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. As we do, we are assured of God's presence. Though the promise of God's presence with us is not dependent on our behavior, it does encourage us to follow the Lord with our whole being.
The second item is contained within the narrative, describing Joseph's difficulty with his boss's wife. There, we note that Joseph was a man of integrity. Instead of giving in to the temptation of Potiphar's wife, he refuses and says, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" As a result of the magnitude of the temptation, Joseph flees the house, is wrongly accused, and is thrown into prison. It is rare to find people of integrity inside or outside the church. Lacking today are people who will do what is right regardless of the circumstances or consequences. It is a behavior we would expect in the lives of the unbeliever. It is not something that should characterize the Christian. Note, also, how Joseph deals with the temptation. He does not flirt with it, but he runs from it. If men today would only heed the example set here, many lives ruined would have been spared.
Questions and Applications:
How do you reconcile that God was with Joseph, yet difficult things seem to come to him often?
Are you a person of integrity? Read Ps. 15.
What lesson is taught by Joseph's response to temptation?
John 11
John 11 contains another one of the "I am" statements of Jesus, this time focusing on him being the resurrection and the life. The narrative is well-known to most students of the Bible. The events are not difficult to understand. Lazarus, a dear friend of the Savior and brother to Mary and Martha, is dead. Jesus gets word of his passing and determines to go to Bethany, where they have laid the body of Lazarus. Upon arriving, Jesus finds great mourning and grief. Shortly after that, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
What central lesson do we learn from this miraculous work of the Lord? First, we learn that death is grievous for all mankind, but the sting of it does not exist for those who love the Savior. Die we will, but as God's people, we know that death cannot hold us because Jesus has power over death, conquered it, and freed us from its control. We will die (if the Lord does not return before that day). Our bodies will be lowered into a grave, but they will remain united to Christ until the resurrection. When our loved ones die in the Lord, we grieve, but we grieve with great hope of he who said, "I am the resurrection and the life."
Questions and Applications:
Are you prepared to die? Do you know the One who said, "I am the resurrection and the life?"
When our loved ones die in the Lord, why do we grieve and hope at the same time?
Psalm 39
The previous Psalm highlighted suffering as a result of one's sin. This Psalm highlights suffering due to other means, though the circumstances are vague. There is a brief acknowledgment of sin (39:8, 11), but that doesn't appear to be the source of the suffering. There are four stanzas.
39:1-3
This section highlights the determination of the Psalmist to keep his mouth closed, especially around those who seek his ruin. Though he was silent, the matter appeared to get worse. Another possible interpretation of this section is the self-will expressed in controlling one's tongue. Sometimes, it is better to say nothing and be accused by others. Silence cannot be misquoted.
39:4-6
This section highlights the brevity of life. We are here today and gone tomorrow. Life is brief, and we must learn to use our days for the benefit of God's kingdom and righteousness. Time is a gift from God. We must use it wisely and labor while it is still day because the night is coming when no man will work. We will give an account to God for our use of time.
39:7-11
This section highlights two items. The first is David's desire for patience as he learns to wait on the Lord for deliverance. We are often taught patience during times of struggle and trial. God doesn't always immediately remove the problem from us, though he could do that if it pleased him. Usually, he works to teach us to be patient during a struggle. Second, we learn to walk humbly with God. That is the point of the apparent discipline the Psalmist receives.
39:12-13
This section is a plea for blessing and a desire to be heard. The Psalmist wants the God of heaven to listen to his pleas for help. We can be comforted that he does hear us and walks according to his good pleasure and our good.