FAITH CAPSULE: Your challenges cannot be too much for you not to love God.

Genesis 39

What is it that is compromising your love for God? He is the Almighty God, all purposeful God, and undeniable God. He is more glorious and excellent than mountains of prey. God deserves all of our love and not a partial love. To love Him is to fear Him. When you sincerely love God, the enemy cannot do anything to overcome you. At the age of seventeen, Joseph, who was dearly loved by his father more than anyone else was lost from home in line of obeying his father. In the course of being lost, his brothers attempted his life but God delivered him from the pit of death. Instead of gaining his route back home, he gained entrance into slavery. Joseph’s story is comparable to moving from frying pan to fire at a point in his journey to grace. While in slavery there was no father, mother, brothers and friends to relate with. Heaven smiled on him as favor answered on his behalf before his master. While enjoying his new comfort zone, his master’s wife fell in love with him. Suddenly the ways seemed right for Joseph to take over his master’s wife in the absence of his master (Potiphar). What could be better than a way that seems right? The Word of God does not lie when it says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) Have your challenges move you into a way that seems right? Pay attention to Joseph’s story and you will learn that the only right way is the way of God. Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph so, “…she spoke to him day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or be with her.”(Genesis 39:10) After Joseph ran, Potiphar’s wife plotted against him because he did not follow through with her advances. By running away, Joseph did not solve the problem. His reaction gave the implication that he was guilty of the accusations, even though they were false. As a result of his reaction, the master’s wife gave a false accusation that Joseph tried to rape her. The only reason why Joseph refused to follow the wrong path was because of his love for God. During Potiphar’s wife’s pressure, he responded to his master’s wife, “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” (Genesis 39:10) To love God is to fear God and to please Him before every challenging situation. When you love Him, He will love you and your enemies attempt will fail while you gain favor from Him. Your challenges cannot be too much for you not to love God. God was with Joseph and He made him successful and prosperous.

Prayer for today: O Lord, put Your fear in me that I will not depart from You.