What was the secret success of Joseph?

By Nick Bibile

Acts 7:9 And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him

If you remember the story of fJoseph it seems that God was not with him, his brothers tried to kill him, he was sold to the Ishmaelite merchants, and Joseph was away from home. He was falsely accused, and he was put in prison. 

So beloved, it doesn’t look like God was with Joseph, it looks as God was away from Joseph.  Do you feel like sometimes God is not with you as you go through some hardships and difficulties?

God works in us in very strange ways as God’s ways are not our ways.  In the story of Joseph we see how God prospered. Now what was the secret of Joseph that even through trials he was able to endure these difficulties and find favor with God.

1. Joseph was conscious of God. 

2. Joseph was a God-fearing man. 

In order to have a consciousness of God, you need to realize that you live in the presence of God everyday.  Many are deceived that they feel the presence of God only in the church and when they leave the church God’s presence is gone.  This is wrong. When Potipher’s wife tried to seduce handsome Joseph, Joseph said, “how can I do this evil thing against God!”  That is having a conscience  and the presence of God wherever you are. 

Protestant Reformer Martin Luther called it in Latin Coram Deo, which  is a Latin phrase that means "in the presence of God"

When you have a consciousness of God, you live in the presence of God, then you will run away from sin, you become a God-fearing man and a woman.  Then you live a life of glory to God in good or bad times, you will see a radical change in your behavior, you will be a light in the darkness. Then  whatever happens you are in the hands of the Lord Almighty!