and the Lord was with him

Joseph was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his brothers...and the Lord was with him.

It got him into Egypt.

Joseph was a slave in the officer of the Guard's household...and the Lord was with him. "The Lord made everything he did successful." He was put in charge of Potiphar's household.

Potiphar's wife accused him falsely of attempted rape and Joseph was put in the Kings prison...and the Lord was with him. He was right underneath Pharaoh's palace.

Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners. "The Lord made everything he did successful" and gave Joseph the use of his gift of interpretation which saved a man's life.

Joseph was loyal, trustworthy, and upright, and he was forgotten. Joseph was forgotten for two years...and the Lord was with him.

Joseph did not become bitter or angry towards God. He did not deny God's existence or run from him. He waited on the Lord. He continued to do the same old things God entrusted him to do.

Good thing, too. because if he hadn't been patient, he wouldn't have been there ready to rule Egypt for 14 years with everything but Pharaoh's name. He wouldn't have seen his dreams come true. he wouldn't have seen how every pit fall brought him closer to his position over Egypt. He wouldn't have connected between his charge of the relatively small officer's household and the larger prison community as his administrational training for ruling a whole kingdom.

Would that we all could be so patient and humble and trustworthy to our God who gave us everything, and in Whom, all things are possible.