Genesis 39:1-5
1And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
As I was studying this chapter, God revealed to me that we can reap a harvest of blessings just by being in the presence of or associated with someone who is favored by God and has a direct connection with him.
Potiphar reaps bountiful blessings not because of his work but because he is connected to someone whom God has favored. This means that anyone or anything Joseph comes in contact with is blessed because of who he is in God.
Isn't it amazing how you can be blessed just by association? How blessings can overtake you that you were not expecting, and suddenly, you are blessed by unimaginable measures.
Potiphar did not have any prior knowledge of Joseph's capabilities or skillsets or anyone who could attest to his professional experience, yet he saw that he was peculiar, and the hand of God was upon him. In return, everything Potiphar had was blessed because of his relationship with Joseph.
You may have heard the slogan "guilty by association." However, in most cases, it is in a negative context, but throughout the bible, it has proven to work to one's benefit. I recall the story of Jesus feeding approximately five thousand people who were hungry with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciplines were concerned they did not have enough food to feed everyone, but once Jesus blessed the food, it was more than enough, and there was even food to spare (Matthew 14:16-21).
We are often blessed by the people we associate with. Recently, I had a conversation with my oldest son, who recounted how, more than once, he and his childhood friend found themselves in situations where strangers unexpectedly gave them money. It really highlights the power of being in the right place at the right time and how it can significantly influence our lives. You might receive encouragement from a random person during a moment of doubt, steering you toward positivity when you need it most, not a coincidence but divine timing and connection.
Many may recall or have heard about Oprah Winfrey surprising many of her guests in the audience with brand new cars such as Volkswagen Beetles or a Pontiac G6; this is another example of how you can be a recipient of an unexcepted blessing just because you are in the room.
Have you ever considered why or how this could happen or what I did to deserve this? Please don't try to understand God's thoughts and ways; instead, receive his blessings in his perfect timing and unique ways and show your gratitude.
Prayer,
Father, I thank You for Your uniqueness and for the magnificent things You do for us and through us. Thank You for not hesitating to delegate tasks to others so they can be a blessing in our lives. Help us always to be ready to receive, as we never know how or through whom You will bless us. Therefore, please let us treat everyone with kindness and love.
I also pray that we will always be ready and willing to be a blessing to others on Your behalf. I ask this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Be Blessed!
Harriet Lane
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