The Vine: August 18, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him; he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and with him there he had no concern for anything but the food that he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand.
”

— Genesis 39:1-8

“The Lord was with Joseph”? Really? The graphic below shows all the ups and downs of his life. He was once the favorite son, but eventually his brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. Potiphar, who was the head of security for the Pharaoh, bought him. In the story of Joseph, we never hear him have a conversation with God or hear his thoughts. I imagine he went through the emotions anyone else would: shock, anger, disbelief, sadness, and finally acceptance. His acceptance of his new reality. Potiphar recognized that God was with Joseph. How did the Egyptian guard see the God of Israel at work in Joseph's life? Did Joseph hold himself in a particular way or have a presence that showed something was different about him? Joseph eventually becomes head of the house to a level where Potiphar only had to worry about what he needed for dinner. Even though Joseph was a slave in a foreign country, his master could tell the Lord was with him.

At this point in his life, he might be thinking that this was not the life he thought he would have, but it wasn’t horrible. Insert ominous music. Then he is falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. Life is going well after being trafficked, and now, because of no fault of his own, he is in another tragedy, in prison. It seems like history is repeating itself. The head of the prison sees that God is with Joseph, and he is placed in leadership.

Soren Kierkegaard is attributed with saying, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” If Joseph saw his life just in the moment he was in the pit or jail, he could have given up. There is still hope in his life, and others could see the Lord was with him. Hope comes from trusting God is with us through suffering, and believing that a future we desire isn't the only one with promise. Even in these horrible moments, Joseph has hope in God.

Prayer:

Lord, There are moments when our stories don't make sense—When we feel far from what we hoped, when what is good is taken, when justice seems delayed or denied. In those moments, remind us:You were with Joseph. You are with us too. Amen

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

1) The passage highlights that even in slavery and prison, outsiders like Potiphar and the jailer could see that "the Lord was with Joseph." What specific actions or attitudes do you think Joseph displayed that made God's presence so visible to others, even when his circumstances looked bleak?

2) Reflecting on Kierkegaard's idea that "life can only be understood backwards," think of a past season of your own life that was difficult or confusing. How does seeing that time in hindsight help you trust that God might be at work in the uncertainties and challenges you are living through forwards today?

3) Hope is trusting God through suffering and "believing that a future we desire isn't the only one with promise." When have you had to let go of a specific future you hoped for? What does it look like to actively seek hope in a new or different future, trusting that it can also hold God's promise?

4) Joseph never has a recorded conversation with God during this part of his story, and we can only imagine his feelings of shock, anger, and sadness. When you are navigating a difficult season and God feels distant or silent, where do you find the strength to maintain your integrity and continue on, as Joseph did?

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