I had debts and could not repay them. The collections guy eventually came to my house and asked me to show him what I had in my pockets. How embarrassing. I had to show him what I had in my pants pockets.
Look, I said, no money. I just have 2 bucks. I could not even buy more cigarettes earlier (the pack cost 4 bucks at the time).
The collections guy smiled, took out his wallet and gave me 2 bucks. Here, you can’t not have cigarettes.
I quickly ran out and bought a pack of cigarettes.
I came back, in a cloud of cigarette smoke. I thanked the collections guy, who had packed up his forms in the meantime. He smiled, I smiled. What a beautiful day in my terrible financial shortage.
God is helpful
Of course, God did not want Joseph to be sold into slavery to Egypt and serve as a slave there for Potiphar. So did God just put an end to the bad situation of slavery for Joseph? No. Joseph remained a slave.
But we learn that in slavery, God was with Joseph. And God didn’t just somehow stay near to Joseph, but the Bible tells us that God blessed Joseph, “and he was a prosperous man.” “And 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. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:1-2; KJV)
What slavery are you currently living in? In the slavery of an unsatisfied work situation? God will, of course, turn that for the better. But according to His schedule. So therefore, in addition to your patience by faith, but be aware that God is always with you, so that you can prosper in all things, even in the slavery of your unsatisfying work situation.
I once read this statement: We do not lament that we have no shoes, but we thank God that we have feet.
Joseph’s misery came to an end (after 13 years), and he became the second-richest and second-most powerful man in Egypt.
My financial misery came to an end (after a few months), and money was overflowing because I programmed the whole software for a big TV game show.
