Why Was Joseph Content – And How Can I Be?

Attribution: Owen Jones, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I found this picture of young Joseph on Wiki Commons. He looks so content, doesn’t he–dreaming of his brothers’ sheaves of wheat bowing down to his? Do you remember the dream? It made him Enemy #1 to his brothers and was a big reason they sold him to Egypt…

“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.'” Genesis 37:5–7

Seriously, Dude. Not the way to win friends and influence people.

How So Content?

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We don’t know how many years later Potiphar’s wife came on the scene. Was she there when Joseph arrived in Egypt? Or did Potiphar marry her after Joseph had already been promoted to the chamberlain of his master’s estate?

Dunno. But we DO KNOW Potiphar’s wife was relentless–as are most things that steal our contentment.

“And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.” Genesis 39:10 (emphasis added)

“Day after day”–that’s the worst. When something awful happens, it’s troubling–sometimes devastating. We cry out to God. Maybe talk to close friends (which Joseph may or may not have had). Hopefully, move forward.

But day after day? Joseph was a slave. He had no escape. How does one grasp at contentment when there’s no end in sight?

Potiphar’s Wife, the Champion Malcontent

Since we know little from Scripture of Potiphar’s wife, most of what we learn of her is from historical legend and conjecture. But Zuleika (Zully) has provided fiction fodder for centuries! Almost everything I’ve seen points to a woman who is almost exclusively self-focused–and therein lies her discontentment.

The Bible affirms her self-focus in the way it paints her character with dialogue. She says:

• …to Joseph: “Come to bed with me.” (Gen. 39:7)
• …to Potiphar: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.” (Gen. 39:17)
• …again to Potiphar: “This is how your slave treated me.” (Gen. 39:19)

Me, me, me. I’ve discovered the days I’m most discontent with my life and circumstances are the days I’m most focused . . . on MY LIFE AND CIRCUMSTANCES!

Joseph, the Champion In Chains

Joseph started out as his father’s favorite and–let’s face it–a little arrogant with the way he flaunted his dream to his brothers. God has a way of humbling us before He gives us a big job so we realize it’s Him, not us, who’s in charge. Joseph needed a few skinned knees before he could fly over the hurdles in his final race.

So what was Joseph’s focus when faced with adversity?

He Ascribed Success to God’s Favor

When he went from favored son in his father’s camp to a slave in Potiphar’s household, Joseph worked hard and rose to the highest position possible–proclaiming Elohim’s favor the sole reason for all blessing.

“From the time [Potiphar] put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.” Genesis 39:5

He Overcame Temptation With Reminders of God’s Blessing

When tempted to indulge in immediate pleasure, Joseph reminded himself (and Potiphar’s wife) that the God he served had given him far greater blessings in the past, present, and promises for the future. His heart was 100% devoted and had no room for another.

“With me in charge . . . my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:8–9

He Acknowledged God’s Favor No Matter the Circumstance

When we’re treated unfairly–as Joseph was when unjustly sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit–it’s easy to become bitter. How can we be content when it feels as if the world has been unjust and the perfect God-of-justice allowed it? No matter how awful or unfair the circumstance, the same loving God is right there with us in it. He hasn’t blinked or left us alone to go tend to someone else.

“The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:23 (emphasis added)

Get Me Some of That!

I’ve found contentment to be one of life’s most elusive endeavors. Not just a day-by-day struggle but sometimes it’s minute-by-minute. Ironically, struggling with chronic illness since 1997 has helped (you can find out more about that HERE). Growing older also gives many opportunities to test my contentment meters. Here are a few items that threaten MY contentment on a regular basis:

• self-esteem/perfectionism
• people-pleasing
• fear of “what’s happening in our world”
• finances
• family
• health
• church

I could go on, but you get the point. I’m sure you could add your own items to the list, but let’s focus on what God’s Word gives us as the solution:

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11–13

Lord, I need Your strength to be content in YOU, day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute. Show me Your favor on my life so I can praise You. Reveal to me Your many blessings so I have the strength to overcome temptations. Remind me every day that YOU are enough for me. More than enough.

Today’s Questions:

• What are the chronic thieves of your contentment? In what specific ways can you ask the Lord for wisdom to use His strength to guard against them?
• Is there a specific temptation that is a recurring threat to your contentment? Are you enslaved (like Joseph) and unable to escape it? Ask for wisdom to remind yourself and the tempter of your many godly blessings. If, however, you’re able to remove yourself or the temptation, trust that the Lord is using this post as His whisper to remove it now.