Belonging to God

Joseph had the midas touch because God had a plan for his life.  After Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the Egyptian captain of the guard, the Scripture says "... 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" (39:5).  And later while Joseph was in prison, the Scripture says, "The (prison) warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did" (39:23).  The Biblical writer clearly gives God primary credit for Joseph's success. 

The Biblical writers loved to jusxtapose characters for the purpose of emphasizing some good quality in one character, as compared to the dispicable behavior of another.  So, Cain and Abel are compared; as are Moses and Pharoah, David and Nabal, Ahab and Elijah, and Joseph and Judah (see Gen. 38).  But there is this moment of striking comparison in the story of Joseph, where the wife of Potiphar demands an explanation for Joseph's daily rejection of her sexual advances.  Joseph explains: "'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?'" 

Joseph recognizes that his master has given him access to everything in the household, except one thing.  Now he was being tempted to take the one piece of forbidden fruit.  All of his master's garden was at his disposal, except for one little tree ... Adam took a bite ... Joseph didn't ... and that makes all the difference in the world.

Joseph refuses for two reasons: 1. He refuses to violate his Master's trust; 2. He refuses to violate God's love.  And because he refuses to do those things, God gives him success no matter what the world throws at him.  It's not a matter of being born to win.  It's a matter of belonging fully to God.
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