Joseph knew his slavery, and even his imprisonment was due to the evil intent of his brothers. He said, "Ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 45:4-11).

What about us? Today, when bad things happen to good people, do we remain faithful and loyal to our Lord and His church? Do we trust Him to work it all out? How long would we be willing to wait on God's providential care? Joseph suffered 27 years. Would we?

What made the difference in Joseph's life? He had every reason to sin from a human standpoint. God had forsaken him in a foreign land. He was a slave, and if he had sinned with Potipher's wife, no one in his family or his friends would ever know -- nobody was standing over him and watching what he did. Adultery was more common in Egypt in those days than it is in America today. It was expected.

It wasn't the 10 Commandments (they were not written yet). It wasn't a little set of "rules." It was something deep inside of Joseph. His daddy was Jacob (Israel), one of the great patriarchs. Joseph's daddy had taught him Jehovah is God.

You might say, "Yeah, but look what happened to him -- sold as a slave -- put in prison -- abandoned by God for 27 years."

Joseph's daddy had taught him to do what is right in the sight of God when you are winning and when you are losing -- do right when everybody around you is doing wrong.

Integrity. In your own heart, you must love the Lord and trust God. Forget "situation ethics." It is the Lord who reigns in your heart, so you do what is right in the sight of God everywhere and every time, no mater the circumstances.

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