The Lord was with him...

We're all familiar with the story of Joseph, the original Cinderella, who endured so much in Egypt until he was elevated to the palace (Genesis 37-42). But the one thing that always disappointed me about that story was the absence of any communication from God to Joseph. At least, we have no record of it. To think of all the hardship that Joseph endured above his peers and forefathers, to be sold as a slave, then cast wrongfully into prison, all the while keeping the faith: and yet God never rewarded him with direct communication? This struck me as so odd.
Then I heard my pastor this Sunday morning raise up a great point about Joseph's story: each of his times of great trial (when he was a slave and when he was in prison) start the same way: "And the Lord was with Joseph" (Gen 39:2 & 39:21)

Stop the tape. That's it. I don't know what all that implied, if it meant a daily conversation with the Almighty, a visible manifestation, or what, but I do know this: during those terrible times, Joseph had what we all so greatly long for, to experience the presence of God Himself. How wonderful. During those times when we and the rest of the world looked down on him and shook our heads with pity, he was at the height of human experience. The LORD was with him. With him. While mopping floors, while cleaning horse dung, and while cleaning up messes in the prison. God was with him. How wonderful.

But that raises the question: what would we give up to be with the LORD? If given the choice of living in wealth and comfort, without the Lord, or living in poverty and neglect, with HIS presence, what would we choose?

Most of us would struggle with that, and in honesty, probably give an answer that would leave us with a lifetime of questioning and regret. "Where is God when I need Him?" "Why do I feel so alone, so dry?" Perhaps, it is because God is back in that prison, back mopping those floors.

Now I'm not saying anyone should sell their homes or cars, but it's still a challenging thought: what do we value more, God's presence or our comfort?