The value of implicit trust in God cannot be accurately measured. It is demonstrated for us numerous times throughout the scriptures. One such example is Joseph. He was the young son of Jacob (later renamed Israel) who endured great trials, temptations, and perils. It all began as a young boy who was loved by his father but hated by his brothers. The dreams of grandeur and prominence didn’t help him either. Things continually got worse until finally, the brothers decided to kill him. If it hadn’t been for the dissenting words of Reuben they would have executed him and left his body in that well. Instead, they took him out and sold him to Ishmaelite’s as a slave. But this was no ordinary teenager; he was wise beyond his years and trusted God completely.As if it wasn’t enough to be betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery; Joseph was falsely accused by the wife of his master and cast into prison. In prison, he quickly gained a position of prominence until everyone agreed that God was blessing him. After interpreting the dreams of the King’s baker and cupbearer he was forgotten and left in prison. Even then, he did not waver in his devotion or his trust in God. He trusted God completely and was sustained and blessed by Him.

These experiences turned out for his good (Rom. 8:28), mainly because he believed in God’s promises. Eventually, he was elevated to a place of prominence and power in Egypt. He was blessed to rule for at least 70 maybe even 80 years in the greatest nation on earth. His dying words reflect his undying devotion and trust in God and his promises to Abraham. Genesis 50:24 illustrates this faith in God’s promises, “And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

By faith, he anticipated the future deliverance from Egypt and based his dying request on the promises of God.

From this young man, we learn the value of an implicit trust in God. It is what sustained him in that pit; hated by his brothers but loved by God. It is what sustained him as a slave in his master’s house; faithful and diligently rising to a place of prominence. It is what sustained him in that prison, after being falsely accused, he made the best of the situation and again rose to prominence. It is what sustained him when he ruled over all of Egypt, after many years of being cheated in life; he trusted God to again exalt him to a position in keeping with his trust. Without his complete trust in God (the definition of faith) he could have failed or allowed the circumstances to overwhelm him. Learn the lesson well. An undying, unwavering trust in your God will keep you when everything else fails you.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

(Genesis 50:20, ESV).