As we've studied the life of Joseph with Scott Pauli, we've learned that this study isn't necessarily about Joseph,

but instead about the God who was with Joseph, even in the darkest of circumstances.

As you look at your own circumstances through the eyes of faith, do you recognize God's

presence?

Oh, that we could learn to live in the presence of God.

Be sure to stay tuned after today's study to learn more about Scott's book on the life

of Joseph entitled, The Lord was with Joseph.

Years ago, I had a friend that worked with us that had a little phrase and expression he used

frequently. When I would see him and I would ask, how are you doing? His response was always the same, in the battle,

in the battle. I remember the first few times I heard him say that. I thought, well, that's a

depressing way to live. And yet he was one of the happiest people I knew. I discovered something

from my friend's expression, and it is this, we are all in the battle. That doesn't mean you have

to be depressed, discouraged discouraged and despondent.

You don't have to live in despair, no, but you have to recognize that we are all in a spiritual

conflict and that there's always a battle going on all the time around you. Sometimes you feel it

more than others, but we're all in the battle. We return today to

this prophetic passage in Genesis 49 related to Joseph, and we've studied one verse, verse 22,

where we learn something about his fruitfulness. We learned something about his spiritual growth

and the blessing of God.

But when you come to the end of verse 22, you'll notice there's not a period there.

There's a colon, and the colon reminds us that there's more to come and that what follows after is connected to what came before.

So let me begin by reading verse 22 again and then read the next couple of verses.

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