If you were asked to tell the story of Joseph, this is the section that would probably be omitted. No coat of many colors. No dream interpretations. No getting the family back together in Egypt. None of the good stuff.

This is the in-between, the intermission of the movie where everyone dashes to the concession stand.

Except with God, there is no intermission. Something is always happening, something that could be miraculous, or quite ordinary, maybe even boring (well, as boring as things can be with God)

This intermission in the story of Joseph illustrates one word—steadfast.

Joseph is steadfast in obeying the laws of God. Joseph uses his talents to manage Potiphar’s household. Potiphar entrusted Joseph with everything he owned. Because he was beloved of God and kept his commandments, Joseph and all he was associated with, including what was Potiphar’s, prospered.

“How could I do such a wicked thing against God?” Joseph asked Potiphar’s wife, as he turned down her advances. He ran away from the wife, but she grabbed his robe and ripped it off him. You know what they say about a woman scorned. With this piece of evidence, this one accused Joseph of trying to rape her. Potiphar had Joseph put in prison.

Joseph was immediately, unjustly, demoted from favored slave to prisoner. But God continued to favor Joseph, and the prison warden soon trusted Joseph so much he was put in charge of the care of other prisoners.

Joseph remained steadfast. Through everything. That’s not a quality that generates much fanfare, but Joseph was quietly faithful to the word of God and God’s commands.

Being steadfast and faithful is harder than you think. Peer pressure to conform to the crowd is not just a teen thing. Friends, co-workers, family may all pressure a person into being unfaithful to God’s words and commands. A little white lie won’t hurt. No one will miss just one. They expect people to steal some.

All wicked in the sight of God. All distancing you from God and God’s blessings.