JOSEPH, ENSLAVED, PROSPERED, RESISTED FIERCE TRIAL. Gen 39

Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah’s guard, cared for Joseph. Remarkably, the bible told how’ the Lord was with him; he was a successful man, and yet was in the house of his master the Egyptian.’ Regardless of the trouble, his capture, loss of freedom, separation from a loving, devoted father, facing a new language and godless culture, he lived in the blessing of his GOD. We should never complain.

He attracted Potiphar’s attention, ’For his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.’ A godless ruler discerned Joseph’s life as earning the blessing of the God, whom he did not personally know. Do we show the presence of our great God in daily dealings. Promotion was natural. ’So Joseph found favour in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had, he put into his hand.’ (v4)

God’s word repeats the amazing change after Potiphar had elevated Joseph as overseer of the house. ’The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake: and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.’ Joseph obviously supervised the running of the crops, the livestock; with the heavenly Father’s approval. The parallel today is that our Father blesses us for Jesus’ sake. God prepared Joseph to supervise the granaries for the famine years.

Joseph attracted all around him, ‘He was handsome in form and appearance. ‘ Potiphar left all he had in Joseph’s hand ( remember he was still confined to a prison ) . He did not know what he possessed , except for his daily bread.’

Joseph was tactful; good-looking, appealing, possessing rare executive skills; he always remembered his father’s warnings in facing severe temptations.

Red signals flashed warning as ‘ It came to pass that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and ( brazenly) said ‘Lie with me.’ Burning with lust, and not concealing her devilish desire, she determined to drag down this godly young man. Scripture does not reveal the nature of her approach; for her obvious invitation was passionate and ablaze with satanic resolve. How many men had she dragged down?

Joseph is a role model to all facing demoralizing invitations, for ‘He refused , saying to his master’s wife, ‘Look, my master does not know what is in the house, except through me, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.’ (v8) He quietly discussed correct behaviour in his master’s house, remembering the command of the living God, Who continually blessed him. Further, he said, ‘ there is no one in this house greater than I. Nor has he kept back any thing from me but you, because you are his wife.’ His character shone in defending his morality,’ How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ Joseph’s integrity is worth mentioning.

Ÿ Potiphar’s wife persisted in enticing Joseph. ‘So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.’ He wisely kept from her company.

Ÿ She seized an opportunity, for ’It happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men was inside. That she caught him by his garment , saying ’Lie with me.’ but he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.’ He escaped from her clutches with the smartest 100 metres dash. Times this is an essential life-sparing move.

Frustrated, her foul nature claimed, ’When she saw he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, she called to the men of her house and spoke dishonestly to them, ‘See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.’ (v14) No lie could cover her lust.

Potiphar’s wife hugged the garment, she had wrenched from Joseph’s back, as though it affirmed her fidelity to her husband, knowing it spoke of her treachery. Scathingly, she complained,’ The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me.’ so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.’(v18) Did Potiphar observe her eyes flickering, and her face flushing with shame. He trusted Joseph; was his wife true to him?

He had no alternative as a high officer in Pharoah’s court. His anger was aroused, as she rehearsed ’ What your servant did to me.’ ’Then Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison.’ The eternal God watched this crass deception, while heaven’s throne blessing flowed to the prisoner of Pharoah. ’The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ’ He was undaunted.

’Mercy’ or khazed is one of the sweetest words in the Old Testament, for it speaks of His overflowing love, bountiful blessing, loving-kindness, covenant faithfulness, and enduring mercy . This precious truth was a bubbling, eternal, artesian spring, to the thirsty traveller. This refreshed Joseph’s spirit, amid the squalor of the prison.

No prisoner commended himself as Joseph did; ’And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.’ When did Joseph study the Egyptian language, so that he understood the speech of his master and fellow prisoners? When did he devote himself to prayer; and meditation on the majesty of his God? Scripture does not tell us. We presume he walked intimately with the living God; as indeed we must.

If Potiphar’s wife meant it for evil, the Lord meant it for good, for ’ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was in Joseph’s hand, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper.’(v23) While Joseph was still in bis teen years, yet the Keeper of the prison willingly surrendered the charge to this young man. Joseph knew the powerful presence of his Lord, Who made him prosper. Our Lord has courageous followers in difficult conditions, who like Joseph are obedient, submissive and reliable. How do we compare?