LastCall: (Genesis 39:1-23) When Nothing Makes Sense -Bob Caldwell

When Nothing Makes Sense  “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” -Genesis 39:9 Joseph’s life was a sharp two-edged sword. On one side were the divine blessings and benefits that God honored him with, on the other side was the reaction of ungodly people who brought upon him severe and painful consequences. His brothers hated him, plotted to kill him, and ended up selling him as a slave. Potiphar’s wife did all she could to have sex with him, and being denied she falsely accused him of attempted rape. This must have been a major point of confusion for Joseph. On the one hand he had been a source of great joy to his father and a source of great wealth to Potiphar. Yet God’s hand that made Joseph a blessing seemed to have no power to alter the reactions of sinful people filled with hate that ultimately was directed not only at Joseph, but at the God he represented. However, it was how Joseph handled all this that made him a man whom God could use so mightily. Rather than become bitter against God and those who misused him, he grew in his faith in God. He trusted God in the darkest hours of his life to somehow, some way bring good out of tragedy. Yes it was painful to be so hated by his brothers and so shamed by the lies of an embittered woman. But his response was faith – faith that God will yet be God in his life. Because of this he will enter this prison and once again bring divine blessing upon those around him. We see in his actions that he surely must have said within himself, “God must have me here for a reason, I will find it! I will be used wherever He places me.” As it has been said, “Bloom where you are planted.”
Genesis 39:1-23  Joseph a Slave in Egypt 1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that 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. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Joseph Is Prospered In Potiphar’s House (Verses 1-6) v. 2 Lord Was With Joseph – The personal success of Joseph was attributed to God’s presence that was upon his life. v. 3 His Master Saw – The prosperity that accompanied whatever Joseph gave himself to could be seen as directly linked to God. v. 5 For Joseph’s Sake – We see here that God’s blessings upon Joseph had a beneficial impact upon all within the sphere of his influence. The potential of hard work that is prospered by God is seen in the following verses: Ephesians 4:28, 6:5-8; Proverbs 13:4, 22:29. Sexual Pressure From Potiphar’s Wife (Verses 7-18) v. 7 Lie With Me – Potiphar’s wife would have been a difficult person to turn down. This rich man’s wife was most likely attractive as well as intimidating. v. 8 He Refused – His reasons were: 1.       Potiphar trusted Joseph so much that he did not feel a need to oversee Joseph’s stewardship of his wealth. 2.       Potiphar had placed him in a position of authority over all the other servants and thus he needed to be faithful to the integrity and responsibility of leadership. 3.       Joseph was given access to all that Potiphar had except his wife, thus insinuating that Potiphar had specifically asked Joseph to stay away from her. 4.       Joseph saw this offer for sexual pleasure outside of marriage for what it really was – wickedness. 5.       This sin would not only be against Potiphar, but ultimately against God (v. 8-9).
10 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. 11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “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. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” 16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.” 19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 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. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.
v. 10 Day By Day – She began to try to wear Joseph down gradually, anticipating that eventually he would succumb to his own sex drive and her ongoing pressure. v. 12 She Caught Him – In her frustration of being turned down, she seeks to force herself upon Joseph. It seems obvious that he had been the first man who had ever denied her. Fled and Ran – Joseph acts wisely in not remaining to try to talk some sense into this woman. He also knew it was unwise to put himself in a situation where he may not be able to withstand the enticement to sin. v. 17 To Mock Me – What Joseph must have feared would happen to him if he continued to reject Potiphar’s wife’s advances is now unfolding. Feeling mocked by his denial, she does all she can to make him suffer for it. v. 20 King’s Prisoners – This would have been a prison used primarily to punish political enemies of the king. v. 21 Gave Him Favor – We are told in Psalm 105:18, “They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons.” Therefore his initial greeting in prison was not favorable at all, but God overruled this and prospered Joseph as much in prison as he had in Potiphar’s house. v. 23 Joseph’s Authority – Joseph manifested the leadership skills that his father had seen in him at the age of 17 (Gen. 37:1-2, 14), and would later be utilized under Pharaoh. Because the Lord – This ability of Joseph’s is shown to be directly linked to God. It is also important to note that Joseph did not respond with bitterness and unforgiveness toward the injustice he had experienced, which would have hindered his usefulness to God.

Devotions with Emotion

Michael James Stone

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