Gen 39
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Headlines
Prayer
Alright, so good to back in the book of beginnings, Genesis. Tonight we will again be looking at the life and adventures of Joseph. Joseph is one of three men, other than Jesus Christ, of whom nothing bad is said in relation to sin, the others being Daniel and Job. Not to say that they did not sin, as we know all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but that Job, Daniel and Joseph lived exemplary lives.
So last time we saw Joseph he was being sold by his brothers as a slave to a Midianite caravan headed for Egypt. They in turn sold Joseph to an Egyptian named Potiphar.
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.
As we study this passage keep in mind Joseph is just 17 years old when he is sold and has done nothing wrong. Yet I would ask you to consider this mans attitude and outlook and compare it to how you might react under similar circumstances.
So lets stand as we read from Gen 39.
1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.
2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.
5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.
It is interesting to me just how much a part Egypt has played in this story of Genesis. Beginning with Abraham and this will continue through Moses and the Exodus. Even Joseph and Mary will bring Jesus for protection to Egypt.
Now Egypt is one of the oldest of the ancient world empires extending back 5000 years or more. Scholars disagree on the dates and timing when all these biblical events happened. But for sure, by the time Joseph went to Egypt it was a well organized and settled culture. Because of this, the ancient Egyptians left lot’s of detailed records about the various events and Pharaohs of the many ruling dynasties.
Scholars cannot agree on the Pharaoh that Joseph served although there are many interesting theories.
I have included an article on the timeline of Joseph in Egypt which I think you will find very interesting.
Article - Timeline
In his book “the Genesis Record” Henry Morris writes,
Probably most scholars believe that this was during the reign of Hyksos kings in Egypt. They were foreign invaders, probably at least partially of Semitic stock, who came from the East and conquered Egypt according to standard chronology, about 1720 BC. They were also called the “Shepherd Kings.” Many believe that it was because of their Semitic origin that the rulers of Egypt in Joseph’s day treated the children of Israel so well when Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. The Hyksos were expelled from Egypt prior to Moses’s time, so that the pharaoh of the new dynasty “knew not Joseph,” ans soon began to persecute these Hebrew “relatives” of the Hyksos. While this general background and its inferences may be correct, they should not be regarded as firmly established.
Article- Hyksos Dynasty
Video- Israel in Egypt: Biblical Archaeology 7:30
Many other intriguing theories exist as well.
Now in our text we are told that Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian”. In this title we learn some interesting things. First, the word for “officer” is saris meaning eunuch or official. The idea that he may have been a eunuch lends to the issues with his wife later in the story. Second, the title captain of the guard indicated the chief of the executioners. Thirdly, the name Potiphar means “belonging to the sun” indicating his devotion to the Egyptian sun god. Lastly, Potiphar is called the Egyptian at least three times and lends to the idea that he was not a foreigner or a Hyksos but was a real Egyptian.
Now verse 2, tells us that YHWH was with Joseph, and this is the theme of Josephs life. No matter what happened God was always favoring and blessing him. The text calls him a prosperous man. The word means he was prospering or succeeding at life. What does that mean exactly?
Paul wrote to the Philippian church;
Philippians 4:10–13 (NASB95)
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
When writing to Timothy Paul said it like this;
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
When we are content others see you as succeeding at life which God will use to draw others to Himself.
Learn to be content and watch God use you.
Potiphar saw this in Joseph and according to verse 3-5 he had given Joseph rule over all he had.
5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.
When Gods presence and blessing are on you everyone around you gets blessed as well.
The story now takes a turn.
Genesis 39:6–10 (NASB95)
6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Remember that like his mother Rachel, he was a very attractive man.
7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
This lends to the idea of Potiphar being a Eunuch and add to that Joseph had become a powerful figure within the household.
8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.
9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”
10 As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.
Notice Joseph doesn’t say to Potiphar’s wife, “In light of what he’s given me, how can I sin against your husband?” Nor does he say, “How can I sin against you?” He says, “How can I sin against God?”
This is what is known throughout Scripture as “the fear of the Lord.” Joseph was in constant awareness of the “there-ness” of God—an awareness equally convicting and comforting. Yes, he was severed from his family and his country, but Joseph knew he was never alone.
But the situation gets worse.
Genesis 39:11–18 (NASB95)
11 Now it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside.
12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside.
13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside,
14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed.
15 “When he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.”
16 So she left his garment beside her until his master came home.
17 Then she spoke to him with these words, “The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me;
Notice, it almost like she is blaming Potiphar.
18 and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.”
Sometimes that's all you can do. Just Flee!!
Genesis 39:19–23 (NASB95)
19 Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” his anger burned.
Notice, it doesn’t say who his anger burned against. If in fact he had believed his wife's story he no doubt would have had Joseph killed. He was the executioner after all.
20 So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.
Notice her that Joseph was put in with the political prisoners and not the criminal prisoners, another indication that his wife's account of Joseph was not the whole story.. Also, as you read notice Joseph make no attempt to defend himself. Reminds us of another was silent before His accusers.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it.
23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.
There is a great verse in Psalms;
5 Do not lift up your horn on high,
Do not speak with insolent pride.’ ”
6 For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the desert comes exaltation;
7 But God is the Judge;
He puts down one and exalts another.
God is able and willing to lift you up. Our job is to wait on Him. This is a trait that is really admirable in Joseph. He waited and waited and waited patiently. Keep in mind he was sold at 17 and doesn’t get out of prison until he is 30. So a good portion of his 13 years after being sold was spent in prison falsely accused.
Maybe you feel like your are in prison now. Your work your marriage perhaps. Ask God to use you there where you are. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned and he spent his days witnessing to the guards he was changed to.
Chapter 40
1 Then it came about after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
2 Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
3 So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.
4 The captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he took care of them; and they were in confinement for some time.
5 Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation.
6 When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected.
7 He asked Pharaoh’s officials who were with him in confinement in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”
8 Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”
This story of Joseph parallels Daniels as he is brought dreams to interpret. Both Joseph and Daniel take no credit for interpretations. Whenever God uses you or me we must always turn the glory to Him.
Genesis 40:9–15 (NASB95)
9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me;
The cupbearer would be a confidant to king as well as a taster. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes .
10 and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.
Notice that the theme of three days is all throughout the scriptures. Jonah 3day in the belly of the great fish, Joshua 2 witness hide 3 days, Rev 11, 2 witness lay dead 3 days, of course Jesus was in the tomb 3 day. The words three days occurs 75 times.
11 “Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;
13 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer.
14 “Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.
15 “For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.”
So the Cup-bearer runs back and tells Pharaoh right? No he forgets all about him.
16 When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, “I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head;
17 and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”
18 Then Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days;
19 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you.”
20 Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;
22 but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
So Joseph remains in prison unjustly but God has a plan. We like Joseph are living out an adventure in faith. Not fully aware of the details, taking each step trusting God to work out His plan. Sometimes things are not going our way at least it seems that way but we as the song says, trust and obey because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Joseph message in prison was please remember me. Someone listening tonight maybe feeling the same way, alone and forgotten. But let me assure you God has not forgotten you. reach out to Him, behold He stands at the door and is knocking, open up tonight, let Him in.
Pray
