Genesis 39:1-6

Introduction

The resolution of the last seen creates the foundation of the new scene. Potiphar - Genesis 37:36 “And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.”

Narrative Information

Time frame - When Joseph was brought down to Egypt

Genesis 39:1 “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.”

He was brought down

He was brought down against his will

He was brought down as a slave.

Traveled roughly 250 miles from Dothan to Egypt.

This was after he travelled 60 plus miles from Hebron to Dothan.

He was brought down to Egypt - To this point in the Genesis narrative - Egypt is not a good place to be

Abram left the promised land during a famine for Egypt

Sarah’s handmaid Hagar came from Egypt

Another famine hurts the promised land, but God tells Isaac not to go down to Egypt but to stay - Genesis 26:2 “And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:”

Genesis 15:13 “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;”

Conflict - Joseph is sold to Potiphar

Genesis 39:1 “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.”

The description of Potiphar

This happens twice in consecutive verses related to Joseph.

Potiphar - Devoted to the sun. The sun was connected with Egypts religious system.

Officer of Pharoah - The word is often translated as a eunuch. At the very least, the word speaks of a minister of the state.

Captain of the guards - The chief of police, and responsible for the Pharaoh's security.

Potiphar bought him from The Ishmaelites - Joseph is a slave, without any rights.

The rise of action - The Lord was with Joseph

Genesis 39:2 “And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”

Genesis 39:3 “And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

“With”

Before - Genesis 19:13 “For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.”

Whole - Genesis 2:6 “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.”

Among - Numbers 9:14 “And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the Lord; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.”

The idea that the Lord was with Joseph is He was continually, in the presence of Joseph, impacting his life.

“Externally it did not always appear that God was with him, for he did not always seem to be a prosperous man; but when you come to look into the inmost soul of this servant of God, you see his true likeness—he lived in communion with the Most High, and God blessed him.” (Spurgeon)

What did it mean for Joseph that the Lord was with him?

The Lord made him Prosperous

Potiphar saw the Jehovah was with him - Genesis 39:3 “And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

Joseph found grace in Potiphar’s eyes - Genesis 39:4 “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

The Climax - Joseph made overseer of Potiphar’s house

Genesis 39:4 “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

The falling action - The household was blessed -

Genesis 39:5 “And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.”

The Resolution - Joseph was a goodly person and well favoured

Genesis 39:6 “And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.”

Goodly - Beautiful outline

Well favoured - Appearance shape.

Lessons

Nothing happens by accident. There would have been many buyers at the slave market. Yet, only the one God wanted purchased Joseph.

Tony Evans tells this story: “Our God is sovereign. That means there’s no such thing as luck. Anything that happens to you, good or bad, must pass through His fingers first. There are no accidents with God. I like the story of the cowboy who applied for health insurance. The agent routinely asked him, ‘Have you ever had any accidents?’ The cowboy replied, ‘Well no, I’ve not had any accidents. I was bitten by a rattlesnake once, and a horse did kick me in the ribs. That laid me up for a while, but I haven’t had any accidents.’ The agent said, ‘Wait a minute. I’m confused. A rattlesnake bit you, and a horse kicked you. Weren’t those accidents?’ ‘No, they did that on purpose.’”

Ephesians 1:11-12 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Genesis 18:25 “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

The Lord was with Joseph - He did not abandon Joseph.

Before Joseph could be an effective master, he needed to understand the art of serving. Matthew 20:26 “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;”

Even though Joseph did not have any control, God did!

Joseph did not allow his environment to dictate who he was, he allowed his integrity to dictate the terms of his performance.

The Lord supports those who are His - 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”

John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

Joseph’s life testified that Jehovah - Do you know the Bible mentions more about witnessing as far as your life more than your lip.

Matthew 5:11-16 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”