Character and Blessings

Genesis 39

Genesis 39:1–23 LSB

Now Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian official of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there. And Yahweh was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that Yahweh was with him and how Yahweh caused all that he did to succeed in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended on him; and he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he gave in his hand. Now it happened that from the time he appointed him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the blessing of Yahweh was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s hand; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance. And it happened after these events that his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 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 given all that he owns into my hand. “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?” So it happened that as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 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. Then she seized him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled and went outside. Now it happened, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, that she called to the men of her household and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to laugh at us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. “Now it happened that when he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.” And she placed his garment beside her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with these words, saying, “The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to laugh at me; and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.” Now it happened that 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. 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. But Yahweh was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. So the chief jailer gave into the hand of Joseph all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s hand because Yahweh was with him; and whatever he did, Yahweh made to succeed.

Yahweh was with Joseph

Yahweh (the Lord) is the most “personal” way of speech regarding the Father.

Yahweh incorporates the idea this god is a personal god, compared to the over 2000 gods of Egypt, in the context or setting.

There is no mention of this being reciprocated within this chapter of the narrative.

When Yahweh is “with” there is no searching, no wondering, no what if’s, no “supervision” from the earthly perspective, a letting go.

It is verified by others, not a self-perceived or self-identified concept.

Elohim

Universal concept of the spiritual realm

The word incorporates Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, can also incorporate Fallen and Unfallen Angels.

Joseph recognizes this concept in Verse 9 when he uses the word and statement of “evil and sin against God (Elohim)

Evil

The open and persistent rebellion against an established order

Usually involves demonic or fallen angelic enticement, possession, or indwellment.

Universalizes morality

Joseph the righteous

Joseph appears to refuse the advancements because of:

Being grateful to Potiphar

Being loyal to Potiphar

Being respectful to himself and His creator

Belief and Unbelief

Truth is something that is constant, consistent, transcends time, culture, society and is discovered.

Why does Potiphar become furious?

He is mad at his wife

He is mad at Joseph for not sleeping with his wife

He is mad at the circumstance and situation that has unfolded

Personal Perception and Interpretation (PPI)

What someone feels and thinks about a situation or circumstance

A lack of depth in sight such as foresight and insight

Joseph is jailed

Yahweh is with him

Little to no supervision

Foresight and insight are being revealed to others

Application