Joseph in Egypt: Wrongfully Accused

Last week we were in Genesis 37 and we looked at the humbling of Joseph. Joseph had enjoyed the favoritism of his father giving him an elevated status above his older brothers. His brothers hated him and in short sold him into slavery.

Then we come to chapter 38. Which seem at first to be out of place. This is the account of Judah and Tamar. If we were to read the passage this morning we would see a lot of gritty and sordid details of a sexual immorality, deception, and lies. Judah thinks he is sleeping with a prostitute instead he sleeps with his daughter in law, whos’ husband had died. Judah had promised her his younger son as a husband when he became of age but then failed to make good on that promise. So Tamar disguises herself and sleeps with Judah and conceives a child by him.

So then what is the point of this chapter that leaves us feeling like we need a shower after reading it?

It is showing that the descendants of Abraham living in the Canaanite territory are becoming like the Canaanites. If allowed to continue Jacobs children would live under the curse of Canaan. They would be influenced by their environment.

Parents who should take note of the statement. If you don’t want your kids to become like those around them be careful of the things, people, music, television they are exposed too.

This account is meant to move the narrative and give us reason for why Jacob and his children must move away from this land.

Now as we look at this account together. I want you to do something. I want you to underline or circle every mention of the word “Lord”

Repeated word or phrase is always part of the larger meaning or purpose of the text.

I. The recognition of God’s presence and blessing keeps Joseph from sin.

Sometimes we are tempted to look at accounts in the Bible and think. God blessed them because they were good. The reality is that God blesses people not because they are good but because God is good.

Genesis 39:1–9 CSB

1 Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, 4 Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority. 5 From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph. The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields. 6 He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” 8 But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority. 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?”

So Joseph went from a slave to a household manager. A very good household manger. No doubt he was gifted in administration and organization. He managed the affairs of his master Potiphar. God blessed his efforts. He was not longer a lowly slave but rather a valued and trusted servant.

But now something happens to disrupt Joseph’s life once again, a promiscuous woman.

So Potiphar’s wife begins to entice him sexually.

It’s probably safe to assume that she was an attractive woman. A high ranking official in Egpyt would probably have a young attractive wife.

Now Josephs a single man. No doubt this was a real temptation for him. This could have stoked his pride and made him feel special. This would be hard for a young single no to say no to an attractive upper class woman, day after day.

So then what gave Joseph the strength to say “no”,Day after day?

The answer is found in Joseph’s answer.

Genesis 39:7–9 CSB

7 After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” 8 But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority. 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?”

Do you see it. It’s gratitude. He is grateful for all the Lord has done for him.

It is gratitude toward God that keeps him strong.

When we recognize the presence of God through the blessing of God we are able to say no to worthless things.

When we live with a grateful heart we live in recognition of God’s goodness and the superiority of God’s blessing over fleeting pleasure.

Imagine a person walking through a forest at night trying to make it home. As they look around they notice every shadow and outline of crooked trees against the sky. Every wrestling of leaves in the breeze seems to be a wild animal waiting in the brush to devour them. He is tempted to panic and run.

As this person walks further, they look up to see a full moon only adding to the eeriness of the their surroundings.

But then something happens. Another thought occurs to them. If it wasn’t for the full moon they wouldn’t be able to walk without stumbling in the darkness. Then they start noticing other things to be thankful for like the breeze that is blowing is warm and actually comforting. The small animals wrestling in the leaves on the ground are a sign that there are no predators around. As He walks he begins to notice the sound of the crickets and frogs .By the time he reaches his destination the once frightening woods seem to be transformed into a place of peace and beauty. But the woods haven’t transformed. The only thing that changed was himself.

This is what gratitude does. It changes are perspective. We see beauty in our lives even during hard times. Gratitude changes are hearts not our circumstances and keeps us from running to foolish and worthless things for comfort or pleasure. Things that will actually harm us and not help us. Like running in the woods at night.

When we are thankful to God for all he has done in our lives. Not only is the world around us a lot less scary of a place we ourselves our at our strongest.

If you are having trouble saying no to temptation. Whatever kind it is. Check your heart. Are you living in gratitude? Most likely not. Most likely you are instead focused on everything that is wrong or missing from your life.

In everything that had happend to Joseph he had cause to be ungrateful but his gratitude saved him from sinning against God.

But let;s see what happens next.

Genesis 39:10–20 CSB

10 Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her. 11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. 13 When she saw that he had left his garment with her and had run outside, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “my husband brought a Hebrew man to make fools of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, and I screamed as loud as I could. 15 When he heard me screaming for help, he left his garment beside me and ran outside.” 16 She put Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought to us came to make a fool of me, 18 but when I screamed for help, he left his garment beside me and ran outside.” 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him—“These are the things your slave did to me”—he was furious 20 and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison.

Some scholars believe that Potiphar didn’t believe his wife yet was angry because of the situation. If he had believed his wife, Joseph was a slave and could have simply been executed.

They suggest that he was angry because he knew his wife , In fact, in ancient literature Egyptian women are often portrayed in a similar manner.

but for the sake of his own reputation had to do something. So he puts Joseph in prison.

The conditions of an Egyptian prison would not have been great.

Prisons in the ancient world were exceedingly rare. Most of the ancient world simply executed or maimed those caught in a crime.

Egypt however was somewhat different. Ancient Egyptian text suggest that if you were sentenced to prison it was probably for life. Every sentence was a life sentence most likely one of harsh labor and adverse conditions.

Joseph had no hope of ever escaping or getting out of prison.

So Joseph doing the right ended well right?

How many times in our lives when things have gone wrong after doing what is right are we tempted to say, “ How could this happen to me. If I do what is right everything is supposed to work out.

I mean this is what happens on tv.

My kids have recently discovered the old Show “Full House”. The show promotes honesty, kindness,and moral living. Even the most complex situations. In the world of DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle everything always turn out okay in about 20 to 25 minutes.

Sometimes we tend to have a “full house” view of life.

If I do the right thing, everything will work out.

Did you know that Jesus made mention of such events in our lives and suggest the very opposite.

Matthew 5:11 CSB

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me.

Matthew 5:12 CSB

12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Notice Jesus basically says if you do the right thing, you will have trouble. He doesn’t make any promises about how things will turn out here in earth. Sometimes in doing the right things it will work out for you here on earth but sometimes it will not. In fact, this promise of great reward in heaven seems to be an indicator that things on earth will not always work out simply because you did what was right.

But even in this one can have gratitude because you are guaranteed rewards in heaven.

However there is one earthly benefit that you can be sure of....

Genesis 39:21–23 CSB

21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. 22 The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. 23 The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.

When everything turns our bad because you are seeking to please God, and rest assured, this will happen at some point in your life, you can be assured of the presence of God.

In this you can be thankful. You can be thankful that God is right there with you, giving you the strength to endure and bringing to memory the promise of this reward.

Which says, that God takes notice of those who do what is right even when it is hard. He is with you.

Now when we come to the second part of this “inclusio” we are tempted to say look everything worked out great for Joseph. Look he is now in a position of authority in prison. Yes but You must remember that Joseph is still in prison. He is still a world away from his father and brothers. He is a salve now in the belly of Egypt.

So then how would the Ancient Israelite interpret this story?

In the chapters prior to this story. There is almost no mention of God. Yet in this account, Yahweh interpreted in English as “Lord” is mentioned 8x.

The author is showing the people of Isreal that weather they rise or fall. God is with his people.

In same way.

Weather you are at the peak of your life or you are in the lowest valley. Rest assured that God has not abandoned you. He does not abandon his own.

Romans 8:38–39 CSB

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So how can you have the guarantee that you are His?

Scripture tell us that we can have this guarantee.

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Mark 1:15 CSB

15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

2 Peter 3:9 CSB

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Scripture is clear that it is the will of God for all to come to repentance. But it is your choice. You can choose to accept the message of the Gospel and repent our you can reject it. But God’s love is extended with open arms to all who decide to accept it.

Will you choose Him today? Will you choose to repent and accept his free gift.