Genesis chapter 39
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Genesis Chapter 39 (Joseph is imprisoned)
Genesis Chapter 39 (Joseph is imprisoned)
Intro: Last week, James went over Genesis 38 which covered Judah and Tamar, and as we will see later on, Christ actually comes from the lineage of Judah. Also looking at how we can ground our faith by being able to take it back and trace these lineages to modern day timelines. Genesis 39 is gonna transition back to Joseph’s story and pick back up to where we left off in chapter 37 where he was betrayed by his brothers over envy and jealousy.
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.
Potiphar’s name meaning, “belonging to the sun” . This sort of shows the Egyptians beliefs around this time. They were worshipers of sun gods and false idols.
Pharaoh was the title used for the rulers or kings of Egypt.
He was a somewhat high rank in the guard, captains are typically leaders of company sized units in military ranking.
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Pay attention their “the Lord was with Joseph” we are going to see this repeated here in this chapter, really showing the emphasis on God intervening and guiding and protection Joseph at his time of need.
Joseph was in the house of his master, showing he was not made a field laborer, but used for household management.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Egyptians in this time mostly were not Christians and followers of Yahwey.
Potiphar most likely didn’t know about God, but Joseph’s actions, and his way of “success” in what all he does for his master shines so greatly that Potiphar, a non believer and non follower, can tell there is something divine within Joseph.
This kind of goes back to one of our Thursday studies on how to people who aren’t taught about Christ able to enter the kingdom of heaven?
Joseph, without speaking or teaching the gospel, is being that “mirror” we talked about, reflecting God’s light, and God is divinely guiding and leading Joseph so greatly to the point that his master who is ignorant to Yahwey, is able to see something divine within him.
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.
Joseph was Potiphar’s slave, God was with him and lead him with so much success, Joseph did what he was told, to the point his master made him overseer over his house.
The Hebrew term used here is, “al betho” meaning over his house, over his possessions.
Joseph was Potiphar’s right hand man.
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.
So Joseph, being a man of God, and God divinely interacting with Joseph throughout his slavery so far,
Now his blessings are reflecting onto all that he was over, which was assets, animals, crop, but also reflecting onto others as well.
Being a child of God is not always “teaching and preaching” to others, yes that it important, but sometimes you can spread God’s light just through your actions and way of life, works are important, remember faith without works is dead. Having a loss of words when trying to witness to others may not be a bad thing. God may have other plans on how we can witness to certain people.
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.
Once again, Joseph being recognized through his divine lead by God.
And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Wait a minute, things are going great for Joseph
Of course, there always is that temptation of sin, in this case adultery, laying with another mans wife,
Satan always comes after the children of God, he doesn’t have to tempt non believers or people who turned their back on God, he already has them,
Sin being tempted to Joseph when he has been following God’s lead and has been blessed and successful.
But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
wotteth meaning “to be aware of”
He is telling her, my master is to know all that goes on because he left me as overseer.
Joseph doesn’t refuse angrily, he is still a slave and knows his place, but he responds immediately and directly. Leaving NO room for question on his decision or room assumption.
Temptation exceptionally in adultery in this day in time is very very common, use Joseph’s actions here as a great example for how to act during temptation of any sin. Don’t leave room for pondering or second guessing. But also act respectfully and directly.
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Potiphar’s wife kept after Joseph over and over to the point to where Joseph doesn’t even want to be in her presence. Joseph is really proving his commitment and faith to not sin against God, and commit adultery over his masters wife.
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
So when Joseph entered into the house to do his work for Potiphar and his house, no one else was there. None of the other menservants were around just him and we are going to see Potiphars wife.
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Garment being clothing or covering, and he shed it and ran in order to leave her presence. She again asking him over and over to lie with her, but this time there were no witnesses so Joseph flees immediately.
And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
Joseph fled and left his garment that she grabbed a hold of in her hand, Now she realizes she is still holding his garment, so here she is with Josephs clothing, and Joseph now missing his garment, this is gonna look pretty ugly to the outsiders without context of the situation.
That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
The wife is now speaking to the others of the house and showing them Josephs garment and trying to manipulate and “brainwash” the situation. Saying that her husband brought in a Hebrew or “outsider” from them, he then made him overseer of the house and how this is mocking them because now he has came onto her. Potiphar’s wife, the master of the house.
And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
Continuing to paint the picture that he came onto her and when she screamed aloud he fled and left his garment behind.
She had been going after Joseph time and time again, and remember, Potiphar was an officer unto the Pharaoh so he was pretty much a higher up. His wife was probably a pretty beautiful and well seen upon woman. We can assume that her being turned down was not very common looking at her reaction.
And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
She is further painting this picture to help her lie. Being petty, putting his garment by her until Potiphar comes home. Getting ready to present this lie to him.
And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
I want to point out here, that Egyptians back in this time were very suspicious to foreigners, his wife keeps highlighting the fact that Joseph is a Hebrew, a foreigner to them, so this helps enhance his status and the suspicion for the acts of her lies.
And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
Her painting this story and picture to Potiphar. This lie.
And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
It neither says Potiphar did or did not believe his wife. Just that he was angry. Look at the situation from his point of view, whether he believes his wife or not. If he believes his wife, then he just lost his best slave, his overseer of his home. If he does not believe his wife, then he still cant shame his house and his people by somewhat “honoring” a foreign slave over his wife and native people of the house.
Either way, he is going to have to punish his best slave. Joseph
And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
He was incarcerated. a very common punishment in Egypt at the time.
But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Joseph, who through all of this kept his loyalty and love and honor for God, the Lord gave him favour over the “warden” of the prison. God continuing to lead and protect Joseph. God knows the truth of this whole situation, even though everyone else only knows what Potiphars wife lied and portrayed of him.
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
“keeper of the prison” is like the head leader of the prison, the “warden”.
Take a look at that phrase “ committed to Joseph’s hand”
The warden of the prison made all the other prisoners answer to Joseph,
Joseph who was once the head of Potiphar’s (who was a officer of the pharoah) house and assets,
He then was imprisoned for false accusations,
NOW is made head of the prisoners,
This just goes to show how amazing powerful God’s leadership and promises can be. No matter where or what circumstances, Joseph is a leader through God’s guidance.
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
The warden paid no mind to anything that Joseph was over, because he knew just through the interaction and outcome of Joseph’s actions, that him using God’s guidance, that all he did would prosper.
We have no proof here that the keeper of the prison was a man of God. Based on the time period he probably wasn’t.
We have said it before but this is a perfect example of why we should strive to be that mirror and reflect God’s light.
Joseph is spreading God’s light without even preaching the Gospel, once again faith without works is dead. Joseph’s actions and outcomes are representing God and His guidance.
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
“and it came to pass after these things” showing a chronological order here, this is after a period of time.
So these men were chief officials of the Pharaoh. They both served him first hand.
This was a pretty big deal to offend the “king of Egypt” which is called a Pharaoh.
And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
He had hate towards them for offending him.
And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
So the Pharaoh was so upset with his butler and baker, that he sentenced them to a season or “term” in the prison.
The prison where they now answer to Joseph who is the “head prisoner” they all answered to him and he was responsible for them.
And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
So both of these men experienced a dream while they were sentenced here in prison.
As we know and have seen from past chapters so far, dreams have been a pretty commonly used way of divine communication.
God uses dreams to communicate with people.
And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
So these men who obviously were not very well men of God because they had a divine dream and could not understand it, needed an interpreter.
Low and behold, the man they are answering to in prison happens to be a very well versed man of God
Conclusion:
Were going to end here at sort of a cliff hanger for next Sunday, but I just wanted to go through these 8 verses in chapter 40 to further expand on what we are seeing here in chapter 39.
Starting all the way back to Joseph being sold by his brothers to be a slave in chapter 37, to then being falsely accused of sleeping with his master wife, to then being imprisoned,
Whats one thing that never changed throughout Joseph’s strife?
His commitment and honor to following and living by God’s guidance and word.
He kept his faith when he was enslaved, so then God lead him to be overseer of his masters home and assets.
He kept his faith when he was imprisoned for being falsely accused of sleeping with his masters wife, God lead him to be overseer and head of the prisoners.
So many times throughout life we question
“God why am I in this position?”
“God why am I going through these hardships?”
“God why are all these bad things happening to me?”
We have to remember, and Joseph’s story here being a great example, We can’t always see what is ahead of us, We may not understand why God is giving us tests in our lives, But one thing we DO KNOW through biblical evidence, and Joseph being one of the examples, As long as we commit our faith and our trust in Him, in God, that no matter what speed bumps or trials and tribulations we face, That God will protect and lead his faithful servants through it all,
And by being strong in our faith, and fully committed to God’s way and not our own, God’s way will bring us out on top through faith, and works, not just to “make it through things”
But to be better soldiers in His army, and better witnesses leaders to others who may not know Him in their hearts, just like we see with Joseph and the butler and baker.
They need a person of God to help lead them to understanding his way and divine communication.
Genesis Chapter 39 (Joseph is imprisoned)
Genesis Chapter 39 (Joseph is imprisoned)
