Genesis 39

The Lord Blesses the Called

Joseph was a successful man

God had been called by God to be a person that would have a position of royalty. The world did everything it could to keep it from happening. Last week we saw where his brothers were going to kill him. They reconsidered and sold him to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt where they sold him to Potiphar.

Joseph was now a slave to a godless Egyptian. For all practical purposes it seems as though God’s plan for Joseph’s life was not going to happen. How can a person go from being a slave to royalty?

The answer is found in Gen. 39:2

Genesis 39:2 NASB95

The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH! Because the Lord was with Joseph, the pronouncement of God on his life was as good as could be. You can take it to the bank!

So the first thing that we see the Lord do to make Joseph successful was to prosper everything he did.

Life Lesson is that when we follow Jesus, He makes us successful!

Joseph prospered and brought prosperity

Though Joseph was a slave to Potiphar, he blessed him by prospering everything he did. God prospered the things Joseph did because what he did was in accordance to the plan of God. Joseph probably sought the Lord’s direction in all that he did. Consequently the Lord prospered what He did.

This is a life lesson for us! Our status in life does not determine our success in life! Success in life is about following Jesus and doing what he purposes for our life. When we do this He will make sure that all we do prospers in accordance to His will.

Everything that Potiphar put under Joseph’s authority and control prospered. This was unusual because it is rare to impossible that everything works out. However, everything that Potiphar let Joseph control prosper to a point that it got the recognition of his master.

Because Potiphar recognized the blessing of God in Joseph’s life, God blessed the house of Potiphar. Gen. 39:5

Genesis 39:5 NASB95

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.

The life lesson here is we can be a blessing to others when we follow the Lord. Also, we can be the recipients of God’s blessing when we associate with people that are following the Lord.

Joseph found favor in his masters sight

Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight because of the wealth that came to him from Joseph and the trust that he had in Joseph. Gen. 39: 4

Genesis 39:4 NASB95

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.

Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight because he trusted him. We see that Potiphar made him his personal assistant. This means that the things that were most important to Potiphar he put under Joseph’s control. You do not put this type of authority in the hands of someone you do not trust.

Trust to the wealthy can be more important than the wealth. I believe Joseph cared for Potiphar and wanted what was best for him. Because of this he sought the Lord’s will and was blessed for doing it.

In many cases people that deal with the wealthy do not look out for those they deal with, but use the wealthy to get what they want.

The life lesson here is to look out for the interest of others before you look out for your own interest. Phil. 2:3-4

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

In doing so you will build the trust of those you serve.

Joseph was in charge of everything

Genesis 39:6 NASB95

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.

Because everything Joseph touched prospered and he had the complete trust of Potiphar, Potiphar put everything in Joseph’s charge. We begin to see the escalation towards royalty. He went from being the despised youngest son, to a slave of the Ishmaelites, to the lowest on the totem pole in Potiphar’s house to the most important person in Potiphar’s house. It seems as though things are working out for Joseph, except for the fact that his success and good looks posed a problem because Potiphar’s wife had an attraction to him.

Life lesson is when things are going well in your life, be on guard because sin could be crouching at your door to consume you.

The Blessed Flee Sin

Sin invites Joseph

Genesis 39:7 NASB95

It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

Potiphar’s wife wanted to sleep with Joseph because of his success and good looks. She invited him not only one time but several times Gen. 39:10

Genesis 39:10 NASB95

As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.

Joseph was invited to sin on multiple occasions, but he refused every time.

Life lesson is that temptation is not a one time event, but is persistent in inviting us to engage in its evil desires. This is why it is important to keep close to the Lord so that we do not fall to temptation. This is why Jesdus instruct us to pray Matt. 6:13

Matthew 6:13 NASB95

‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

Joseph flees sin

Joseph was a Godly man and refused the invite of Potiphar’s wife. Gen 39:8-9

Genesis 39:8–9 NASB95

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. “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?”

Joseph recognized his position with Potiphar, but more importantly his position with God. He was a servant of both. He could not bear the thought of participating in this evil and sin against God. The presence of God and trust of Potiphar was more valuable to Joseph than the momentary pleasure of Potiphar’s wife.

He would have lost both if he would have catered to the temptation that was given to him.

The life lesson is that when we choose sin over the commandments of God, we lose the blessing of God and the trust of others. Sin doesn’t just affect us, it also affects others.

Sin Affects the innocent

Even though Joseph did the right thing and refused sin, he was accused of doing something that he did not do. Consequently, he suffered the consequences as if he had committed the sin. He was thrown into prison.

Just because we refuse sin doesn’t mean that we will be exempt from it. Matt. 5:11-12

Matthew 5:11–12 NASB95

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

God promises that when the innocent are found guilty in doing what God calls you to that our reward in heaven will be great. 1Peter 2:19-20

1 Peter 2:19–20 NASB95

For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

We find favor with God when we suffer for God. You may ask how? the answer is found in Rom. 5:3-5

Romans 5:3–5 NASB95

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

When we suffer unjustly, the love of God is poured out within our hearts.

Life lesson is do not be discouraged when you suffer unjustly, but recognize that your suffering is finding favor with God!

The Lord Blesses the Oppressed

The Lord was with Joseph while he was in prison

Potiphar burned with anger towards Joseph for what he was accused of doing. Though he was innocent he was thrown into the place where the kings prisoner’s were kept. This is interesting because the prison that Joseph was sent was in Potiphar’s house because Potiphar was the captain of the body guard. Gen 39:1

Genesis 39:1 NASB95

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.

The captain of the body guard was in charge of the kings prisoners. The kings prisoners were those who could bring value to the king. Some theologians indicate that Potiphar did not trust his wife’s accusations against Joseph and kept him close because of the trust Joseph had built with him.

However, though it was on Potiphar’s premises, the accommodations left something to be desired. It was a round dungeon that lacked light and had iron shackles that they would be kept in at night.

The positive of this prison is that they could work during the day and would have access to other parts of the prison.

Though Joseph was in prison the Lord was with him and caused him to find favor in the chief jailer’s eyes. The chief jailer reported to Potiphar. I’m sure the chief jailer told Potiphar about the Godliness of Joseph and how he was successful in everything that he afforded him to do. This is probably why the chief jailer gave Joseph charge of all the prisoners.

Life lesson is even when we are in the dungeon, the Lord is with us and will cause us to prosper!

Conclusion

8 Life Lessons From Genesis 39

Life Lesson is that when we follow Jesus, He makes us successful!

2. The life lesson here is we can be a blessing to others when we follow the Lord. Also, we can be the recipients of God’s blessing when we associate with people that are following the Lord.

3. The life lesson here is to look out for the interest of others before you look out for your own interest.

4. Life lesson is when things are going well in your life, be on guard because sin could be crouching at your door to consume you.

5. Life lesson is that temptation is not a one time event, but is persistent in inviting us to engage in its evil desires. This is why it is important to keep close to the Lord so that we do not fall to temptation.

6. The life lesson is that when we choose sin over the commandments of God, we lose the blessing of God and the trust of others. Sin doesn’t just affect us, it also affects others.

7. Life lesson is do not be discouraged when you suffer unjustly, but recognize that your suffering is finding favor with God!

8. Life lesson is even when we are in the dungeon, the Lord is with us and will cause us to prosper!