Genesis 39.2-6-God's Blessing on Joseph and Potiphar
Sunday November 26, 2006
Genesis: Genesis 39:2-6-God’s Blessing on Joseph and Potiphar
Lesson # 244
Please turn in your Bibles to Genesis 39:1.
This morning we will continue with our study of Genesis 39 by noting Genesis 39:2-6, which presents to us the record of God blessing the captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguard, Potiphar on account of Joseph.
On Wednesday evening we began a study of Genesis 39 by noting Genesis 39:1, which briefly summarizes Genesis 37:36, and marks a transition from Joseph being “sold” to Potiphar to being “bought” by him, all of which takes place after the parenthetical Genesis 38.
Genesis 39:1 records an Egyptian officer, Potiphar, who was captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguard, purchasing Joseph from the Ishmaelites.
Genesis 39:1, “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.”
Genesis 39:2, “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”
“Lord” is the proper noun Yahweh, which is the covenant name of God thus indicating that the Lord had a covenant relationship with Joseph since he was a member of the covenant family, Israel.
The term “Lord” also emphasizes the “immanency” of God meaning that the Lord was involving Himself in and concerning Himself with and intervening in the life of Joseph by prospering while in servitude to Potiphar.
The statement “the Lord was with Joseph” refers to the Lord’s presence in the life of Joseph despite his adverse circumstances and refers to the fact that the Lord will not only protect Joseph but also prosper him while he is in exile in Egypt.
The statement “the Lord was with Joseph” reveals that the Lord was the reason for Joseph’s success while under Potiphar’s authority.
The statement “the Lord was with Joseph” teaches that although Joseph circumstances had drastically changed, his relationship with the Lord had remained the same.
Although Joseph was going through adverse and difficult circumstances the Lord had never left him, nor had He forsaken him.
Hebrews 13:5, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.’”
Hebrews 13:6, “so that we confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?’”
Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
Psalm 37:28, “For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.”
Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
The statement “the Lord was with Joseph” also teaches that the Lord remained faithful to Joseph in his adverse circumstances.
1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”
The statement “the Lord was with Joseph” help to put Joseph’s unfair treatment and adversity into proper perspective in that despite all the setbacks Joseph had faced and would face in the future, the Lord had a plan for his life and was on his side.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”
Genesis 39:2, “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.”
The statement “he (Joseph) became a successful man” means that whatever Joseph did for Potiphar the Lord saw to it that he was successful and prospered.
The statement “he (Joseph) was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” is the first of four stages in Joseph’s rise to power in the house of Potiphar.
The statement “he (Joseph) was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” means that Joseph was a “domestic” slave meaning he worked in the household of Potiphar and was “not” assigned strenuous field labor.
Nahum Sarna, writes, “It was not uncommon for slaves in Egypt to be employed in professional jobs such as household management and the administration of property. This situation is illustrated by an Egyptian papyrus deriving from 1833-142 B.C.E., which lists the names of nearly eighty slaves in an Egyptian household, together with their occupations. Strangely, the Asian slaves clearly enjoyed superior status and performed the skilled jobs while the Egyptian slaves were given the more onerous and strenuous labors in the fields. By working in the house, Joseph has the opportunity to display his administrative talents and to win the favor of his master” (Nahum Sarna, JPS Torah Commentary, page 271, Jewish Publication Society).
Instead of becoming bitter about his circumstances, Joseph trusted in the Lord and was aware of the fact that the Lord controls history and therefore, his circumstances.
The two prophetic dreams that Joseph was given by God, which he had communicated to his father and brothers now served to give him encouragement while he was serving Potiphar.
In our day and age, the Scriptures, which are revelation from God concerning our future (See 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), serve as encouragement to us when we go through adversity and underserved suffering in our lives.
Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The revelation from God that Joseph received in his two dreams constituted the “Word of God” for him whereas here in the church age, the Word of God appears in the original languages of Scripture.
Joseph’s confidence in the Lord’s promises inspired faith in him so that he committed his way to the Lord.
Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
Genesis 39:3, “Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.”
The statement “his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” refers to Joseph’s competence in fulfilling his duties, which are not specified and was visible proof that the Lord was prospering Joseph.
The statement “his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” refers to the fact that Potiphar knew that Joseph worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac and his father Jacob.
The fact that Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand indicates that Joseph did everything Potiphar asked him to do as unto the Lord.
The apostle Paul taught this principle to the slaves residing in the churches throughout the Roman Empire in the first century (See Ephesians 6:5-8).
Colossians 3:22, “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.”
Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”
Colossians 3:24, “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Therefore, since Joseph did his work as unto the Lord rather than for Potiphar, the Lord was with Joseph and honored his faith and faithfulness by causing him to be successful in all his tasks in the household of Potiphar.
Potiphar could not help noticing this and even perhaps Joseph spoke to Potiphar of the Lord.
Even though Potiphar was an unbeliever, he recognized that Joseph’s God was making him successful in all he was doing.
Genesis 39:4, “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.”
The statement “Joseph found favor in his (Potiphar’s) sight” is the second stage in Joseph’s rise to power in the house of Potiphar and means that Joseph won the esteem and confidence of his master Potiphar.
The statement “(Joseph) became his (Potiphar’s) personal servant” is the third stage in Joseph’s rise to power and refers to the fact that Joseph went from serving Potiphar impersonally to serving him as his personal assistant or servant.
The statement “he (Potiphar) made him (Joseph) overseer over his house and all that he (Potiphar) owned he put in his (Joseph’s) charge” is the fourth and final stage in Joseph’s rise in the house of Potiphar and means that Joseph became Potiphar’s business manager or comptroller responsible for Potiphar’s entire estate.
The statement “he (Potiphar) made him (Joseph) overseer over his house and all that he (Potiphar) owned he put in his (Joseph’s) charge” refers to the pinnacle of Joseph’s career as a servant in Potiphar’s household.
Potiphar’s estate must have been considerable since he worked directly for Pharaoh and it appears that Joseph had the gift of administration and Potiphar the gift of delegating authority.
Genesis 39:5, “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 moment Potiphar promoted Joseph to be his business manager that was responsible for his entire estate, the Lord blessed his entire house on account of Joseph, which is called “blessing by association.”
“Bless” is the verb barakh (Er^B*), which means, “to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, longevity, etc.”
Therefore, the verb barakh indicates that on account of Joseph who was a descendant of Abraham and Isaac, God endued Potiphar and his entire household with power for success, prosperity, fecundity (offspring in great numbers) and longevity.
The expression “in the house and in the field” is a figure of speech called “merism” which is an expression of totality through the combinations of opposites.
The statement “LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field” means that God prospered every aspect of Potiphar’s property in the sense that the Lord multiplied it so that he became very wealthy.
The blessing upon Potiphar’s house on account of Joseph anticipates the blessing Joseph would bring to the entire world as prime minister of Egypt during the worldwide famine.
The fact that Potiphar and the entire world would be blessed by God on account of Joseph is one of the ways in which all the families of the earth were to find blessing in Abraham’s descendents since Joseph was a descendant of Abraham (See Genesis 12:3).
Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
The Lord’s power is directed through the Semitic Joseph to the Hamitic Egyptians just as the Lord promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3.
The principle that those who bless the descendants of Abraham would be blessed by God is illustrated in that since Potiphar blessed Joseph who was a descendant of Abraham by promoting Joseph as overseer over his entire household, so God blessed Potiphar by increasing his estate.
The fact that Potiphar was blessed because of his association with Joseph would be a great encouragement to Joseph that the Lord was present with him.
Genesis 39:6, “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.”
Genesis 39:6 records that Joseph won Potiphar’s complete and unqualified confidence and trust in his ability and integrity.
The expression “except the food which he ate” is a figure of speech referring to Potiphar’s private affairs.