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(1) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 39: 1- 6 (ESV)
(Joseph Is Promoted At Potiphar’s)
1Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. 6So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
(2) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 39: 6 – 10 (ESV)
(Joseph Is Promoted At Potiphar’s)
6Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 1And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
(3) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 39: 11 – 18 (ESV)
(Joseph Is Betrayed By Vengeful & Spiteful Mrs. P)
11But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
13And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house,14she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
(4) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 39: 19 – 23 (ESV)
(Joseph Finds Favor In Prison)
19As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
(5) Message map: Series: Bouncing Back From Betrayal!
Gen. 39: 1-23
“God Promotes Joseph At Potiphar’s Place & In Prison”
(Part 3 of The Series: “Bouncing Back from Betrayal)
- Profile of Potiphar who promotes Joseph
- Profile Joseph, A Slave Who finds favor as God’s successful man!
- Profile Potiphar who provides the problem that propels Joseph to his next assignment
- Joseph Finds Favor & is promoted in prison
- Joseph is an example of Peculiar Disciples of Christ Who bounce back from betrayal
6) Overview of the bible
- The Old Testament (OT) traces a family bloodline (that becomes a nation) to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
- God raises up the bloodline into a nation, as the organized society into which His word would be delivered & safeguarded.
- The O.T. demonstrates how God works in the lives of His people, past & present, using the members of the bloodline as His primary examples.
- The New Testament (NT) shows God working through Christ and His disciples to provide us with the definitive principles that govern His relationship with us, which we see demonstrated in both the OT & the NT.
(7) Gen. 39: 1- 6 Joseph Is Promoted At Potiphar’s
1Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt by the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. Where Potiphar bought (purchased) him, because he is a slave, who is the lowest member of the society.
Potiphar is …
- an officer (court official) in Pharaoh’s court/cabinet,
- the captain (chief and commander) of the guard, (body guard)
- 4Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight, who recognized God is blessing him because of Joseph 6who left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
- Potiphar is a commander who is used to being obeyed — or else! We’ll see in vs. 19 what angering him can mean!
- Though Potiphar recognizes and appreciates the physical material blessings he has because of Joseph, we’ve no indication he appreciates, responds to nor converts to worship The LORD Yahweh the proper name of God of Israel Who Is the Blessing Giver!
Gen. 39: 1-6&9 Joseph’s Profile He’s Promoted At Potiphar’s But Is Harassed In Temptation, Yet Rejects Sin
Joseph’s Profile is …
- 2Joseph is in the house of his Egyptian master (slave owner), because he is a slave. The LORD was with Joseph, and God calls him a successful man and we are to understand “Joseph as a successful man of God!”
- 3His master saw (perceived became aware) that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused (took a direct hand in administering) all that he did to succeed (prosper, be completed successfully, to thrive and be victorious) in his hands. (All that was entrusted to him and came under his influence).
- Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
- (JFB — his master saw that the Lord was with him—though changed in condition from favored son to slave, Joseph’s attitude, behavior and disposition was not altered. He has a relationship with the One True God, and apparently advised Potiphar of it. Joseph’s relationship with God distinguished his character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshipper of the true God.
- 4So Joseph found favor (received grace, kindness and positive opinion of his master’s pleasure with him) in his sight and attended (faithfully served with attention to detail) him, and he made him overseer (foremen) of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
- 5From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed (provided benefit and advantage) the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake (on behalf of Joseph to support his cause); the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.
- All Potiphar’s household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished, so we see Joseph is expert with crops and food) 6So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
- 9Joseph is more focused on pleasing God than man — including Potiphar’s wife. Then can I do this great wickedness (great evil as defined by God) and sin against God?”
(9) (Yellow Not In Notes) Gen. 39: 8-10 Joseph’s Challenge with Mrs. P
If we are in Joseph’s place, which of the following would be our challenge with Mrs. P?
- Can it be very difficult to resist a friend or relative of the boss who is putting pressure on you to do something wrong? Yes/No/Maybe/ It Depends…
- If we give in to the pressure to sin, how does it affect our relationship with the other person in the eyes of God? Does it provide a… i) win-win, ii) win-lose, or a iii) lose-lose situation for us and the other person?
For if we give in to the temptation or buckle under the pressure and sin, do we
- lose with God — Yes/No
- gain the respect of those wanting you to sin — Yes/No
- lose your testimony — Yes/No
(10) Gen. 39: 11-18Profile Mrs. P (A representative of sinners)
Joseph Is Betrayed By Vengeful & Spiteful Mrs. Potiphar
People conspire to entrap us in sin by …
- Catching us alone. 11 P waits until “none of the men.. was… in the house.” 12she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.”
- 16-17 She fabricates the story, and 16she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17and she told him the same story, saying, that the Hebrew wanted to laugh/mock/make sport (use me in a spiteful and scornful way (see also vs. 17) at us— meaning we Egyptians, who are part of an inner circle and camaraderie Joseph never will know there.
- Intimidating and silencing those who could tell the truth. 14-15 Surely some of the Egyptians could attest that she had NOT cried out with a loud voice.” But, alas, who is going to say the boss’s wife is lying?
- 16“ blame-shifting, She indicts Potiphar for having “brought among us the Hebrew servant, who came in to me to laugh at me. 18But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” [bctt tweet=”God despises not his prisoners, Ps. 69:33 says “33For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.” No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people; for he has promised that he will never leave nor forsake us. (Deut. 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Heb 13:5, Matt 28:20)” username=”LibertyCF3″]
(11) Five Types of Trials (The Joseph Model)
- Joseph’s first trial was caused by his father, who played favorites pitting him against his brothers. (Can playing favorites be a sin? (Yes/NO/Maybe)
- Potiphar, definitely causes a huge trial for Joseph. So, again, we see others can cause our trial.
- That Potiphar, who favors Joseph, has Mrs. Potiphar is a terrible circumstance that causes Joseph’s trial.
- Joseph is suffering because God allowed Potiphar to lie about him. So is God causing Joseph’s trial? NO, because The Bible says God tempts no one (James 1: 3 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.)
- The Bible does not say Satan entered into Mrs. P, but perhaps we can’t dissociate her behavior from the work of the tempter, as we know that is what the devil is.?! In Job 1-2, Satan gets permission to cause Job’s trial. In John 8:44 (NLT) Jesus says, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
- God oversees / manages our trials, since Satan operates within God’s permissive (James 1: 3-9)
James 1: 1-9 provides what can be considered a commentary on Joseph’s situation:
Wesley James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
W—My brethren, count it all joy – Which is the highest degree of patience, and contains all the rest. When ye fall into divers temptations – That is, trials.
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
W— Let patience have its perfect work – Give it full scope, under whatever trials befall you. That ye may be perfect and entire – Adorned with every Christian grace. And wanting nothing – Which God requires in you.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
W — If any want – The connection between the first and following verse s, both here and in the fourth chapter , will be easily discerned by him who reads them, while he is suffering wrongfully. He will then readily perceive, why the apostle mentions all those various affections of the mind. Wisdom – To understand, whence and why temptations come, and how they are to be improved. Patience is in every pious man already. Let him exercise this, and ask for wisdom. The sum of wisdom, both in the temptation of poverty and of riches, is described in the ninth and tenth verse s. Who giveth to all – That ask alright. And upbraideth not – Either with their past wickedness, or present unworthiness.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
W — 1:6 But let him ask in faith – A firm confidence in God. St. James also both begins and ends with faith, James 5:15; the hinderances of which he removes in the middle part of his epistle. He that doubteth is like a wave of the sea – Yea, such are all who have not asked and obtained wisdom. Driven with the wind – From without. And tossed – From within, by his own unstableness.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
W — A doubleminded man – Who has, as it were, two souls; whose heart is not simply given up to God. Is unstable – Being without the true wisdom; perpetually disagrees both with himself and others, James 3:16.
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
W — Let the brother – St James does not give this appellation to the rich. Of low degree – Poor and tempted. Rejoice – The most effectual remedy against doublemindedness. In that he is exalted – To be a child of God, and an heir of glory.
(12) (Yellow – Not In Your Notes) Gen. 39: 19 – 23 (ESV)
(Joseph Finds Favor In Prison)
Though there only are 70 of them in the world (Gen. 46:27), racism against them already has begun. Mrs. P says in vs. 14,14he has brought among us a Hebrew … to laugh at/mock us—making Joseph out to be a blighted aspersion of her husbands who has brought into their house what is abomination to decent and sophisticated Egyptians.
19As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled (quick temper burned, displayed on countenance and nostrils). 20And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
MH COMMENTARY – Joseph is shut up among the king’s prisoners, who are the state-prisoners. Potiphar likely chose that prison because it was the worst; for there the iron entered into the soul (Ps. 105:18), but God designed to pave the way to his enlargement. He was committed to the king’s prison, that he might thence be preferred to the king’s person. Note, many an action of false imprisonment will, in the great day, be found to lie against the enemies and persecutors of God’s people. Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, was bound, and numbered with the transgressors. 2. Joseph owned and righted by his God, who is, and will be, the just and powerful patron of oppressed innocence. Joseph was at a distance from all his friends and relations, had not them with him to comfort him, or to minister to him, or to mediate for him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, v. 21.
So if we are Joseph’s during this phase might we be feeling …
- humiliated to have the unpleasantness of his boss angry at him.
- betrayed having been falsely accused. Is being falsely accused easy or difficult to handle. (Yes/NO/Maybe)
- confused wondering, “How could this happen to me — especially when I was doing the right thing?” (Yes/NO/Maybe)
- frustrated by how randomly up and down his life seems.
(13) Gen. 39: 19 – 23 (ESV) Joseph’s prison experience Is explained in Psalm 105: 17-25 
Psalm 105:16-25 means …
17””he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.” What this means is God had Joseph sold as a slave, to prepare him to save His people from a famine.
18’His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;” This means Joseph, as God’s anointed man, had to endure real hardships of painful feet fetters and an iron neck collar!
19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested (refined, smeltered and goldsmithed) him.
This means Joseph, as God’s anointed man (Ps 105:15), had to endure the real, severe hardships of God’s painful “Guidance” in preparation to save the world, including his captors, from a famine.
God does not despise nor forsake His people who enter into hardship. (Deut. 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Ps. 69:33 , Heb 13:5, Matt 28:20)
Deut. 31:8, The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged
Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Ps. 69:33 says “33For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.”
Matt 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Note, (1.) God despises not his prisoners, Ps. 69:33 says “33For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.” No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people; for he has promised that he will never leave nor forsake us. (Deut. 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Heb 13:5, Matt 28:20)
God designed this trial to pave the way to Joseph’s promotion — even as it foreshadows Christ. Joseph foreshadows how Our Lord Jesus will be bound, and numbered with the transgressors!
Psalm 105:17-25 17he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.20The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free;21he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, 22to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom. 23Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. 25He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
(14) Gen. 39: 1-6&9 Joseph Finds Favor In Prison
Gen. 39: 21-23 — Despite how Joseph feels, and the ignoble and humiliating circumstances he is in …
In Prison, as with Potiphar, we again see … 21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love (God gave constant attention to Joseph’s well-being and doing what is best for Joseph to fulfill God’s call and plan for his life.) God gave Joseph favor.
In Prison, as with Potiphar, we again see … God gave Joseph favor (received grace, kindness and his master’s positive opinion that he was pleased with him) the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
JFB 21-23. The Lord … gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, &c.—It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for “the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”
MH Commentary — Either God restrained Potiphar’s wrath, or Potiphar knew Mrs. P. was a promiscuous woman (floozie) else he would have put Joseph to death;
God made turned the wrath which imprisoned Joseph to his praise,
(2.) Those that have a good conscience in a prison have a good God there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for the divine favour, wherever we are. Joseph is not long a prisoner before he becomes a little ruler even in the prison, which is to be attributed, under God, [1.] To the keeper’s favour. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Note, God can raise up friends for his people even where they little expect to find them, and can make them to be pitied even of those that carry them captive, Ps. 106:46. [2.] To Joseph’s fitness for business. The keeper saw that God was with him, and that everything prospered under his hand; and therefore entrusted him with the management of the affairs of the prison, v. 22, 23. Note, Wisdom and virtue will shine in the narrowest spheres. A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment; for the Spirit of the Lord is not bound nor banished, witness St. Paul, Phil. 1:12, 13.
(15) Gen. 39: 1-6&9 Joseph Bounced Back from Betrayal by Being A Peculiar Person!
Gen. 39: 1-23 And Our Call to Discipleship
Joseph’s Profile is an example of the type of disciple God calls us to be.
Joseph’s is an example righteous and peculiar disciples, who are aliens and strangers here, a peculiar people.” (Ex 19:5, Deut. 7:6, 14:2, 26:18, Ps. 135:4, Mal. 3:17, Tit. 2:14, 1 Pet. 2:9)
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of …
Peculiar People are Ex 19:5, Deut. 7:6, 14:2, 26:18, Ps. 135:4, Mal. 3:17, Tit. 2:14, 1 Pet. 2:9
1Pet 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then …… Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine …
Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. …… Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of all peoples that are upon the earth. …
Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a holy people unto the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the …
Deuteronomy 26:18 And the LORD has declared you this day to be his peculiar people, as he has promised you, and that you should keep all his commandments…
Psalm 135:4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. …
Malachi 3:17 “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty … … And they shall be unto me a peculiar treasure, saith Jehovah of hosts, in the day that I prepare; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that …
Titus 2:14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. …
12…But he left his garment in her hand and fled (1Cor. 6:18) and got out of the house. Weird alien people have such integrity in this sin-based culture!
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