Joseph is Promoted and Prepared at Potiphar’s and in Prison Gen 39: 1-23 Sermon Notes 5-13-18

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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) (Yellow – Not In Your Notes) The New Testament explains God’s principles

The Old Testament shows us the processes of how those principles work in our lives!

• The Old Testament traces a family bloodline to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• God nurtures that family into a nation, and society that will receive and safeguard His Word.
• God’s Old Testament Word points to and prepares us for His Messiah!
• The Old Testament uses the members of that bloodline as the primary examples to demonstrate how God works in the lives of His people then and now.
• The New Testament shows how Christ fulfills the Old Testament through His redemptive “Born Again” experience, and how God uses the transformed disciples to spread the Gospel and explain God’s principles that transform our lives and civilization!

(6) Message map: Series: Bouncing Back From Betrayal!

Gen. 39: 1-23 “God Promotes & Prepares Joesph At Potiphar’s place & In Prison”

(Part 3 of The Series: “Bouncing Back from Betrayal)

• profile of Potiphar who promotes Joseph
• profile Potiphar who provides the problem that propels Joseph to his next assignment
• profile Joseph, A Slave Who finds favor as God’s successful man!
• Joseph Finds Favor & is promoted in prison
• Joseph is an example of Peculiar Disciples of Christ Who bounce back from betrayal

Are any of us Mothers/parents who are watching God take our children through challenging situations?  Today we hope to give you comfort God’s Word!

(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 (Pharaoh’s court official) who is the captain (chief and commander) of Pharaoh’s body guard detachment.

4Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight, who saw/recognized God is blessing him because of Joseph, so he 6left all that he had in Joseph’s charge.

Mrs. Potiphar is a representative of all who conspire to get us to sin by 1) ¹¹catching us alone.  11Mrs. P waits until “none of the men.. was… in the house.” (Perhaps Mrs. P sent them out) 12she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” They 2)^16-17 fabricate a story, and

3) intimidate and silence 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? 4) and then rather than own up to sin, sinners ¹⁶“ blame-shift and indict others, which in this case is 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=” Gen. 39: 1-6&9 Joseph’s Profile: He Is Promoted At Potiphar’s But Is Harassed In Temptation, Yet Rejects Sin ” username=”LibertyCF3″]

(8) Gen. 39: 1-6&9 Joseph’s Profile: He Is Promoted At Potiphar’s But Is Harassed In Temptation, Yet Rejects Sin 

Joseph’s Profile is …

• Though 2 Joseph is in the house of his Egyptian master (slave owner), The LORD was with Joseph, and we see in God’s eyes Joseph is a successful man of God!” God sees Joseph not as a slave, but as a faithful disciple in training for higher service.
• ⁴So Joseph attended (faithfully served with attention to detail) Potiphar, who made him overseer (foremen) of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
• ⁵ …the LORD blessed (provided benefit and advantage) to 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
• Joseph is more focused on pleasing God than man — including Potiphar’s wife, so he refuses doing great ⁹ wickedness (great evil as defined by God) and to sin against God?”
• P has placed Joseph in a lose-lose situation because he can’t tell Potiphar his wife is trying to compromise him, and if he sins, he’ll lose his testimony and will fall under God’s discipline.
• 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 to worship the One True God.

(9) (Yellow – Not In Your Notes) Joseph must respond in a positive Godly way to unFavorable circumstances Gen. 39: 19 – 23 (ESV)

(Joseph Finds Favor In Prison)  

Though there only are 70 male Hebrews in the world at the time of Gen. 46:27, and there’s only one in Egypt, yet 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 husband who has brought into their house what is an abomination to decent and sophisticated Egyptians. (Gen. 43: 32)

Gen. 43: 32 ³²They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the 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.

So if we are Joseph’s during this phase might we be feeling …

1. humiliated to have the unpleasantness of his boss angry at him.
2. betrayed having been falsely accused. Is being falsely accused easy or difficult to handle. (Yes/NO/Maybe)
3. confused wondering, “How could this happen to me — especially when I was doing the right thing?” (Yes/NO/Maybe)
4. frustrated by how randomly up and down his life seems.

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 wit

(10) 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!

[bctt tweet=”God made turned the wrath which imprisoned Joseph to his praise, as He will do with Paul’s imprisonment in the New Testament” username=”LibertyCF3″]

(11) 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.

God made turned the wrath which imprisoned Joseph to his praise, as He will do with Paul’s imprisonment in the New Testament

Phil. 1:12, 13 — 12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

(12) 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 is an example of the type of disciple God calls us to be.

Joseph’s righteous behavior contributed to his trial, because he would not go along to get along. Had he sinned would he have been trial free?  (No.)

1 Peter 2:9 We are aliens and strangers here, a peculiar people.”

The Bible instructs us to deal with immorality by fleeing it (1Cor. 6:18 – Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.)

¹²…But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

Peculiar people have Joseph type integrity and behave in ways that are considered weird in this sin-soaked culture!

1 Peter 2:9-12  9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Peculiar People are mentioned in

Ex 19:5, Deut. 7:6, 14:2, 26:18, Ps. 135:4, Mal. 3:17, Tit. 2:14, 1 Pet. 2:9

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…

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. …

(13) Gen. 37 – 47 God’s Plan for Joseph & Us Includes Preparing us for ministry by guiding us through various experiences.

God called Joseph to save the world from a famine.

All Joseph knows is he will rule over his family (Gen 37)

Gen 37 11: 11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

Just because your family does not understand you, does not mean you are not called. But we must respond to opposition in a Godly way.

To save the world from a famine one must be in an organized society, where there is infrastructure (roads & facilities), a command & control culture to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people. So God transfers Joseph to Egypt which is the last place a Hebrew would want to be.  To save the world from a famine one must be skilled with

• food production, management & distribution, which Joseph learned on his daddy’s ranch.
• how Pharaoh’s court & government operates, which Joseph learned at Potiphar’s suburban estate
• how to deal with shrewd, conniving people, which Joseph learned in Prison.

It can be difficult to see at what stage of the process we are in.  We, therefore, should pray for God to confirm within us His call upon our lives. Note that hardship does not mean we are out of God’s plan.  Hardship may mean we are having difficulty submitting to God’s plan which includes preparing us for our next assignment.  [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”276″]

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