Transcript

In 2005, as a part of the war in Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Gary Morsch was called up to serve as the field doctor for a battalion near the Iranian border.

He wrote this: One day I was supposed to travel by convoy to a military hospital in Baghdad to accompany a prisoner with a severe abdominal infection, but the mission was canceled after a bomb hit a convoy returning to camp.

That was the third time in five days that one of our convoys had been hit, so we waited until a nearby combat unit could beef up security. A day later we headed out.

In addition to the anxiety I was feeling as we made our way along the dangerous road to Baghdad, I was also feeling very lonely and homesick.

When I realized that it was Sunday and that I was going to miss chapel services again, I grew even more depressed. I decided to fight off my sorrow by listening to some praise music on my MP3 player.

The first song I listened to contained these lyrics: “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place; I can feel His mighty power and His grace.”

Speeding toward Baghdad, crammed into the back of a Humvee, I sensed the presence of God as never before. I felt enveloped by Him: God around me, before me, behind me, God above me, God in me.

I peered through the thick, bulletproof window at Iraqis in their flowing robes, their mudwalled houses, children at play, the tall and stately palm trees.

And just as surely as I felt the presence of God in that Humvee, I sensed God’s presence in all that I saw, here, in this desolate country, with the Shiites, the Sunnis, the Kurds. God was surely here. And I was filled with a deep sense of peace.

I was still concerned about the road ahead, but I had a sense of calm and contentment. It had nothing to do with bravery or courage on my part, but everything to do with knowing that God was with me always, and this peace lasted throughout my remaining time in Iraq.

In Genesis 39, we are told repeatedly how the Lord was with Joseph while he was in Egypt. And this is where Joseph’s strength and peace was found, and it’s where ours is too, in knowing that He’s always there.

Any ideas that Joseph was ever abandoned by the Lord are removed. This chapter tells us four times that “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Neither being unjustly sold into slavery, nor forcibly removed from his father and his home, nor being unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned, were events that signaled any temporary loss of God’s presence in Joseph’s life. God was there through it all, and with Joseph in it all.

Genesis 39:1-6: “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.

“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

From the pit into which Joseph was cast by his brothers, he was passed into the pit of slavery in Egypt. The caravan of Ishmeelites and Midianites carried Joseph down into Egypt, and he was sold by this caravan for an unknown price to an Egyptian man by the name of Potiphar.

The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the religious system in Egypt which venerated Ra, the god of the sun.

Sold into slavery, Joseph had no control over his destiny. He was bought and sold like a piece of property. Joseph’s brothers probably expected that he would be sold as a common laborer in a heavy construction project. Yet by God’s mercy and providential working, Joseph was sold to an important official in the Egyptian royal court.

According to Genesis 37:2, Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery. Genesis 41:46 tells us, he was 30 when Pharaoh promoted him. In Genesis 41:1, we learn that Joseph was in prison for two years before his promotion. What all this tells us is that Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house for 11 years.

Potiphar was “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard” verse 1 points out. He was a highly-trusted officer in the government of Egypt, the world’s superpower at that time.

As “captain of the guard,” this meant he was the head of Pharaoh’s personal security force, the soldiers that protected the Pharaoh of Egypt and who also were the executioners of the sentences passed by the sovereign on criminals and offenders.

Verse 2 states, “And the LORD was with Joseph.” The Lord had previously promised to be with Joseph’s grandfather, Isaac, and his father, Jacob.

In Genesis 26:24, the Lord told Isaac, “I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee.”

In Genesis 28:15, the Lord told Jacob, “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest…for I will not leave thee.”

And we find in this chapter, that the covenant-keeping God of the patriarchs “was with,” Joseph, this son of Jacob who was far from home in Egypt.

The Lord did not abandon Joseph. He was present and involved in Joseph’s life. And the Lord is with each believer in Christ. We are never alone. We always have the Lord wherever we are and go.

It seems odd to read in connection with a slave that “he was a prosperous man.” How could one be prosperous in the position of a slave? But it was due to the fact of the Lord being with him. Joseph’s faithful work was productive and he succeeded in all his tasks.

God cared for, protected, and blessed Joseph. Even Potiphar could plainly see that Joseph was blessed and that the reason that everything he touched prospered and was successful was due to a Divine source and that “the Lord was with him.”

By his trust in God, diligent work, and blessing from God, Joseph showed Potiphar the reality of the true and the living God. We can live out this same principle today; as others can see the difference Christ makes in our lives by the way we work and trust Him.

Joseph was a hard and determined worker. When he came to Egypt, he was at a great disadvantage. He knew nothing of the language, culture, customs, or ways of doing business. With determination, however, he did his job and he learned Egyptian ways.

Because of God’s blessing and Joseph’s faithfulness, Joseph “found grace,” or favor in Potiphar’s sight. And Joseph was advanced in his position, even as a slave, and Potiphar, “made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

This involved authority as the steward of Potiphar’s whole estate. Joseph had oversight over all things both “in the house, and in the field,” verse 5 points out.

Potiphar put all that he “had” or possessed “into his hand,” or under Joseph’s care. He trusted him with everything. But Joseph had earned that right.

Joseph experienced a tremendous promotion: from a common, foreign slave, to running the household of one of the top officials in all of Egypt.

And from the time that Potiphar made Joseph overseer of his house, the Lord blessed his house. The Lord’s blessing was on all that Potiphar possessed.

Joseph, as well as Potiphar, were experiencing fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Verse 5 states “that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.”

God promised Joseph’s great-grandfather Abraham, “I will bless them that bless thee…and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” The blessing of Potiphar’s house was due to Joseph’s presence and God blessing through Abraham’s seed.

So we see in a small form, in one household through one of Abraham’s descendants, how God’s plan in the past was to bless “all families of the earth” through the descendants and nation that would come from Abraham.

Verse 6 states that Potiphar, “left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat.”

Potiphar trusted Joseph so much that he didn’t even bother to check up on him, and he never even demanded an accounting. He didn’t have to hire a C.P.A. to go over the books.

He believed in the integrity of this young man.

Potiphar had given him so much responsibility and delegated so much to him that he no longer knew the full extent of his own business affairs or possessions. “He knew not ought he had,” verse 6 says.

And Potiphar concerned himself only with his own meals and the bread that he ate, because everything else was well taken care of, running smoothly, and prospering.

Verse 6 closes stating that Joseph was “a goodly person and well-favored.” The Bible seldom mentions a person’s physical traits. But this means that Joseph was handsome in appearance. The reason this is brought out, however, is because of what happens next with Potiphar’s wife.

Genesis 39:7-12: “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

“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;

“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.

“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.

“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.”

All was going really well for Joseph. He was blessed by God and trusted by his master. Everything was flourishing in the household of Potiphar. He had been there for 11 years and was 28 years old now.

But then came a day that “his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.” The sin of Potiphar’s wife began in her eye. Casting her eyes means that she cast longing eyes upon Joseph.

Potiphar’s wife was then undeniably forward towards Joseph. She throws herself at him and boldly tells him to “Lie with me.” But with equal boldness, Joseph refused.

He reasoned with her, giving three reasons for his refusal. First, he would not do so based on his gratitude to Potiphar who had put everything into his hands. Joseph remembered his responsibilities and his master. He remembered how much he had to lose. He was conscious of how much Potiphar trusted him and honored him.

Second, he would not do so out of respect for her. Joseph remembered who she was. You are Potiphar’s wife. She belonged to another and another belonged to her. This would have been a great evil against God’s institution of marriage.

And third, he would not do so out of his fear of God, telling her, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph remembered what adultery actually was: great wickedness and sin against God. He knew that everything was before the eyes of God and that it would be a sin against Him and His righteous standard.

This chapter refers often to the Lord’s presence in Joseph’s life. And Joseph was acutely aware of this fact. And knowing this caused him to turn from temptation.

His duty to God reigned supreme. Obedience to Him was his primary responsibility, and thus Joseph met the temptation with moral courage, by a definite act and attitude of his will: “and he refused.”

Joseph met this first effort by Potiphar’s wife to get him to lie with her head-on and triumphed over temptation. But Mrs. Potiphar refused to take no for an answer.

She wasn’t to be ignored and she pressed Joseph day after day, working to break down his resistance.

Victory over a one-time temptation and victory over the same temptation on a daily basis are two different things. And many who resist at first, eventually succumb at last.

But verse 10 states that “as she spake to Joseph day by day…he hearkened not unto her.” Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and he refused to budge or weaken, and he continued to resist. Her constant efforts failed in the face of his strong convictions and faith.

Joseph then deliberately and wisely sought to avoid her daily advances by refusing even to be around her or to be alone with her in the same room.

But a day came when Joseph went into the house to attend to his normal duties, and none of the other servants of the house were inside. This was likely a deliberate plan by Potiphar’s wife to trap Joseph, having sent all the men of the house on errands.

Now Joseph and Potiphar’s wife are alone. This time she went beyond verbal advances and she physically grabbed hold of Joseph.

She held on so tightly that when he struggled to get out of her grasp and dashed out the door, his outer garment was stripped off and left in her hands.

Joseph “got him out” verse 12 says. No one else was going to get him out. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.”

God faithfully provides a way of escape, but we have to take the way out. And Joseph took the way out, and he did the safest thing in this situation and with this temptation: he ran. He rushed out of the room, and even out of the house altogether.

There are times when fleeing could be a mark of cowardice, but there are also times when fleeing is evidence of courage and integrity.

In Joseph’s case, it was a mark of integrity and honor. He was tested but triumphant. Joseph was a spiritual hero that ran away.

Genesis 39:13-19: “And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 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:

“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. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 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:

“And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

“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.”

Joseph ran out of the house and Potiphar’s wife was left standing there, again rejected with his garment in her hands. Joseph may have lost his coat, but he kept his character, and his godly testimony.

Mrs. Potiphar is now enraged. William Congreve’s words turn to reality: “Heaven has no rage, like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury, like a woman scorned.”

Every ounce of her lust turned to rage. Now she despised Joseph. Her thought was to humiliate him as deeply as possible for his rejection of her. Now she only wanted revenge. So she fabricated a lie to accuse Joseph using his robe.

This is the second time that the Bible speaks of Joseph’s garment. His brothers took the one; Potiphar’s wife took the other. The brothers tried to hide their sin with that garment; and she tried to hide her sin with this one. In both cases Joseph had been serving faithfully, but in both cases Joseph ended up in bondage.

Potiphar’s wife first called out to the servants of the house and told her tale to them. She explained to them how he tried to assault her, but she cried out with a loud voice to stop him. She might’ve screamed, but if she did, it was a scream of rage against Joseph.

To prove what she was saying was true, she showed them the circumstantial “evidence” of his robe, stating she had only saved herself by screaming so loudly that Joseph was frightened away and he had left his garment behind in his hurry and haste to leave.

Potiphar’s wife also shifted the blame onto her husband for having hired and bringing in this outsider, a Hebrew, in the first place. Calling Joseph a “Hebrew” was meant to heap scorn and show her disdain for him. Not saying his name, she considered him unworthy of respect, since he was a foreigner and a slave.

She placed the fault on Potiphar for giving a foreign slave such authority and freedom around the house which “mocked” them all.

And now as a result this slave had tried to take advantage of Potiphar’s own loving and longsuffering wife was the implication of her words.

After telling the male servants her fictional story, she kept Joseph’s coat by her and laid there like a wounded victim with her hand on her head, until her husband came home, when she repeated her tale of woe and batch of lies to him.

Joseph was innocent, but the circumstances and his position as a slave were against him. Potiphar’s response was predictable, and naturally, there was going to be an emotional reaction to such an accusation. He took the “words of his wife” at face value and believed them, and “his wrath was kindled.”

You would think that if there was ever a time for the Lord to reward Joseph for his not yielding to temptation and doing what is right, this would be the time.

But as it’s been said, “God is not through with His man, Joseph. God is not like us. He patiently and faithfully works in ways we would never employ. God sees far beyond this situation and knows what needs to be done deep within the recesses of Joseph’s life as He prepares him for greatness in the years ahead. Therefore, God remains silent even though Joseph was caught in a trap of circumstantial evidence.”

Genesis 39:20-23: “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.

“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

“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.

“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.”

In verse 19, we see that Potiphar’s wrath was kindled. But in verse 20, we find Potiphar’s restraint in only putting Joseph into prison.

Typically, the accusation made against Joseph, a slave, would mean a death sentence. But putting Joseph into prison was probably owed to the respect he had won with Potiphar and also him questioning the full accuracy of his wife’s accusation.

Joseph was put in “a place where the king’s prisoners were bound,” the part of the prison reserved for political, rather than criminal, prisoners.

Joseph went to prison unjustly accused. His prison experience at first was not pleasant. Psalm 105:18 states about Joseph at this time, “Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron.”

But think about this: Joseph suffered for someone else’s sin. As believers, we remember Someone who perfectly resisted all temptation, who was righteous, unjustly accused, stripped of His garments, and who suffered and was punished for the sins of others. Joseph is a beautiful type of Christ in so many ways.

Verses 21 and 23 end the chapter like it began: “The Lord was with Joseph.” Joseph was not alone; he was never alone. God was with Joseph as much in the prison as in the palace of Potiphar.

God does not forget us or ever forsake us. God is right there with us in every circumstance of our life.

Out of His mercy, the Lord gave Joseph favor with the overseer of the prison. And just like Potiphar, the keeper of the prison soon saw that Joseph was capable and reliable, and he placed all the prisoners and affairs of the prison in Joseph’s charge.

Once again, Joseph rose to a position of authority and proved to be trustworthy enough again to not need any oversight by the keeper of the prison.

In the most trying of times, Joseph continued to demonstrate a good attitude and a godly testimony for the Lord. And even when he was in prison, everything prospered in his hand, just as in Potiphar’s home.

God’s work in Joseph’s life isn’t finished. So far he’s withstood the affliction of being hated by his own brothers, sold as a slave, and carried off to Egypt, to now being unjustly accused and thrown in a dungeon.

Joseph shows us that God doesn’t guarantee us a trouble-free life. But Joseph also shows us that God is with us always, every step of the way, helping us through every hardship and trial by His mercy, and that His purpose will one day prove to be for good and His glory.