Joseph With Potiphar's wife
https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-39/
Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"In Egypt Joseph is sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard. Joseph becomes a successful man serving Potiphar. He becomes Potiphar's personal attendant. The Lord was with Joseph and made everything he did successful. Potiphar puts Joseph in charge of his household and all that he owns. Potiphar's wife wants to sleep with Joseph. Joseph declines her advances several times because he is a man of God, and he doesn't want to do Potiphar wrong. Potiphar's wife continues to try and convince Joseph to sleep with her. One day, she is very forward with Joseph, and she grabs his garment to try and sleep with him. Joseph pulls away, and his garment rips. Potiphar's wife remains clutching the ripped garment, and Joseph runs away. he ends up telling a lie saying that Joseph tried to rape her. Potiphar has Joseph thrown in prison where the king's prisoners are confined. God was with Joseph, so he gains favor with the prison warden. The warden places him in a position of authority. Joseph is responsible for all the other prisoners and prison management."
"In Egypt Joseph is sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard. Joseph becomes a successful man serving Potiphar. He becomes Potiphar's personal attendant. The Lord was with Joseph and made everything he did successful. Potiphar puts Joseph in charge of his household and all that he owns. Potiphar's wife wants to sleep with Joseph. Joseph declines her advances several times because he is a man of God, and he doesn't want to do Potiphar wrong. Potiphar's wife continues to try and convince Joseph to sleep with her. One day, she is very forward with Joseph, and she grabs his garment to try and sleep with him. Joseph pulls away, and his garment rips. Potiphar's wife remains clutching the ripped garment, and Joseph runs away. he ends up telling a lie saying that Joseph tried to rape her. Potiphar has Joseph thrown in prison where the king's prisoners are confined. God was with Joseph, so he gains favor with the prison warden. The warden places him in a position of authority. Joseph is responsible for all the other prisoners and prison management."
Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand. So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge." v.2-4
- "Now Joseph was handsome and attractive in form and appearance. Then after a time his master’s wife looked at Joseph with desire, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me in the house, my master does not concern himself with anything; he has put everything that he owns in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?” v.6-9
- "Then it happened one day that Joseph went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the men of the household was there in the house. She caught Joseph by his [outer] robe, saying, “Lie with me!” But he left his robe in her hand and ran, and got outside [the house]." v.11-12
- "And when Joseph’s master heard the words of his wife, saying, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger burned. So Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden. The warden committed to Joseph’s care (management) all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was in charge of it." v.19-22
My personal observations and reflections...
- THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH. This was mentioned twice-- at the start of the chapter (v.2), and by the end of it (v.21). The "Lord" was even mentioned 8x in total here, wow!🙌❤️
"..that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph; so the Lord’s blessing was on everything that Potiphar owned, in the house and in the field." v.5
"The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him; whatever Joseph did, the Lord made to prosper." v.23
It is amazing how God was faithfully with Joseph, and how Joseph also trusted God and always did the right thing before His eyes. Joseph was never alone, despite being betrayed by his brothers, and far from his beloved father Jacob. God was with him, all throughout. The highs and the lows. It is so inspiring😭
* Some verses that assure us that God will always be with us:
"And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34:10b
"Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26: 3-4
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145: 18-19
"I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Jesus, Matthew 28:20
- 'SLAVE' TO 'PERSONAL SERVANT, OVERSEER.' Now living in the foreign land of Egypt, Joseph started at the bottom, when he was sold as a slave for Potiphar, "an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the [royal] guard." But because God was with him and blessing him, and surely Joseph was working hard and excellently, and righteously before God, he "became a successful and prosperous man."
From a slave, to a 'trusted' personal servant, to an overseer and overall in-charge of Potiphar's house/field-- it seems that God was developing Joseph's leadership as well. Preparing him for a great calling that God was about to give him.
*Some interesting info and commentary, from David Guzik:
- "The name Potiphar means devoted to the sun. It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system."
- "An officer of Pharaoh: The ancient Hebrew word officer could be translated eunuch. It was a common practice in ancient times to make those highest in the royal courts eunuchs, to ensure they would be wholly devoted to their king. Because this practice was common, the term came to be used for all who served in important positions in a king’s court, whether they were actually eunuchs or not. Therefore, we really don’t know if Potiphar was a eunuch."
- "We often complain to God that He put us in a terrible or difficult place. Yet God’s will is that we trust Him to bless us and make us successful (as He measures success) wherever we are."
- "Clearly, Joseph rose to the top, but it took a while to happen. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery (Genesis 37:2). He was 30 when Pharaoh promoted him (Genesis 41:46), and had been in prison for two years before that (Genesis 41:1). So he was in Potiphar’s house for 11 years. It took 11 years for the full measure of God’s blessing to be accomplished in Joseph’s life."
- "He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand: This means that Joseph was a hard 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. He had to get up early and stay up late to both do his job and to learn Egyptian ways."
- HANDSOME AND 'DIGNIFIED' JOSEPH. "Now Joseph was handsome and attractive in form and appearance."(v.6) This is not surprising, since his mother was Rachel; "Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance." (Genesis 29:17) At this time, Joseph may be already in his early 20's, in the prime of his life. However, Joseph's good looks caught the attention of his master's wife. She had (sinful) lustful desires, and she wanted to commit adultery. But Joseph respectfully declined and rejected her, saying "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?" (v.9) This is such a wise mindset, principle and discipline to have! Whenever we sin, we actually sin against God💔 When we sin, we hurt others, we hurt ourselves-- but ultimately it is God who we offend. We stand before God, we answer to Him. That is why we need the Lord and Savior, Jesus. Through Him, all our sins are forgiven and blotted out. When we believe in what He has done for us on the cross, we received His righteousness and the Holy Spirit who will help and guide us to say 'no' to sin.
"Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD." Jeremiah 23:24
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
* "Joseph’s appearance was of special note. The Bible only calls two other men beautiful: David (1 Samuel 16:12) and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25)." --David Guzik
* "Satan wants us to think our temptation is terribly unique; that no one you know could understand what we are go through in a particular temptation. But there is no temptation that has overtaken us except what is common among men (1 Corinthians 10:13)." --David Guzik
- FALSE ACCUSATIONS. When none of the men of the household was there, Joseph was forced by his master's wife to lie with her intimately. That was attempted rape, and Joseph immediately ran! I really love that scene, Joseph just fled like his life depended on it. That must have been a little bit scary. You just want to do your duty, and go with your day normally, and then the 'devil' attacks and derails you. It seems unfortunate that the master's wife grab hold of Joseph's robe, and then she wrongfully accused Joseph of mocking and insulting her-- but Joseph's mission was already finished in Potiphar's house. God was clearly working and moving in Joseph's life, to get him where he needs to be.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
* "If we are not actually running towards sin, we have a tendency to at least linger in its presence. But we are commanded to do the only safe thing: run away from these lusts of the flesh, and run as fast as we can." --David Guzik
* "It must have offended and grieved Joseph to be accused under such an outrageous lie. Yet he did not seem to defend himself against this false accusation, even as Jesus was silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7 and Matthew 27:13-14)." --David Guzik
- FROM 'PRISONER' TO 'PRISONER IN-CHARGE'. Despite of life's injustices to Joseph, God was with him. I can't imagine being in a prison just because of a false accusation. I would have been depressed. But Joseph took it all like a champ. We never saw him fight back or defend himself, instead he just looked to God and trusted in His ways. That was not referred directly, but I could just imagine the level of faith and obedience of Joseph. He never seems to worry, whatever God has put in his plate, Joseph just receive and work it. Even though God's favor and lovingkindness was present, Joseph was willing and obedient when the warden had given him a task as in-charge of the other prisoners. What a true and godly leader in the making!
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10
"Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly." Job 8:7
* "Obedience is much easier when we know who God is. Because Joseph knew and loved God, the thought of sinning against Him was unpleasant.
i. “When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.” (Spurgeon)" --David Guzik
* "As happened before in the house of Potiphar, Joseph rose to the top, becoming the chief administrator of the prison. Through his experience in both places, God sharpened the administrative skills Joseph needed to one day save his family and to save the whole world." --David Guzik
Read the Bible here:
No comments:
Post a Comment