Genesis 39

Hints of Jesus in life of Joseph:

-Sold for pieces of silver

-Mocked by his family

-Forgiving his offenders

-Falsely accused

I. Joseph’s Rise to Leadership (vv. 1-6)

“Now 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. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So 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. From 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. So 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. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” (Genesis 39:1–6, ESV)

Joseph was successful in all that he did for one reason—the Lord was with him.

“His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.” (Genesis 39:3, ESV)

II. Joseph’s Temptation (vv. 7-10)

“And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”” (Genesis 39:7, ESV)

“But 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. He 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?”” (Genesis 39:8–9, ESV)

Joseph could have played the victim card:

-Sold into slavery by his brothers

-He was supposed to be with his father as the favorite son

-He is now living in a foreign land

Two reasons Joseph refuses to give in to temptation:

1. His loyalty to his master (v. 8)

2. His loyalty to God (v. 9)

“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9a)

The greatest deterrent to falling into sexual temptation was Joseph’s awareness that God was with him.

Joseph knew that God sees all and that a sin that no one knows about is actually done in the presence of a holy God.

70% of Christian regularly view pornography

The average age a person is first exposed to pornography is 8

90% of 8-16 year olds have been exposed to pornography

“And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:10, ESV)

III. Joseph is Framed (vv. 11-20)

“But 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, she 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.” (Genesis 39:11–12, ESV)

Joseph gives us an exact response to any temptation, but especially sexual temptation—RUN!

“And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she 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. And 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.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” As 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. And 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.” (Genesis 39:13–20, ESV)

“The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us” (Genesis 39:17b)

God is not through with Joseph yet in Genesis 39.

God has bigger plans for Joseph—God is patiently working in Joseph’s life and preparing him for greatness in the years ahead.

IV. Joseph in Prison (vv. 21-23)

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And 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. The 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.” (Genesis 39:21–23, ESV)

Joseph has now gone from the pit in Shechem, up to the penthouse of Potiphar’s estate, and now down to the prison of Egypt.

Separated from his beloved dad and sold into slavery in Egypt at 17 years old, placed in an honored position in Potiphar’s house, and now in prison—yet Joseph believed that God was with him.

What Genesis 39 teaches us about God:

God is present just as much with His children when they are suffering, as He is when they are succeeding.

God causes our roots to grow deep in the midst of adversity, so that we may better know and serve Him in times of success and affluence.

Two ways God used the time of adversity in Joseph’s life to prepare him for his future:

1. His work with Potiphar prepared him for his time serving as the second highest official in the land of Egypt.

2. In prions, Joseph had an appointment w/ a man who would introduce him to Pharaoh.

The necessity of suffering and adversity is taught all throughout Scripture.

Suffering is to be viewed as part of the normal Christian life and as a result of righteous living (2 Cor. 4:7-10; Phil. 1:29; 1 Thess. 3:4; 1 Pet. 4:12-16).

We tend to think if we make a decision that honors God, we will be successful.

This is a dangerous assumption to make.

In the end, God will use everything for our good.

No where does He guarantee our health, wealth, & success.

Let’s not forget that it was God’s will for:

John to be exiled

Paul to be jailed

Jesus to be executed

We have the responsibility of doing everything we can to make wise choices and obey God’s commands.

However, our obedience does not guarantee immediate success.

Simply obey Him and leave the outcomes to God.