Joseph From Freedom To Slavery...but God Was With Him. Genesis 39

2024.10.27. Sermon Notes. Joseph a Slave in Egypt. But GOD was with him and doing a work in him.

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: Joseph went from freedom to a slave in Egypt, BUT GOD…was with him, and he prospered in everything he did as a testimony to others of GOD's Mercy and Grace.

This was not what Joseph dreamed about. His reality couldn't be any further from his dreams of sun moon and stars bowing to him. But GOD was doing a work in him.

Scriptures: Genesis 39:1-23, Matthew 28:20, Matthew 20:27-28, Colossians 3:23-24, Joshua 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:22, Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 27:13-14, Romans 8:28

Genesis 39:1-23 Joseph a Slave in Egypt

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

Vs. 1. Joseph is now a slave in Egypt at the age of 17.

Potiphar, an Egyptian, buys Joseph from the Ishmaelites.

Potiphar’s name means “devoted to the sun”. Egyptians worshipped the sun god Rah.

Officer of Pharaoh. Officer – eunuch, typically castrated for service to be fully devoted to their king.

Captain of the guard. Highly trusted official of Egyptian Government

Joseph was a slave having no control over his destiny. Sold as a piece of property.

This is not the life that Joseph had dreamed about.

This was not the Sun Moon and Stars bowing to him. This was not other sheaves bowing to him.

2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Vs. 2. THE LORD was with Joseph. He was successful.

Joseph was going through extreme difficulty, BUT GOD WAS WITH HIM.

In a dream in the wilderness, Jacob heard from the LORD, “I AM with you.”

Joshua (1:9) heard from the LORD, “for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Just as the LORD had not abandoned Abraham, nor Jacob, nor Joshua…

HE WILL NOT ABANDON YOU!

JESUS said in Matthew 28:20, “I AM with you always, even to the end of the age”

The LORD had not abandoned Joseph. Even though it may look like it.

GOD allowed Joseph to go from the comforts of his father’s house, to become a slave, and yet GOD made him to be successful as a slave.

GOD was teaching Joseph something…

Joseph was learning what it meant to serve others.

Joseph was learning humility.

Jesus taught that HE didn’t come to BE served, but to serve others.

Matthew 20:27-28

27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

As Believers, we must learn the blessing of being a servant and what it means to be a blessing to others.

Joseph was successful, even though he had no control over his circumstances.

GOD was teaching Joseph to be a servant, and blessed him to accomplish HIS purpose.

Often times we complain to GOD that HE has put us in a bad place, or difficult times. But GOD desires us to trust HIM no matter what happens, so that HE can teach and bless us to accomplish HIS Purpose.

Vs. 3. His master saw that the LORD was with him.

Joseph was trusting GOD, and working as unto the LORD, and it showed.

Through his trust in GOD, and hard work, the LORD blessed Joseph, and Potiphar noticed. This was Joseph’s witness, his testimony to those around him, even while a slave.

As believers and followers of CHRIST, we also should live out that same principle, others should see the difference that JESUS makes in our lives by the way we work, and by our actions.

The LORD was with Joseph.

When we think of the differences between Joseph and his brothers.

Joseph was sold as a slave, and yet, under GOD’s blessing, Joseph was free.

The brothers were with their families as free. Yet they were slaves to their secrets, their shame and their guilt.

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.