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.
6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.
Vs. 4. Joseph was made overseer of Potiphar’s house, and everything came under his authority.
Here we see GOD’s Blessings, and Joseph’s faithfulness, even as a slave.
Therefore, we are reminded…
Colossians 3:23-24
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Vs. 5. The LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house and everything he had for Joseph’s sake.
Joseph’s obedience to GOD brought blessing that overflowed to those around him.
My signature line is “Be blessed, and be a blessing.”
As we are obedient to the LORD, we receive HIS Blessing. And from that overflowing blessing, we are to bless others. Joseph’s blessing overflowed to Potiphar and all that he had.
Vs. 6. Potiphar put his trust in Joseph, and the blessings of the LORD were so great that Potiphar didn’t even know what all he had, it was more than he knew!
“He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand.”
When Joseph came to Egypt, he knew nothing about the Egyptian ways, and had to learn the language, the culture and customs.
As a child, Joseph watched as others worked. But now as slave, something happened as he had to undergo GOD’s transforming work in his life.
GOD taught Joseph administrative skills that would be used in great measure in years to come.
Timeline: 11 years in Potiphar’s house.
Genesis 37:2 Joseph was sold into slavery at age 17.
Genesis 41:46 Pharaoh promoted him at age 30.
We will learn that Joseph was put into prison for 2 years prior to Pharaoh’s promotion. Joseph was put into prison at age 28.
28-17=11 years that Joseph was in Potiphar’s house.
11 years for GOD’s blessing to be accomplished in Joseph’s life.
Note: Potiphar left all that he had in Joseph’s hands, and was blessed for Joseph’s sake.
POINT: When we leave all that we have in JESUS’ hand, we too will be blessed – and for JESUS’ sake.
6b Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
Vs. 7-10 Joseph’s resistance to Potiphar’s wife’s insistence.
We can speculate on why this woman was interested in Joseph.
Potiphar as a eunuch may have been castrated and perhaps his wife looked for sexual activity elsewhere as a promiscuous woman. Perhaps her attraction to Joseph was an attempt to feel desirable and worth something. Perhaps it was simply seeking pleasure.
Scripture tells us that sex outside of marriage is sin.
“Joseph was an attractive man” Only a few men in the bible were stated to be handsome or beautiful including David and Absolom.
“Lie with me.” This was a bold and strong temptation to Joseph.
We all face temptations.
“She spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her”
Joseph’s showed his faithfulness to GOD and Potiphar by resisting this temptation.
Possibly for all 11 years!
Remember Joseph was in a foreign land. He was nowhere near his family and friends. He could have easily said, “What happens in Egypt, stays in Egypt”
But NO…
Joseph responds to the temptation morally and honorably. He doesn’t flirt back. He stands firm in the authority and responsibilities that he has been granted with all integrity.
“You are his wife” He reminded her who she was, and yet this didn’t change her.
“How then can I do this” He identified and reminded himself to be above reproach.
Joseph calls out the act as it is “a Great Wickedness and Sin against GOD.”
Not only Great Wickedness in his eyes, and what it would be in the eyes of Potiphar, but more importantly, SIN AGAINST GOD.
“Joseph refused and did not heed her.”
We all face temptations in life.
We all have choice when faced with temptation:
To allow the temptations to overcome us to fall into that temptation.
OR
To remember who we are, and whose we are, and to call out the sin, stand true to GOD, and flat-out REFUSE.
1 Corinthians 10:13 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 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Joseph refused. Sometimes it just comes down to that. We must REFUSE and say NO to sin, even when we may feel like saying yes.
We’re not alone in the struggle with temptation.
Scripture also reveals those who failed and fell into temptation.
Adam and Eve, the original Fall into temptation.
Cain. Jealousy and Anger that prompted the 1st murder of his brother Abel.
Samson and Delilah’s deception. His Pride that led to his fall.
Abraham and Sarah. Unbelief that prompted relations with Hagar that birthed Ishmael.
David to Bathsheba. Lust and premeditated murder of Uriah
Judas Iscariot. Greed for money.
Peter. Fear and Denial of CHRIST.
Joseph was a man of GOD who RESISTED temptation.
A few others who resisted temptation were Daniel who ended up in the Lion’s den. And Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who’s resistance had them tossed into the fiery furnace.
But no one compares to JESUS. JESUS was tested and tempted beyond what we understand, and yet, HE remained perfect and sinless.
FILLED with JESUS, FILLED with HOLY SPIRIT, we can have the strength to resist temptation.
11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Vs. 11-12. Joseph went into the home to do his work but none of the men of the house were inside.
Potiphar’s wife knew that Joseph avoided her. Most likely she arranged that the men of the house would not be there. The trap was set.
She caught him by his garment saying “Lie with me.”
Joseph resists and flees.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
THOUGHT: Why would scripture say this, “Flee also youthful lusts” unless it’s a problem we all face even as we age?
And, when temptation arises…
Do we tend to linger in its presence?
OR
Do we do what we are commanded? To RUN AWAY FROM these lusts of the flesh, these temptations…AS FAST AS WE CAN!
13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”
16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home.
17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
Vs. 13-18 Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph before Potiphar.
The Hebrew… the Hebrew servant: In an age when punishment was brutal and life was cheap – especially the life of a slave – Potiphar’s wife knew her accusation would mean a death sentence for Joseph. That’s why she didn’t say his name; she didn’t want to think of him as a real person.
“He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice”
Joseph must have been grieved with this false accusation.
Yet we don’t see him defend himself against it, just as JESUS was silent before HIS accusers.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Matthew 27:13-14
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
THIS WAS NOT FAIR! Sometimes doing what is right costs us. Sometimes there is a price to be paid for resisting temptation.
But when we do what is right and faithful, trusting in GOD, we know that GOD will work it out on our behalf.
Romans 8:28 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.
19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
Vs. 19-20 Joseph is sent to prison.
“His anger was aroused”
Was Potiphar angry at Joseph, or his wife?
Potiphar knew what kind of woman his wife was and what kind of man Joseph was. His anger probably came knowing that his wife’s accusation against Joseph was not true.
And such reported behavior would have surely meant death for Joseph, but instead,
“Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison”
*** Commentary from Bible Gateway
Poor Potiphar!
Potiphar was left with his wife and without Joseph who kept his whole household running well.
Potiphar would have to take back that task of running his own household.
Poor Joseph!
Joseph went:
· From privilege in his father’s house.
· To the pit his brothers threw him into.
· To being property in the slave market.
· To the privilege of managing Potiphar’s house.
· To the principled stand against temptation.
· To the perjury of false accusation.
· To the prison of Pharaoh.
We can see the mercy in this, Because if Potiphar had believed his wife, he certainly would have put Joseph to death.
We can see the injustice in this, Because Joseph suffered for someone else’s sin.
We can see GOD’s hand in all of this. All of this moves GOD’s story forward,
Looking ahead…
As GOD puts Joseph in the place where he can save his family and the whole world from coming famine, and prepare a place for them to live with him.
***END Commentary
As Christians, we know WHO resisted ALL temptation perfectly,
Who as HE stood for righteousness, was stripped of HIS garments,
Who was then punished for the sins of others.
We see that JESUS is the HOPE of all who fail and fall under temptation.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.
Vs. 21-23. Joseph prospers, even in prison.
“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy”
If God blessed Joseph in the pit, if He blessed Joseph the slave, we are not surprised to see that He blessed Joseph in prison. None of these terrible circumstances changed or defeated God’s plan for Joseph’s life.
Recap:
Joseph succeeded because of the blessing of God.
· The LORD was with Joseph, and he was successful. (Genesis 39:2)
· His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. (Genesis 39:3)
· The LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had. (Genesis 39:5)
Even after Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, God still blessed Joseph with His presence:
· But the LORD was with Joseph. (Genesis 39:21)
· The LORD was with him. (Genesis 39:23)
“The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing”
Just as it was in the house of Potiphar, Joseph rose to the top, becoming the chief administrator of the prison.
Through his experience in both places,
GOD was sharpening Joseph’s administrative skills that would be needed to one day save his family and the whole world.
*** “The Lord was with Joseph none the less when he was cast into the prison. He knew God was with him in prison, and therefore he did not sit down sullenly in his sorrow, but he bestirred himself to make the best of his afflicted condition.” (Spurgeon)***
Nowhere in this passage do we see Joseph sulking, questioning GOD, or even grumbling about his circumstances. Instead, we see him put out his best effort, to serve others with humility, while honoring GOD. And with that frame of mind, GOD blessed him in everything he did, even in the confines of slavery.
CONCLUSION:
How do you face difficulties in life?
Do you lift your head up and look to the LORD, or sulk in your misery?
Remember, GOD commanded us to be strong and courageous, because the LORD is WITH you!
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
How do you face the temptations of life?
Do you linger or run away as fast as you can?
And if we fail and fall…
1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Is your life a testimony to others of HIS work in you?
How is GOD blessing you?
What is GOD teaching you?
Is GOD using you to bless those around you?
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
