So we’ve been back in our main sermon series through the book of Genesis for a few weeks now. And remember we’ve begun the final section from chapter 37-50 that focuses on the sons of Jacob.[1] As this section began in chapter 37, Jacob makes it clear that Joseph is his favorite son, which of course made Joseph the least favorite brother. To make matters worse Jacob gave Joseph a special robe to signify his special status. And to make matters even more worse Joseph not only had a dream that his dad, mom, and brothers would bow down to him one day, but he thought it was a great idea to share that dream with them all. Well, it might’ve been a dream to Joseph but it was a nightmare to his brothers. How did the brothers respond? With a near attempted murder, lies, and selling him into slavery. Everything about Joseph’s life was about to get worse, and then better, and then worse, and better, and worse, over and over, until everything got a lot better in the end.
Today we pick back up in the narrative in chapter 39. There are three headings before us. First see…
Successful in the Palace (v1-6)
“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.”
v1 picks up where chapter 37 ended, with Joseph being sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites. But then notice, he’s bought again by someone named Potiphar, described as an officer of Pharaoh and a captain of the guard, so clearly he’s an important Egyptian in the higher ranks of the government. This Potiphar buys Joseph and brings him down to Egypt.
This is certainly not a comfortable spot for Joseph. His situation has taken a drastic downturn from favored son to slave. But v2 states a truth that helps us interpret these events in a far more favorable light, “the LORD was with Joseph.” As God was with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so too now we read of God being with Joseph. So despite all the setbacks, abrupt change of circumstances, positive and negative, God remains with him. It is because of this that v2 goes on to say Joseph became a successful man in the house of his master. So successful indeed that his master took notice, and as v3 says, recognized that the Lord was with Joseph and caused all of Joseph’s work to succeed. This is the ideal master/slave or boss/employee situation isn’t it? I don’t think I’ve ever had a job, outside the church that is, where a boss of mine had seen all the hard work I’d done and recognized that God was with me and was blessing my endeavors. But this is exactly the case with Joseph in Potiphar’s house.
And it’s even expanded on in v4-6, that Joseph found favor with Potiphar, that he attended to Potiphar directly, and that he oversaw his house and all he had so well that from the very moment Joseph began doing this it says the Lord’s blessing was on Potiphar’s house. So for this high ranking Egyptian official, everything in his possession, was so blessed by the Lord that Potiphar’s only concern was the food he ate (private affairs). All else was under Joseph’s masterful care. This is rightly called success, but its more, its success observed, where the blessing of the slave becomes the blessing of the master.[2]
Now, two brief things are worth noticing in v1-6 here before we move on. First, in v5 we read, “…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.” Question: where else in Genesis have we heard this word blessed occur? Many times, yes, but specifically this word blessed and blessingbrings our attention back to Abraham. There in chapter 12 God promised him that He would bless Abraham, and that through Abraham God would bless the whole world. We can see here in God’s blessing of Potiphar’s house how God is making good on that promise and that the world is indeed beginning to be blessed through Abraham’s descendants.[3]
Second, notice how v6 ends? “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” This is descriptive. There are only two people in the entire OT who are described in such glamorous terms as a ‘fine figure and a beautiful face.’ Joseph is described like that here, and his mother Rachel is described like this as well back in chapter 29. Some of you men are thinking it right? Some guys have all the luck don’t they?! Not only is he a hard worker, not only does God’s blessing attend to him, but he’s the sexiest man alive too?? Before you conclude it’s all rosy for Joseph in Egypt, let me say that this detail is not just descriptive in v6, it’s a foreboding detail too.[4] Among all Joseph’s blessings, it appears he suffers from one blessing too many, a stunning appearance.[5] This detail prepares us as readers for what’s ahead in the rest of chapter 39.
Handsome and Hunted (v7-20)
“And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 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?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. 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. 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.”
v7 brings us right into the action. Here is Potiphar’s wife with a single demand, “Lie with me.” Normally it is a man who makes sexual demands with force and a woman who seduces with speech. Here though we have a uniquely forceful approach by a woman toward a man.[6] But we must keep in mind who she is and who Joseph is. She is the wife of a high ranking Egyptian official. She is a very wealthy woman, a powerful woman, a woman who is not told no very often, and a woman who is likely used to getting her own way because of all these things. Joseph remember, is a slave, yes, but he’s one of the most stunningly handsome slaves this woman has ever seen. And more so, sexual deviance was normal in this culture among slaves, so it would’ve been a regular thing for a slave to engage in sexual acts as part of their enslavement.[7]
Praise God before this scene devolves any further Joseph, notice in v8-9, doesn’t flee but makes a very logical response to her, in which he gives her four reasons why he cannot do such a thing with her.[8] Reason 1, Potiphar has entrusted him with everything in the house. Reason 2, everything, that is, except his own wife. So how could Joseph sin against his master by taking her when she doesn’t belong to him? Reason 3, to him such a deed is considered not just wickedness, but great wickedness. And reason 4, to do this would be to sin against God. Despite these four reasons, in v10, we see she remained persistent. Day after day she kept speaking to Joseph in this way, seeking to lure him in. But as persistent as she was, so was Joseph. He never gave in. What a contrast Joseph makes here to Judah in the previous chapter who gave his lusts full room to run wild. Joseph does stand out here as exemplary.
But in v11-12 everything changes. One particular day when Joseph came into the house, no one else was present, Potiphar’s wife rushed in, grabbed ahold of him, and demanded to lie with him. Joseph didn’t reason here, he fled, but on his way out he lost an outer garment, leaving it behind with her. v13 and following indicates that as she’s sitting there with this garment she forms a plan. She firstly calls all the servants in to share what occurred. But notice her beginning in v14, “…he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us.” Who is the he she is referring to? It must be Potiphar. Apparently before she blames Joseph for trying to rape her, she sarcastically blames Potiphar for bringing Joseph into the house in the first place.[9] Then she shares how he came in to lie with her, fled when she screamed, and left this garment of his behind. Note that this is the second time a garment of Joseph is being used against him. Before it was his special robe, here it’s his outer garment. Then when Potiphar reenters the narrative in v16-18 he gets told the same story, including being blamed for bringing in this Hebrew.
Potiphar’s response is quite intriguing. In v19 he gets angry. But, ask the question, who is his anger towards? Is it Joseph? It doesn’t say it is. We might assume it’s Joseph but I think a better case can be made that his anger is actually against his wife. I think Potiphar is angry at her because he knows who she is. He knows that she can be quite difficult to deal with, that she’s prone to make demands of many people to get what she wants, that she’s done it again here in this situation, and that because of her he’s lost his greatest and most successful servant he’s ever had.[10] I think this is further proved in v20 where we see the punishment he gives to Joseph. For seeking to sleep with his wife you’d think Potiphar would allow the full force of the law to be brought down on Joseph by putting him to death, but he doesn’t do this. Instead he gives a milder sentence, and doesn’t even place Joseph in a prison with normal criminals, he places him where the king kept his own prisoners. All of this put together, I think, makes a good case that Potiphar who knew the innocent party really was.[11]
Successful in the Prison (v21-23)
“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.”
What an end of the chapter to see here. It feels like it’s the same as the beginning just with the names switched out. As God was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house, blessing his work abundantly, so much so that Potiphar only had concern for his private affairs, so too God is with Joseph in prison, blessing his work, giving him favor, and so much favor that the keeper of the prison, like Potiphar, cared for nothing in Joseph’s charge because it was handled so well. There’s one addition here that wasn’t in the beginning of the chapter. In v21 it says God showed Joseph steadfast love. This is the Hebrew word hesed which doesn’t just mean steadfast love or lovingkindness or faithfulness, but a covenantal love and devotion. This is our cue to see that the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are here continuing on here with Joseph. God was with him in the house, and God is with him now in prison.
Conclusion:
To conclude, lets pull on a few threads from this.
On Consistency
This might be a small point to make, but it’s important to notice. Whether he was in the palace or in the prison Joseph was the same man.[12] Many look to Joseph here and simply point out how he’s a model fleeing lust and temptation. We’ll look at that next, but before we do don’t miss his consistency. We can use an example of consistency in our day. Our world changes so quick, and everything around us shouts at us that we can change who we are with every whim we feel too. How refreshing is it to see someone who’s the same regardless of how prosperous he is or how impoverished he is. Joseph is not a kind of chameleon, changing who he is based on who he’s around or what circumstances he’s in. No, he’s the same boring hard worker in the palace that he is in the prison. Boring might not be the right word here, but that’s probably how some viewed him. I think we could use some more boring in our world today. People who so content in Christ that they’re comfortable who they are, wherever they are, regardless. People that are so satisfied in Christ that they don’t feel as if they must maintain a certain image, but are predictably keen on being themselves. In a world like ours today, I think we can use a bit more consistent boring predictability from Christians.
On Sexuality
Joseph truly is exemplary in his avoidance of sexual sin. Giving in to Mrs. Potiphar could’ve easily been justified.[13] He was slave, should he not obey? He was a 17 or 18 year old young man whose hormones were raging, why should he deny himself? No one was in the house, who would’ve known? Maybe a little adultery would further enhance his position in Egypt? He was burdened with being stunningly handsome. Didn’t that come with struggles of its own? And going way back, he knew the scorn of many older brothers, the hardship of betrayal, the suffering of slavery, and the lostness of being far from home. He could’ve very easily acted out in this moment from anger and resentment alone. Yet, he doesn’t.
Why? Because it was sin against God. The God who had been with him in his suffering. Surely there is much here for us to learn. Much more than time permits. But see it Church, linger on it, the knowledge of who we sin against can be used, ought to be used, as a reason to avoid, to fight, and to flee sins of all kinds.
On Redemption
In this chapter there is a pattern to see, that reverberates down throughout redemptive history.[14] Joseph here experiences an exaltation, a humiliation, and an exaltation. Israel will experience this same pattern too. Because of Joseph they will enjoy an exaltation in Egypt for a time, only to be cruelly enslaved shortly after, but out of which God delivers them in the Exodus. Exaltation, humiliation, exaltation. God was with them the whole time as He was with Joseph.
And of course, Jesus experiences this same pattern as well. Being eternally exalted in the heavens with the Father and Spirit for all eternity past, He willingly humiliated Himself in the incarnation in suffering for sinners in His death on the cross, only to be exalted once again in the resurrection and ascension. Throughout all His ministry the Father was with the Him as well. So too, in all our lives we will experience this pattern as well. Exalted by God Himself in salvation, being raised out of our graves of death to walk in newness of life through the gospel, launched out into a Christian life where we will be mistreated, maligned, and mocked for Christ, suffering for Him in various ways, only to be exalted once again in the end as we meet Him face to face in glory.
Church, throughout all of this, felt or unfelt, seen or unseen, in the palace or in prison, be encouraged, God is with us. And if God is with us, what can come against us?
[1] Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021) 74.
[2] Derek Kidner, Genesis (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008), 201.
[3] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 16-50, WBC (Waco, TX: Zondervan, 2000), 374.
[4] Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2001), 520.
[5] Wenham, Genesis 16-50, 374.
[6] Waltke, Genesis, 521.
[7] R. Kent Hughes, Genesis, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2004), 462.
[8] John D. Currid, Genesis 25:19-50:26, EP Study Commentary (Holywell, UK: Evangelical Press, 2015), 222.
[9] Currid, 225.
[10] Waltke, Genesis, 521.
[11] Kidner, Genesis, 202–3.
[12] Kidner, 203.
[13] Hughes, Genesis, 462–63.
[14] Waltke, Genesis, 523.
