GENESIS

JOSEPH

Joseph in Egypt
In Potiphar's House

Genesis 39

INTRODUCTION

Many times when we read the story of Joseph we are impressed so much by the way that God moves among the great in order to accomplish His purposes. A study of ancient Egyptian history shows us even more how God was working to accomplish those purposes. Over a hundred years before the time of Joseph the Hyksos from modern-day Libya invaded Egypt and overthrew its Egyptian-born rulers. Foreigners now ruled over Egypt. Because the Hyksos were foreigners, the result was that an administration was now in charge of Egypt which was not hostile to foreigners. God had actually switched rulers in Egypt to prepare for Joseph's meteoric rise to power. What is even more stunning is that when God was ready for the Jews to leave the land of Egypt, He will have the Hyksos driven out of Egypt and replaced with native Egyptians who are now extremely suspicious of foreigners. We so often think of the great governments of the world as beyond the control of God. They are not beyond His control. He many times moves them as pawns in a chess game to accomplish His purpose in the lives of His people, in your life and my life.

Before looking at this story, we need to keep one other thing in mind. Two major figures are emerging in the Joseph stories. The first naturally is Joseph. The second though is Judah. Last week Moses devoted a lengthy chapter to this patriarch. At first it seems out of place in the Joseph stories. It is not. It shows that Judah who will play a major role later in the Joseph stories needs transformation. Last week's lesson revealed to Judah just exactly what kind of person he really was. He needed to confront himself before he could be transformed.

In this week's story we see the transformation process God is working in Joseph. There are 2 areas he needs tranformation if he is going to be able to save his people: first in the area of his skills and second in the area of his character. Unfortunately many times Christians focus on one or the other. Just as long as I am Christ-like, that's all that matters. Being Christ-like IS of ultimate importance (1 Cor. 12-14, especially chapter 13); however, God can used the skilled dedicated Christian in ways He won't use just the kind, godly soul. It took a Paul, a dedicated Christian thinker, to change the world for Christ.

JOSEPH'S RISE TO POWER IN POTIPHAR'S HOUSE (39:1-....)

When Joseph arrives in Egypt, the Ishmaelite slave traders sell him to Potiphar who is captain of the Pharaoh's bodyguard. One interpreter claims that "captain of the bodyguard" actually refers to "captain of Pharaoh's jails." This may make more sense of the story when Joseph is later thrown into prison.

Potiphar immediately recognizes that there is something special about Joseph. Look very closely at what Moses writes: "Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph," that is, he recognized that the Lord's hand was upon Joseph. Why? Because everything Joseph turned his attention to really flourished. The result was that Potiphar is so impressed with Joseph that he puts him in charge of his entire household. The only thing that Potiphar would concern himself with was his food and drink. (Since many assassinations in those days were by poison, he probably had a family member or close friend to superintend his food.)

In exalting Joseph, Potiphar definitely made sure that his chief administrator was outfitted well for his role. In order to stand before such a great person as Potiphar, Potiphar would have made sure that Joseph was well groomed. Moreover, he would have made sure that Joseph was dressed for the part, a nice outer robe would have made up part of his wardrobe. Just as a robe indicated his father' love for him, now Potiphar's robe indicated his great respect for Joseph. Robes are definitely playing a major role in Joseph's life.

At this point Moses sounds an ominous note: "Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance." Since Joseph was probably either in his late teens or early 20's at the latest, he was definitely entering into his prime of life physically. He was definitely going to be attracting the attention of the eyes of women.

JOSEPH AND POTIPHAR'S WIFE (39:......)

One of the women Joseph was attracting was none other than Potiphar's wife. When you look at Egyptian hieroglyphics, you will see that some women played a prominent role in Egypt's history, Nefriteri, for one. The women of great men tended to be great in their own right as well. Potiphar's wife holds an exalted position not only in her house but probably also in Pharaoh's court. She is used to getting what she wants.

At first she begins to entice Joseph into having sexual relations with her. When she does not succeed, she becomes more forceful in her efforts. At this point Joseph replies that he could not do such a thing to his master. His master, her husband, had been so gracious to him that he had not only exalted him but that he had put him in charge of everything. The only thing Joseph was not touch was her.

Instead of being touched by his devotion to Potiphar, Potiphar's wife is now even more intent on having Joseph. One day while all the servants are out of the house (has she sent them away?), she pounces upon Joseph as he enters the house to perform his duties. Joseph struggles with her until he is finally able to wrest himself from her and flee the house. Unfortunately, she has been able to strip off him his robe (probably outer robe). When the servants return, she shows them Joseph's robe and claims that this is proof he has tried to rape her. (It's ironic that robes get Joseph into more trouble than anything else. First the robe of many colors with his brothers and now the outer robe with Potiphar and his wife.) When Potiphar returns, she likewise points to the robe as evidence Joseph has tried to rape her. The wrath of a woman scorned can be a horror to behold.

At this point Joseph may think that he is going to be OK. Surely, Potiphar will remember that he recognized the Lord's hand on his life, the very reason he had exalted Joseph in the first place. Surely such a person would never do what his wife claim he did. Moreover, Joseph is righteous in this affair. In fact throughout his entire life, we are impressed with Joseph's righteous behavior. Surely the Lord was going to protect him. He is in for a rude awakening.

When Potiphar's wife accuses Joseph of rape--holding out to him Joseph's robe as evidence, Potiphar is angry. There was no doubting the wife's claim. Joseph was guilty and had to be punished. Potiphar had believed his wife completely.

But had he? Potiphar only throws Joseph into prison as his punishment. Shouldn't the rape of a great man's wife by a foreign slave be punishable by death, the very punishment she was probably wanting for Joseph? The fact that Potiphar only imprisons Joseph and doesn't execute him may be evidence that Potiphar was not quite so sure. Whatever the reason, Potiphar only imprisons Joseph.

From our perspective Joseph may have been shown grace by Potiphar. From Joseph's perspective, I am not so sure he felt he had been graced. He had done such a such job and had been innocent of the charges she levelled against him. So why is he now in prison? Whatever was going through Joseph's mind, he responds positively to his new situation. Whenever the chief jailer assigns a duty for Joseph to fulfill, he fulfills it beautifully. The chief jailer is so impressed that he actually places him second in charge of the jail. Once more even in a jail God exalts Joseph.

GLEANINGS FROM THE PASSAGE

The Concept of the Righteous Sufferer

Throughout the story of Joseph, we never see him doing anything really wrong. If wearing a cloak your father gives you and sharing dreams God has given you are wrong, then we are all in serious jeopardy of going to hell. You see in Joseph a good person who continually suffers because of the sins of others. He is going to be the first of a long line of righteous sufferers in the Bible, notably Job, the author of Psalms, the apostles (especially Paul), and ultimately Christ Himself.

One day God is going to vindicate His people completely. That day is the day of Christ' return. Until that day comes, none of His people are guaranteed that their good deeds will be rewarded. It is great when they are. As Christians, we are obligated to make sure that we do treat the righteous correctly (the argument that none of us is righteous does not apply here). We are obligated to treat people in our lives fairly and rightly.

However, the world is not primarly rule by righteous people. Power, greed, self-interest govern the actions of many. A malignant force is at work in this world. As a result, God's people should not expect to be treated rightly simply because they have lived for Jesus. Joseph's life is evidence of this truth.

God Uses the Wicked to Tansform His People

How great is God? He can take the evil that people do to us to use it for our great good. Joseph was a fine young man when he was sold into slavery; yet he was not all that he could be. God will use the Egyptian episodes to develop Joseph.

Many of us are good people. We're just not all that God intends for us to be. God has made us His sons and daughters. Throughout the rest of our lives He will work to make sure that we are truly becoming all that it means to be His son or daughter, even using the unrighteous treatment of the wicked.

In Joseph's particular case though he primarily needs to be developed in the area of administration. He defintely was born with administrative skills; howver, those skills had to be developed. God had probably developed Joseph as much as He could in Potiphar's house. More training was needed though. He didn't need to go directly from Potiphar's house to being second in command over all Egypt. He needed a more demanding task than Potiphar's house in order to prepare him for Pharaoh's court. The extensive jail system of Egypt would provide that opportunity for Joseph's growth. Both experiences in Potiphar's house and Pharaoh's jail would sharpen his administrative skills for the greatest task of administering a nation.

Some Things Are More Important than Your Comfort

But did God have to let Joseph be humiliated by Pharaoh's wife in order be more fully transformed? One thing we need to get into our minds is that our comfort is not God's top priority. The saving of Jacob's family and the coming of Christ was a lot more important to God than Joseph's feelings and comfort. God wanted to develop Joseph's skills, and if hurting his feeling was necessary to develop them, so be it.

Moreover, God has somebody He wants Joseph to meet in prison. Joseph needs a direct contact with Pharaoh in order for him to exalt Joseph. Just how could Joseph ever make such a contact in jail? Next week's story will show how.