And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (the top executioner of Egypt), paid the price. He bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.
Only seventeen-years-old, but Joseph’s world changed overnight. He was sent to Egypt, a pagan place filled with religious superstition. The Egyptians worshipped as many as two thousand gods and goddesses. And of course, they worshipped the pharaoh himself.
It was here in this teeming big metropolis of wickedness and idolatry that Joseph arrived as a slave. Up to that point, he had lived a sheltered life. Joseph basically was a country boy coming to the big city.
Joseph was sold to Potiphar, whom the Bible identifies as “captain of the guard” (Genesis 39:1 NKJV). This meant Potiphar was a high-ranking Egyptian official, the head of the military police. He also was head of the royal bodyguard, a Secret Service of sorts, as well as chief of the executioners. Potiphar was a man to be feared.
Yet Joseph wasn’t intimidated at all by Potiphar. Why? God was there for Joe on every turn. See Verse 3 of Genesis 39 -- yep, it gives us the answer: “the Lord was with him” (NKJV). Joseph was a classic example of Psalm One: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;.. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (verses 1, 3 NKJV).
Elijah, too, could walk courageously into the court of Ahab and Jezebel and speak the words God had given him: “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1 NKJV, emphasis added). Elijah recognized that wherever he went, he was standing before God.
Joseph understood this as well. Do you know the Lord is with you, too? If you’re a Christian, He is with you. Wherever you go, God is there and he can help you like He did Joseph to walk free and stay free with spiritual victory.
Potiphar’s wife was a loose and deceptive woman. It started with a thought -- it wasn't a good one. Nope wasn't, she had a really evil thought and then kept acted on it. That’s where sinful lust starts, up there in between two ears.
Run like Joe ran. Bolt, split, act like a tree and leave! The Bible teaches us to flee from youthful passions and lusts as we pursue righteousness, faith, real love and peace with God's praying family members. (2 Tim. 2:22).
Run like Joe ran. Bolt, split, act like a tree and leave! The Bible teaches us to flee from youthful passions and lusts as we pursue righteousness, faith, real love and peace with God's praying family members. (2 Tim. 2:22).
Have you turned, trusted and put on the helmet of salvation in Christ? Do you let the Spirit whose first name is.. Holy.. control you?
We all face it, we all have blown it at times and we all need to be washed by God. Oscar Wilde said, “I can resist everything except temptation.” That’s the problem with temptation. It’s so tempting. But sometimes we unnecessarily put ourselves in the way of it.
There in the Old Testament is the story of Joseph, a man who faced some heavy-duty temptations but overcame them. Joseph’s world suddenly changed when his brothers sold him to a group of traveling slave traders. Overnight he went from a life of relative comfort to a life of uncertainty.
Joseph was sent to Egypt, a pagan country filled with religious superstition. The Egyptians worshiped as many as 2,000 gods and goddesses, as well as animals, insects and the Nile River. And of course they worshiped the Pharaoh himself. They also were given over to gross immorality.
Here in this place of wickedness and idolatry, 17-year-old Joseph arrived on the scene. He was effectively a country boy coming to the big city. Joseph was purchased by a man named Potiphar, identified in Genesis 39:1 as “captain of the guard.” This meant Potiphar was a high-ranking Egyptian official, head of the military police. He also was in charge of the royal bodyguard (a Secret Service of sorts) and was the chief of the executioners. In other words, Potiphar was one bad dude.
Joseph, however, wasn’t intimidated at all. Why? Genesis 39:2 gives us the answer: “The LORD was with Joseph” (NKJV). Joseph was a classic example of Psalm 1, which says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season” (v. 1–3 NKJV).
Potiphar was a hard dude to work for, but Joseph labored doing his best. He worked with complete integrity. Joseph was so successful at what he did that Potiphar made him his executive assistant. He was second in command in Potiphar’s household.
Sometimes when things are going well, we become more vulnerable. When we can’t always make ends meet, or we’re sick, or we’re having challenges, we are dependent on God. But when things are going well, when we have a little extra money in the bank and our health is good, that is when temptation will hit. That’s when it hit Joseph.
Genesis 39 tells us that “Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. ‘Come and sleep with me,’ she demanded” (verse 7 NLT).
But Joseph didn’t listen to his flesh or to her. He refused her. He told her, “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (verse 9 NLT). Joseph’s “no” to Potiphar’s wife was a “yes” to God. It pleased God.
From that point on, Joseph did his best to steer clear of her. But then we’re told, “One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, ‘Come on, sleep with me!’ Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house” (verses 11–12 NLT).
That’s the way you deal with sin. You turn around and run--sprint like an olympiad. You quickly put as much distance between what’s tempting and yourself..as much as you possibly can. You need to run, just sprint and blow that lame clambake -- get out of there.
Maybe you’re living in an ungodly place right now. Maybe you’re the only believer in your family or the only Christian in your neighborhood. Maybe you’re the only Christian in your classroom or in your workplace. You know what it’s like to be in a wicked place. You’re thinking, “It’s hard. I’m surrounded by temptation day and night. I don’t know that I can stay pure in a place like this.”
Joseph was able to. And his life shows us there is a blessing waiting for the man or the woman who resists temptation. I know it’s hard in the moment. I know the pressure is on. I know it isn’t easy. But say no to temptation, and you will be blessed. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (NKJV). That word blessed could just as easily be translated “happy.” Happy is the man or the woman who resists temptation.
Everyone will be tempted. But temptation isn’t a sin; it is a call to spiritual battle basically. It can even be an indication that you’re moving in the right direction. After all, Jesus was tempted at the beginning and the end of his ministry. If he faced it, why do we think it will be any different for us?
There are consequences to sin--some seen early and some seen later if we don’t confess, repent and forsake the sin. Joseph understood that. No matter how clever someone thinks they have been in covering it up, their sin will find them out.
God’s standards are absolute; they don’t change. Even if what you’re being tempted to do might be socially acceptable, even though everyone is doing it, it doesn’t matter. God holds us to a higher standard.
Realize that all sin is against God. Our love for God should be our greatest deterrent against any and all sin. Realize.. suffering unjustly.. it can also be used by God to prepare us for a special task He has ahead for us.
As for Joseph, he prospered in Egypt. But that prosperity included spending some time in prison after Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape. It looked like a bleak scenario, but Joe actually got off easy. Potiphar could have executed him without any approval needed from any one. Yes, things worked out very well for Joseph in the end.
What was happening in the palace of the Pharaoh? Well, the court magicians had been called in to go to work on his dreams. The King wanted them to interpret his dreams. In Pharaoh’s first dream, there were seven healthy, fat cows that came up out of the Nile River from their swim. And they were followed by seven cows that were anorexic in a sense -- ugly, skinny and gaunt. Then those seven thin cows attacked-- they came up and ate the seven healthy cows. Weird, cows craving T-bone steaks.
But in the king’s next dream, Pharaoh saw seven plump heads of grain, strong and healthy, growing there on a single stalk. After them, there were seven thin heads of grain that sprouted up ...but then totally scorched by the east wind. These withered heads of grain attacked -- they swallowed up the healthy ones. Weird, wheat crazing other wheat. Another cannibalistic kinda dream!
The court magicians failed. They were the people who were supposed to have the inside scoop on the supernatural world around the king, who he presumably should interpret any of his dreams too, but they were speechless. Couldn’t do it. The people most consider to be the intelligentsia of the whole kingdom..choked. The wisest of the wise men in the land went lame. Yet they didn’t have a clue and stayed clueless.
God was intervening and silencing these men, preparing to bless Joseph. He was preparing the ground for a big Jewish family reunion.
Meanwhile, the butler basically said to Pharaoh, Excuse me Sir, I just now recall something I should have never forgotten. I met this guy who impressed me in the prison. His name was Joseph. No ordinary dude. He has the ability from God to interpret dreams. I had a dream you see, and he flat out interpreted it for me. And guess what.. It all happened just as he said. He also accurately interpreted the dream of the former baker. He’s your man--he is the guy that can interpret dreams.
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and Joseph was cleaned up quickly and then brought into the presence of the most powerful man on earth. Joe wasn’t even intimidated over this.
See Genesis 41, it tells us about their meeting: “And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.’ So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace’” (verses 15–16 nkjv).
Listen, the one who prays before God can stand up before any man and do God’s will. This reminds us of Daniel’s bold words to another king.. king Nebuchadnezzar as well as King Belshazzar. Remember Elijah’s courageous stance before King Ahab, or John the Baptist’s stance and daring words to evil King Herod. They stood up for the Lord and what was true. They were no-compromise on what they believed--just Joseph was before Pharaoh in Egypt.
Therefore Pharaoh told Joseph about his dream, and Joseph flat out interpreted it. He explained that God had revealed to Pharaoh that he would have seven years of plenty and that he was to store up for the following years of famine. He gave the credit to God. He said that Pharaoh should appoint someone wise to rule over these things and make sure they done properly.
On the spot, Pharaoh thought this is the guy with enough wisdom. Joseph you are the candidate I need. Then the king appointed him as second in command over all of Egypt. Got a bunch of sweet perks too. Did Joe get puffed up or take the glory for self? Nope. I don’t think it entered his mind at all.
Maybe you’ve been tempted with an idea. Have you been considering something that you know is just wrong before God. What!? I haven’t done it and I’m not yet doing it. I’m just thinking about it some. Well, stop that.
Don’t even think about it. It has been said, “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” It starts with a little or bigger thought. Don’t even start down that road.
Joseph lived a godly life of honesty and uprightness--he was a good example to all. But you too can live a godly life above reproach and blameless. God can empower you as His witness in this corrupt world. He will fill you with his Spirit and give you the strength to be the man or woman he wants you to be.
Remember how Joseph’s cruel bros showed up all hungry down there in Egypt? Wow! Wouldn’t Joe’s own dreams be fulfilled? He might have been tempted to sin there by getting even with all of them. But he didn’t do it. Love covers.
Joseph could have made them suffer by turning his back on them. Didn’t do it. Instead, he tested them well (and saw that his younger brother Benny wasn’t some hated threat to them). And then Joe forgave them and even offered his help to all of them. He missed his family.
As believers, God graciously gives His forgiveness to us..no charge and no purgatory..though none of us deserve it. Do you need God’s forgiveness today? There is a grace to take hold of! Ask God to help and love through you.
However today, many people and even believers often find themselves unable to get together with their parents or family members. They can’t seem to find the grace to forgive those who have wronged them.
Forgiven people need to learn to be forgiving people. Testing ain't always bad--the Lord will lead you.
Not half-way forgiving, not sportatic in forgiving, but forgiving like the Lord does that. No need to rub their nose in what they did to you.
We all need to forgive people in our hearts (it’s not always wise to to tell some lost soul who thinks they’ve done you no wrong, Hey, I like forgive you, man).
In our world, everyone thinks forgiveness is such a nice wonderful and lovely thing .....until they have someone to forgive... someone who has wronged them. Maybe you are the one who has done them wrong.
The main reason why people should have a forgiving heart is because God commands us to forgive. We need to ask for it when we’ve hurt someone. From that forgiveness we receive and perhaps need to give out... there will be a wellbeing inside. You and I need to walk with that!
