Joseph finds himself sold into slavery; working for his new master, Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard.
Genesis 39:1 ESV 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.
Though it must have seemed at first that God abandoned him; God was with Joseph and everything that he was given to do, prospered. Potiphar made Joseph the overseer of his household and all that he had. He was completely trusted and Potiphar had absolute confidence in him.
Genesis 39:4-6 ESV 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. (5) 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. (6) 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.
Joseph was a handsome young man and he caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife. She tried to seduce him, but he refused her advances. One day she caught him in the house and no one else was around. She got aggressive with her desires and tore Joseph’s clothing from him as he fled from the house; leaving his garment in her hands.
Genesis 39:11-12 ESV 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, (12) 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.
She then cries out and accuses Joseph of rape. When Potiphar returns, he is enraged and throws Joseph into prison.
Genesis 39:19-20 ESV 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. (20) 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.
Falsely accused and abandoned, Joseph is not alone because the LORD is with him and everything that he puts his hand to prospers. The warden of the prison puts Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners because he is so trustworthy and successful.
Genesis 39:21-23 ESV But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (22) 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. (23) 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.
Sometimes it just seems like we cannot win. Joseph goes from being favored by his father to being sold into slavery by his brothers. His is bought by Potiphar, and though he is a slave, God blesses everything that he does. Just when he has worked his way into Potiphar’s good graces and is given special privileges; Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him and he is thrown into prison. God has not abandoned him; but blesses everything that he is given by the warden and he ends up receiving special privileges in prison. How would we fare in these types of circumstances? Life can seem very unfair at times. This is when God’s WORD and faith in God’s promises can see us through a difficult trial and time. We are never given anything that is not common to human life. God will not allow us to be tried more than we can bear and He will provide a way of escape. It may seem to be more than we can initially bear, but that is how God stretches us to endure more and grow in character. At the breaking point, God will strengthen our faith and provide us a way out!
1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
As Christians we are all familiar with the song Amazing Grace. Sometimes we sing songs and don’t hear the words. The song says, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun…” We sing those words, but do we believe them? It is no fun going through the pain and suffering of severe trials; but the words of the Apostles Paul will ring true if we believe them and look at the big picture of eternity. These few short years of human existence are nothing when compared with ten thousand years and against all of eternity; it is beyond our comprehension.
Romans 8:18 KJV For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us..
The words of Jesus Christ in His parables repeat over and over, the great value of living in His Kingdom, the world tomorrow; a kingdom yet to come. That is what we are being called to and preparing for. Yes we have to endure many trials. Our character is tested many times, because it is the means by which we are building and preparing for the future. The life of a Christian is one of transformation and our character is being transformed through trials and tribulation.
Romans 12:2 KJV And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It is easy to conform to the world, go with the flow of our peers and be laid back. It takes effort to go against this world for the high prize of being with Christ for all eternity. But this is nothing new. As children; we went to school. If we went with the flow; the best we could have hoped for, was to be average. Our grades would have been barely passing. Maybe that is what you did; and you are paying the price for it now. The top five percent, who were not only on the honor roll with high marks, but the high honor roll; those students had more choices. They paid the price of sacrifice for something better. The good news is that it doesn’t matter how well you did in school when it comes to your Christian calling and eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Everyone has an equal opportunity to grow in character; but it takes sacrifice; enduring trials. The prize makes it joy. We read about Jacob who loved Rachel so much that the seven years that he had to work for her father; for her hand in marriage; passed like days! When we read James in the New Testament who says count it all joy when trials come; he was not crazy! Knowing what God is doing in our lives makes it all joy, if we have faith and believe.
James 1:2-4 KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
When we endure injustices; these can be fiery trials of great intensity; like those Joseph went through. If we learn patience through them; we will have a great reward.
1 Peter 2:20 KJV For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
We must hold fast to the promises of God and never let them go. We must profess and confess that Christ is the mighty God, who will bring justice at His coming. He will not be mocked! Evil will not be rewarded and righteousness will not be punished. What we do now, will reap punishment or reward for all eternity.
Galatians 6:7-8 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Some people say that the Bible is only a book of fairy tales and myths. They mock and ridicule the WORD of God, which is to mock and ridicule God Himself. The WORD of God as preserved through the pages of your Bible; reveals the keys to abundant and rewarding life; not only in the flesh, but for eternity. These very fundamental stories of the book of Genesis are overflowing in knowledge and wisdom; faith and hope. They are current and contemporary with life today in the twenty first century. Read and mediate deeply on these stories. Internalize them with prayer. Let them guide your life.
Revelation 22:12 KJV And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Copyright © 2006, 2011 Thomas C. Blake
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