Please explain Genesis 39 and relate it to everyday life.
Space prevents us from quoting this lengthy chapter but I would encourage you to read it. The lesson in this chapter is priceless. What is that lesson? Simply put, IF THE LORD IS WITH US, no matter how difficult our circumstances are, WE WILL BE BLESSED and THE WORLD WILL KNOW IT.
In verse 1 we see Joseph sold into the house of an Egyptian named Potiphar. But we read these precious words in verse 2, “And the LORD was with Joseph.” This made all the difference to Joseph, for though he was but a piece of merchandise to men, he was precious to God, and in grace the Lord walked in fellowship with him. We read next in verses 3-5, “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house….and the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.” Potiphar saw the Lord blessing Joseph and he elevated him to the highest position as steward over everything he owned, which in turn led to Potiphar being blessed by the Lord. Dear fellow-believer, we are left in this scene for the very same purpose, to walk in fellowship with the Lord, and to be a testimony and a blessing to the world.
In verses 7-20 Joseph’s faith was tested, for Potiphar’s wife had her eye on him and tried to seduce him. In verses 7-8 she tempts him by saying, “Lie with me,” but to Joseph’s credit we read, “But he refused.” What was it that gave Joseph the strength to resist such temptation? The answer lies in his words in verse 9, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” Notice, he didn’t say, “sin AGAINST POTIPHAR.” He surely would have been sinning against his master by lying with his wife, but he realized that all sin is, first and foremost, AGAINST GOD. After David sinned by committing adultery with Bathesheba he prayed to God in Psalm 51:4, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.” Joseph knew that he would be sinning AGAINST GOD and it was the knowledge that “the Lord was with him” that preserved him in this trial. This, dear brothers and sisters, is what will prevent us from giving in to temptation. We need to realize that THE LORD IS WITH US! Joseph was tempted day after day and eventually accused, by Potiphar’s wife, of trying to rape her. This resulted in what we read in verse 20, “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison.” How would Joseph handle this turn of events? He has been faithful all along and now he is cast into prison for a crime he never committed. It seems he didn’t even get a fair trial. Would Joseph become bitter towards the Lord for allowing this to happen and then have himself a good “pity party?”
It’s intensely interesting that we don’t actually read of Joseph’s reaction to these most difficult circumstances. Instead, we read in verse 21-22, “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keep of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison…the keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, and that which he did, THE LORD MADE IT TO PROSPER.” God knew what his servant was going through and He continued to make His presence known to Joseph, and blessed him as He had before, by giving him favor in the jailor’s eyes and in being given the highest position in the prison. We can infer from this that Joseph never stopped sensing that “the Lord was with him,” and thus his life continued to be a bright testimony and a blessing to all around him. Our prayer is that each believer will take this lesson to heart and that we’ll be like Joseph. (196.3) (DO)