PM Jan 16th Gen 39

January 16^th Genesis 39 Joseph and Potiphar’s wife

1: And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2: And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3: And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4: And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5: And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 7: And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8: But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10: And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11: And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12: And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13: And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14: That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16: And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17: And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. 19: And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20: And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21: But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22: And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23: The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Genesis 40 Joseph in Prison

1: And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2: And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3: And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4: And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5: And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6: And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7: And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8: And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9: And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10: And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11: And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12: And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14: But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16: When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17: And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18: And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20: And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21: And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23: Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

In chapter 39 and 40 we have the continuing narrative of Joseph in Potiphar’s house, of his temptation and victory and of his false accusation and suffering in prison. Joseph is taken to Egypt as a slave and he is sold into the house of the captain of the guard, Potiphar. However the most significant thing is that the LORD is with him and everything he does the Lord causes to prosper he was so effective that he is entrusted with the rule of all his house. He is in effect the butler or the house keeper. This was going to be great training for Joseph. When the Lord wants to do something in our lives he gives us opportunities to prove ourselves and he entrusts us with increasing responsibility. God blessed Potiphar and everything that he did for Josephs sake. Potiphar’s wife noticed Joseph and wished to have him. She tempted him and tried to seduce him but he refused. He told her how could l replay the trust of my master by stealing his wife? He said this would not just be a sin against my master but a sin against God. One day he was alone in the house carrying out his work when Potiphar’s wife came in and took hold of his coat. She said lie with me but he fled and left his coat in her hand. She called the men and accused Joseph of trying to seduce her and he is thrown into prison. Joseph is like the Lord he is victorious in temptation. Joseph was put in the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. But the LORD was with Joseph in prison and he took charge of everything that happened in the prison. Joseph was learning. One day two new prisoners came into the prison the king’s butler and the king’s baker. These two men came under the responsibility of Joseph. Then both men had dreams. Dreams were an instrument of the Lord to reveal his will. Especially in the absence of a prophet or the word of God and especially in a Gentile setting. Joseph said the interpretation of dreams belongs to the LORD tell me your dream. The chief butler said that he saw a vine which had three branches and they burst into flower and then bore fruit. And he said Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand and l took the grapes and squeezed them into the cup and gave the cup to Pharaoh. Joseph said oh well the interpretation is that in three days you will be restored to office as the king’s cupbearer. But will you please remember me when you are restored to office. And he told him his story. The Baker was encouraged by the things he had heard and he told his dream. He said l saw a man with three baskets on his head but the birds came and ate the bread from the top basket. Joseph said in three days you will be beheaded and you will be hung on a tree and the birds will feed on your body. Three days later it was Pharaoh’s birthday and he made a feast for all his servants and he restored the butler and hanged the baker. But the butler forgot about Joseph. The promises of God would not be fulfilled by ordinary human means. God himself would remember Joseph.

• Outline the parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Christ.
• How was Joseph tested before the Lord raised up up?
• How did the Lord bring him to the attention of the king of Egypt?