*Genesis 39:1-23
Sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph thrives in Potiphar’s house but is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown in prison.
- Joseph in Potiphar’s House:
- Joseph is taken to Egypt and purchased as a slave by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard.
- The Lord is with Joseph, enabling him to succeed in everything he does. Potiphar notices this and appreciates Joseph’s abilities, eventually appointing him as the overseer of his household and all that he owns.
- God’s Blessing on Potiphar’s Household:
- With Joseph in charge, the Lord blesses Potiphar’s household and possessions for Joseph’s sake.
- Potiphar trusts Joseph completely, benefiting from his service and only concerning himself with the food he ate. All other household and field matters are managed by Joseph.
- Joseph’s Temptation:
- Potiphar’s wife repeatedly attempts to seduce Joseph, but he refuses her advances, citing his loyalty to Potiphar and his moral obligation not to sin against God.
- Despite her persistence, Joseph consistently rejects her propositions to maintain his integrity and his faithfulness to God.
- False Accusation by Potiphar’s Wife:
- Frustrated by his rejections, Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph of attempting to assault her, using a piece of his garment that she seized when he fled her advance as evidence.
- She tells this version of the story first to the household servants and then to Potiphar, sparking his anger.
- Joseph’s Imprisonment:
- Potiphar reacts to his wife’s accusations by imprisoning Joseph. However, even in prison, the Lord is with Joseph.
- Joseph gains the favor of the prison warden, who soon realizes Joseph’s exceptional character and entrusts him with the responsibility of overseeing all the prisoners and all prison activities.
- God’s Continued Blessing in Prison:
- The Lord continues to bless Joseph’s efforts in the prison, leading the warden to put no burden on Joseph because the Lord is with him and makes everything he does successful.
Genesis 39:1-23 teaches us about integrity, faithfulness, and trusting God in difficult times. Joseph remained honest and did what was right, even when he was falsely accused and sent to prison. This reminds us that doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but God is always with us. Even in unfair situations, He can bring good out of our struggles. This passage encourages us to stay faithful, make choices with integrity, and trust that God sees our efforts and will bless us in His perfect time.
Genesis 39:1-23 (WEB)
39:1 Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. 4 Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 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 LORD’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. 6 He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”8 But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”10 As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. 12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!”He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside. 13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, 14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. 15 When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.” 16 She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. 17 She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me, 18 and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”19 When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled. 20 Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it. 23 The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it prosper.