Genesis 39-40

Notes compiled with my BSF group and from Bible study with Pastor Damian Kyle

GOD TRAINS JOSEPH IN THE WAYS OF THE EGYPTIANS (Genesis 39-40)

Joseph first learned the politics of Egypt by working under Potiphar. In jail, Joseph learned about the justice system and the socioeconomic of Egypt. When Joseph finally met Pharaoh, he already had a clear idea of how Egypt was run and the culture of Egypt, making him ready to be placed in a leadership position.


Potiphar trusts Joseph (Genesis 39:1-6)
Joseph’s character was based on God. Unlike people back then where each person did things according to their own selfish wants and needs, Joseph’s standard was based on the Word of God. He could be trusted because he didn't operate selfishly. Joseph operated with the love of God for the people.


So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority (Genesis 39:4)

Joseph was being trained by God, being prepared to become the second most highest trained officer in Egypt. Joseph didn't know that at the time. He just followed God. Wherever God put him, Joseph followed faithfully.

Joseph's love for God exceeds the convenience of sinning (Genesis 39:7-12)
Let us make not beat the bush around it: Potiphar's wife was hot (powerful men, especially the Pharaoh, keep beautiful wives) and Joseph was hot (Genesis 39:6). Joseph was young and well-developed. It has been shown that men's greatest sexual desire peaks between 17-20 years of age. Sexual attraction would thus be one of the strongest temptations Joseph would have to face at the time. However, we see that when saying no was not enough, he ran as fast as he could away from the situation.


The idea here is that Joseph was able to resist the greatest temptation in his life at the time, setting us an example of how we should deal with sin.


According to the culture back then, no one would have batted an eye had Joseph taken up the offer from Potiphar's wife. In fact, it would have been conveniently easy to follow through. Joseph was already in a powerful position in the household. To get the lady of the house on his side as well? Even better.

We see, however, that Joseph never lost his way. He never once conceded to man's standards. He continued to follow God and continued to operate under God's standards. 

Joseph asked, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9)

Joseph loved God more than sin. Joseph's relationship with God was more sacred to him than satisfying sinful lusts.

God was with Joseph, giving him the power to say no. Similarly, we have the Holy Spirit within us, giving us that same power to resist temptation (Romans 6:1). Love protects us against sinning. Our love and passion for God should be like that of Joseph, a love that would help us conquer temptation of sin.

Joseph continues to trust in God, even when man treats him horribly unfair (Genesis 39:13-20)

Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison (Genesis 39:20)

This suggests that Potiphar did not believe the accusation. If he did, he would have had Joseph beheaded according to Egyptian law back then.


Even though Potiphar's action may show that he may have believed Joseph's innocence, he nevertheless sent Joseph straight to jail. Like Jesus, Joseph was innocent and wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit. And like Jesus, Joseph was sent to prison even though he was innocent.

This had to have been difficult for Joseph. He's been beaten down so much in his life: He's always done what is right in the eyes of the Lord, yet his brothers sold him as a slave, and now, he was thrown in jail for something he didn't even commit.

Here, Joseph faced another temptation that could be greater than the temptation of Potiphar's wife: Turning bitter against God, because he had been treated unfairly time after time--But he didn't.

Joseph avoided self-pity and bitterness by keeping God’s view on his situation. If all Joseph could do was moan and complain when he was sent to Egypt, he would not have become a trusted servant of Potiphar. If all Joseph did was moan and complain in jail, he would not have bothered to help the chief cupbearer who would later tell the Pharaoh about Joseph. And if the Pharaoh had never met Joseph, Joseph would have never been made the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt. And if Joseph never rose to that position, he would have never been able to save his family from the famine—and then, where would the family that was supposed to bring forth the Messiah be!

We see, instead, how Joseph was able to see God's use of his misfortunes for the greater good. He saw that although he was sold to Egypt, he was able to be positioned by God to save his people. Instead of focusing on his horrible circumstances, he focused on accomplishing God's will. 

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (Genesis 39:21)

It is amazing how much we can endure when we know that things are right with God!

Joseph shows compassion even under horrendous circumstances (Genesis 40:1-8)

Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" (Genesis 40:6-7)

Joseph had just been thrown into jail for a crime he didn't even commit. He had every reason to be depressed and not care about the people around him--He had enough problems of his own! However, we see that Joseph didn't just sit in jail feeling sorry for himself and moping in the corner of a jail cell. Instead, he focused on helping others. He saw that the chief cupbearer and the chief baker were both puzzled and sad, and Joseph immediately went to them to help them out.


Joseph faithfully shares God's message (Genesis 40:9-19)
To the chief cupbearer, Joseph had great news. To the chief baker, Joseph had bad news. In each case, we see Joseph telling the news--good or bad--faithfully according to God's revelation. Joseph didn't try to sugar-coat the message to the chief baker. Joseph didn't only say the good so that people would not be offended. He shared whatever God had given him to say. Joseph was not afraid to tell God's truth, no matter how bad that truth may sound to the human ear.

God is all-powerful and all-knowing (Genesis 40:20-22)
Just as Joseph revealed to both the chief cupbearer and chief baker, the chief cupbearer was restored to his position whereas the chief baker was executed.

When prophecies are fulfilled, God's sovereignty is revealed, and his messengers are redeemed.

The chief cupbearer forgets about Joseph (Genesis 40:23)
Although Joseph held up to his end of the deal, the chief cupbearer seemed to have forgotten about Joseph the minute he saw the light. This must have been extremely disheartening for Joseph. Up to now, his life had been fairly rough. His brothers hated him; Potiphar sent him to jail; and now, he was left forgotten in jail. It seemed like people just used Joseph and then tossed him away when they were done. At that moment in time, even the strongest person would get knocked down a bit.

If Joseph was knocked down, we sure don't notice it. As he has continuously shown, Joseph just gets right back up and keeps on following God.

Years later, Joseph's patience would be rewarded. When God gave Pharaoh a dream that no one else could interpret, the chief cupbearer finally remembered Joseph and brought Joseph to the Pharaoh's attention.

Life is funny sometimes. There are so many factors we wish we could control, but the truth is, there are just too many factors we are not aware of. Why do some things happen but not others. Why now, why 10 years from now, why never? Our lives, from where we are, are full of unknowns, but hindsight is 20/20.

Looking back, it seems reasonable why Joseph had to wait a few more years. Joseph needed to be fully mature and capable in the affairs of Egypt when he met the Pharaoh. He might not have been ready when the chief cupbearer got released. But when the timing was right, God provided the opportunity Himself and allowed Joseph to be raised up. This is a lot of guessing, but one thing is for sure, God has His timing, and He knows us better than ourselves. We may not understand what's going on at the time things are happening, but if we turn away from God, then what God has in place for us would not be fulfilled. If Joseph stopped following God, if he didn't have the patience to see God's will through, God would not have been able to place Joseph at the right hand of the Pharaoh -- and then, who would save Joseph's family, THE most important family in the world?

Stay focused on God. In Him, all things will be revealed. If not now, then later. Focus on God instead of our own sorrows, so that God can heal our wounds and work through us to fulfill His will.