OceanSide church of Christ

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FROM POTIPHER’S HOUSE TO PRISON

Genesis 39

Victor M. Eskew

 

I.           The Title of Genesis 39

 

A.   How to Resist Temptation

B.    Joseph in Potipher’s House

C.   From Potipher’s House to Prison

D.   A Godly Man Falsely Accused

E.    The Lord Was with Joseph

F.     The Lord Blesses the Loyal

 

II.         The Key Verse of Genesis 39:  Genesis 39:20

 

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 prison.

 

Why this verse?  This verse presents Joseph’s transition from Potipher’s house to prison.  As we read this verse, we ask:  “Why was Joseph cast into prison?”  A study of the previous verses reveals the answer.

 

III.       The Outline of Genesis 39

 

i.               POTIPHER’S HOUSE (Gen. 39:1-20)

 

A.   Sold (Gen. 39:1)

B.    Supplied (Gen. 39:2-3)

C.   Strengthened (Gen. 39:4-6)

D.   Seduced (Gen. 39:7-13)

E.    Slandered (Gen. 39:14-18)

F.     Subjugated (Gen. 39:19-20)

 

ii.              PRISON (Gen. 39:21-23)

 

IV.        The Lessons of Genesis 39

 

A.   God is always with His faithful.

1.     “And the Lord was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:2)

2.     “And his master saw that the Lord was with him” (Gen. 39:3)

3.     “But the Lord was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:21)

4.     “…because the Lord was with him” (Gen. 39:23)

 

B.    The Lord blesses the loyal.

1.     “…and he was a prosperous man” (Gen. 39:2).

2.     “…and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen. 39:3).

3.     “…that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (Gen. 39:5).

4.     “…and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Gen. 39:21).

5.     “…and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper” (Gen. 39:23).

 

C.   Was the sale of Joseph to Potipher mere coincidence, or, was it the providence of God? (Gen. 39:1).

 

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potipher, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.

 

D.   Proper service to one’s master brings grace and promotion (Gen. 39:4).

 

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.

 

E.    A righteous person can bring blessings to those around them (Gen. 39:5).

 

…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.

 

F.     Faithful servants can be highly trusted by their masters (Gen. 39:6a).

 

And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and knew not aught that he had, save the bread which he did eat.

 

G.   Would that what was said of Joseph could be said of all of God’s children (Gen. 39:6b).

 

… And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.

 

H.   Even the most blessed and prosperous of God’s people do not escape tempta-tion (Gen. 39:7).

 

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

 

I.     All of God’s faithful can resist temptation (Gen. 39:8a).

 

But he refused…

 

1.     Refused:  to refuse, X utterly

2.     Two verses:

a.     James 4:7

 

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

 

b.    I Peter 5:9a

 

Whom resist stedfast in the faith…

 

J.    There are always a host of reasons why we should not submit to temptation.  The greatest reason is so we do not sin against God (Gen. 39:8b-9).

 

…and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me, but thee, because thou art his wife:  how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

 

1.     To yield would mean he would violate his master’s trust.

2.     To yield would mean he would lose his position within the house.

3.     To yield would mean that he would lose the blessings he received of his master.

4.     To yield would mean that he would violate the covenant of marriage.

5.     To yield would mean that he would sin against his God.

 

K.   Temptation can be persistent (Gen. 39:10).

 

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.

 

L.    Sometimes added precautions are necessary to protect ourselves from sin (Gen. 39:10b).

 

…that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

 

1.     Could this have been why Eve said what she did to the serpent? (Gen. 3:2-3)

 

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

 

2.     Man is not to commit adultery with a woman.  However, we may need to add the extra precaution to never be alone with another woman to prevent this.

3.     Our children are not to commit the sin of lasciviousness.  In order to prevent this, we will not allow them to attend the prom.

 

M.  The child of God can find himself in bad situations that are beyond his control (Gen. 39:11-12a).

 

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.  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me…

 

 

N.   God provides us with ways to escape sin if we will use them (Gen. 39:12b).

 

…and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

 

1.     See I Corinthians 10:13

 

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 of escape, that he may be able to bear it.

 

O.   When evil people do not get what they want from us, they will often lie about us in order to get revenge against the righteous (Gen. 39:13-15).

 

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 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:  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.

 

P.    At the hands of evil individuals, good circumstances for the righteous can quickly become bad (Gen. 39:16-20).

 

And she lay up his garment by her, until his lord came home.  And she spake unto him accord-ing to these words…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.   And Joseph’s master took him, and put him in prison, a place where the king’s pri-soners were bound:  and he was there in prison.

 

Q.   A person can get angry and  make wrong decisions based upon faulty information (Gen. 39:19b-20a).

 

…that his wrath was kindled.  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him in prison…

 

R.    The righteous can overcome deplorable circumstances by means of righteous living (Gen. 39:21b-22).

 

…and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  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.