Genesis 39

Have you ever uttered those words, “it can’t get any worse”?  Have you ever uttered those words, only to see things in fact get significantly worse?  Joseph’s brothers acknowledged the “anguish of Joseph’s soul” (Gen. 42:21) and this was when he was still within earshot of the brothers.  As things got seemingly further and further from the way he was depicted in the dreams, perhaps Joseph saw things get worse when he didn’t think they could get any worse.

Note the progress of the story in this chapter.

·        v1-6: Joseph’s life as a slave.  It is interesting that he became slave in the house of the “chief executioner” of Pharaoh.  He excelled in what he did because God was with him and was put in charge of the entire household.  Note that “success” is not freedom from slavery; it is the realization that in whatever you are doing God is with you.

·        v6b-12: Joseph’s life as an “eligible bachelor”.  Joseph was young and good looking, away from home, and successful.  Add to that the fact that Egyptian women were notorious for their immorality and you have for many an irresistible temptation to immorality.  But not Joseph.  Initially he may have been innocent in the situation, but I have heard it said, “Temptation transforms innocence into virtue.”  Unlike Judah in the previous chapter, Joseph sought to run from the temptation which is a good plan (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Cor. 6:18).

·        v13-23: Joseph’s life under false accusation.  “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”  Potiphar’s wife concocts a lie, and it seems likely that Potiphar himself suspected the charge was not true.  Nevertheless he is backed into a corner.  While he could have had Joseph executed he “only” has him thrown into jail.  And there, while he may think “things can’t get any worse”, he in fact recognizes that God is still with him.

Note again the close relationship between the experiences of Joseph and those of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

·        Jesus also became a slave, Phil. 2:7; Matt. 20:24-28.  He was a “bondslave”, the lowest form of slave.  He did not come to be served but to serve.

·        Jesus endured temptation, Heb. 4:15-16; Matt. 4:11.  Like Joseph He handled it with a resounding “no” backed by the use of Scripture.

·        Jesus was falsely accused, 1 Pet. 3:13-19.  Even as Joseph seemed to say nothing, so Jesus was silent in the face of such injustice.

But the question that begs to be answered is, how could Joseph continue to have hope in the face of one attack after another?  The answer is the same for all who seek to walk with God.  “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope” (Psalm 119:49).  Joseph was sustained by the promise of God in those earlier dreams.  That was his only real hope.  God would never, never go back on His word.  When things seem to pile up in our lives our prayer must be the same.  “Remember Your word to me, Your servant.”