Genesis 39:1-20

1. Genesis 39:1-20 Joseph: Wisdom vs. Folly

2. 1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 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 blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. (Genesis 39:1-6, ESV)

3. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. (Genesis 39:6-10, ESV)

4. 11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” (Genesis 39:11-18, ESV)

5. 19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. (Genesis 39:19-20, ESV)

6. Main Point • Joseph was bought as a slave, yet God was with him • Potiphar put Joseph in charge of the household and was greatly blessed by God • Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph • Eventually it led to a moment when she sought to force him to sleep with her • He fled, leaving behind a garment • She spun a tale in which Joseph was the predator • An outraged Potiphar then put Joseph in prison

7. Application Points • Seeking Justice • In Genesis we have seen a lot of deception • Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham and Pharaoh, Isaac and Abimelech, Jacob and Isaac and Esau, Jacob and Laban, Jacob’s sons, Judah and Tamar • Now we have another case of deception with Potiphar’s wife • It leads to Joseph in prison • Not too long ago we remember a Supreme Court Justice and the hubbub that went around his installment • With that came the ethical question with the #metoo movement • What is this movement? • It was a way for individuals to express injustices in their past • #metoo became a way to establish solidarity and raise awareness concerning these very serious issues

8. Application Points • Seeking Justice (2) • Whereas once these men and women had nowhere to turn concerning their past, now they had a voice • This is something which should be encouraged, applauded, and also mourned • Encouraged: No person should feel threatened or unable to tell their story • Applauded: For the courage to step forward with their story • Mourned: Because how much sexual harassment, abuse, and assault occur in our society • At first this was all the movement was about • But then it shifted from awareness to condemnation • It became more and more common to hear, “Every story should be believed.”

9. Application Points • Seeking Justice (3) • This leads to problems…Potiphar’s wife is not a secluded event • There is no real justice in believing every story without question • There is no evidence, just, “She said it happened, so it must have happened.” • This is no form of justice • True justice is a person comes forward with a claim, they press charges, and we see where the evidence leads • If it leads to prosecution or not, then so be it • Mob justice is not true justice • While we certainly should listen to every story, we should also be cautious of individually being falsely condemned • It’s estimated that at least 1% of the prison population are wrongful convictions • That’s 20,000 individuals who are often in prison for 5, 10, 15, 20 or more years

10. Application Points • Seeking Justice (4) • Thankfully DNA evidence has become a great help in order to overturn such convictions • There are organizations who are raising awareness for this (See innocence project, prison fellowship) • The point of this is the flipside of the coin concerning the story of Dinah • With Dinah we found how she was truly sexually assaulted • We dealt with the reality that we need to be available to hear every woman’s story • But this story reminds us that it is necessary for us to be seekers of justice first and foremost • We must be as graceful and peaceable as we can under these situations

11. Application Points • Seeking Justice (5) • True justice does not declare someone guilty on the basis of one person, but on the entirety of the evidence • For now, we must simply be wise and loving • We should not speak ill of anyone coming forward with an accusation, or ill against the accused • Instead we try to help find the truth, seeking wisdom to guide in seeking justice

12. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph • So far in Genesis, out of so many, he has been one of the few who has sought good rather than evil • Unfortunately all this seeking good has led to bad things • First: Work Ethic • His father had great work ethic in serving Laban • The same is true of Joseph • He had good work ethic and was blessed by God • He is not…“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9) • But he is…”Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29) • Joseph reminds us we are called to work well • Even if you do not love the work, in the end the wise will work hard despite these situations

13. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (2) • From the wisdom literature we learn that such individuals will more often than not be lifted up rather than brought low • It can be easy to slack off in our work • Maybe because you don’t feel you’re appreciated or well paid • Even though these justifications come to us for having a lesser work ethic, the Scriptures remind us to not be slothful • Joseph is an example of the individual who does work in such a way • We can learn from him to work well regardless of our station • To be honest many could stand to learn the wisdom of a good work ethic • Because it applies to all forms of work • Stay at home parents, wives and husbands, parenthood, grandparenthood, spiritual dsiciplines, friendships etc. • All these require having a good and hard work ethic • Instead of using excuses and justification for our own laziness, then, let’s use Joseph as an example for us

14. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (3) • We also learn an important lesson of temptation in this chapter • There is the temptation of Potiphar’s wife • Consider his reaction to sexual temptation • He seeks to stay away • Consider what we read from the Proverbs…

15. “With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.” (Proverbs 7:21-27.)

16. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (3) • We also learn an important lesson of temptation in this chapter • There is the temptation of Potiphar’s wife • Consider his reaction to sexual temptation • He seeks to stay away • Consider what we read from the Proverbs… • Joseph is successful against her wiles because he is acquainted with wisdom • He will not be overcome by this temptation because he takes the temptation away • By not placing himself in situations in which the temptation will occur he does well • Consider what Paul writes in I Corinthians 7:18

17. “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (I Corinthians 7:18, ESV)

18. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (4) • Paul says to flee from it…run away! • From Joseph we see the wisdom of literally fleeing from the temptation before him • He does what is wise, obedient, and faithful • When sexual temptations come, go the opposite direction • There is now one more thing to consider about Joseph • In the first six verses we’re told five times how the Lord was with Joseph • This week at VBS the final lesson was…When you’re powerless…Jesus Rescues • In all truth though, we are always powerless • The strongest person you know…all it takes is a small illness • The healthiest person you know…and all it takes is an accident

19. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (5) • Then consider sin and it’s destructive ways…we are powerless when it comes to sin • We are unable to oppose the Devil on our own • Instead, we are desperate need of power • This is not our power, but it comes from God alone • It is His power in us which causes us to overcome the world • Joseph only became what he became because of God’s grace and wisdom • In the course of time it led to many struggles for Joseph • All because we are being obedient and faithful doesn’t mean that we can overcome on our own

20. Application Points • Lessons from Joseph (6) • Perhaps that is one of the reasons Joseph goes through so much • Perhaps it’s a way for God to teach him not to get haughty • Instead, by bringing him low, it can teach him a valuable lesson he could not have learned apart from the experience • That it is God, not Joseph, which brings the ultimate blessing by His grace • Indeed, as we read in II Corinthians, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (II Corinthians 4:7) • So all of this sounds hard • It can be hard to work and labor when feeling underappreciated • It can be hard to fight against the Devil and sin • But we have courage in hearing Joseph’s story • Joseph is not alone…and Christ promised us that neither are we • Learn, then, these lessons so far from Joseph • Let us be encouraged to listen attentively to his life and learn well from what we are being taught

21. Application Points • The Gospel of Christ • Origins • Fall • Redemption • Glorification