Genesis 39-50:26 [Joseph's Egyptian Adventure Continued...]

Ever felt like you were being pressured to sin? In Genesis 39 we see that Joseph was pressured by his master's wife to have sex with her over and over and he did not give in.

Genesis 39:6-9

[6] So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

   Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, [7] and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

 [8] But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Joseph knew this was sinful and refused to give in. Potiphar's wife was not going to have it though. She came up behind him, grabbing his cloak, demanding that he sleep with her while he was working. He pulled away leaving her with his cloak and he fled. Potiphar's wife told the servants and her Husband that Joseph had come in to rape her and that he had fled after her screaming and left his cloak. 

If most of us were in this situation, we probably would think it was impossible to deal with and just give in. Joseph remained obedient to his master and to God. We must remember that running from sin is not cowardly by any means and actually takes a lot more discipline then to just give into sin all together.

Genesis 39:19-20

 [19] When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. [20] Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

Now your probably thinking, "Ok so he was obedient, but that led him to jail!" Yes it did lead to jail but God never left his side. Joseph won over the heart of the prison warden who had then put Joseph in charge of all of the other prisoners. The prison warden loved this because with Joseph he did not need to worry about anything. Joseph made things run smoothly.

While in the prison Joseph interpreted two dreams. One of the Pharaoh's chief cup barer and the other of the chief baker. Both dreams came true.

Genesis 40:8  “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

   Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

When Joseph interpreted the dreams he gave the glory and honor to God instead of taking credit himself and making himself look good. This made Joseph a witness to the Lord. One way we can become great witnesses to God is to give God the credit when speaking on behalf of other people's experiences or our own. 

Even though the chief cup barer forgot to tell the Pharaoh about Joseph after the dreams came true, Joseph was later blessed by his actions. When the Pharaoh had dreams that disturbed him and no one could interpret them, the cup barer was reminded of Joseph and the Pharaoh sent for him at once. This was two years later. This reminds us to be patient. Blessings are not always immediate and they do not always make the most sense, but if we trust in God and be patient the blessings will come.

Genesis 41:16  “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Once again Joseph gives credit to God where credit is needed. 

After God interpreted Pharaoh's dreams through Joseph, he blessed Joseph. He gave Joseph authority over all of Egypt and only Pharaoh had more authority then Joseph. Joseph was given a wife and a new name, Zaphenath-paneah. In it's original language Zaphenath-paneah means, "a revealer of hidden things and an opener of things to come,". As predicted the 7 years of prosperity and 7 years of famine did occur. 

Now let's take a step back. From our last reading we remember that Joseph had a dream which is what made his brothers enraged in jealousy! 

Genesis 37:5-9 

 [5] Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

 [8] His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

 [9] Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

Now here we are in Genesis 42 and Jacob, Joseph's father sends his brothers to Egypt for grain. When they arrive Joseph recognizes them but they do not recognize him. Joseph tells them that they are spies and that the only way he will believe other wise is if they leave one brother with him and the only way they can retrieve him is if they bring their youngest brother back. Jacob did not want to allow this in fear that he would lose his youngest son, but Judah accepted full responsibility for Benjamin. While Judah did not know what this meant for him he was determined to carry it out. In doing so he developed confidence and character with in himself, just as we do by accepting responsibilities and seeing them through in our own lives. 

When the men arrived with gifts and Benjamin sure enough was with them, Joseph had his men prepare a feast for them and invited them into Joseph's home. They feast. The Egyptians sit at one table because they despise Hebrews and Joseph tells the brother's where to sit. He seats them oldest to youngest to their surprise. 

Joseph then does something that is quite bazar. He fills their sacks with as much grain as they can handle but has his servants place his silver cup in the youngest's sack. Then has one of his servant's catch up with them and ask them why they have stolen this cup. We then see them empty their sacks and there in the Benjamin's sack is the cup and they come before Joseph and plead before him not to take Benjamin as a slave. At this point Joseph could not stand it any more. He ordered his servants to leave and then told his brothers who he was. 

Genesis 45:5-8

[5] And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [6] For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. [7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a]

 [8] “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Isn't it amazing how God will allow horrible things to happen in our lives that lead to such great things? This is exactly what Joseph is explaining here. This was all in God's plan. Has there ever been a time where great things in your life came out of bad circumstances? 

At this point Joseph tells his brothers to bring his father back to live in Egypt, other wise they will all starve and die from the famine. They are also invited by the Pharaoh himself! 

Jacob did come to Egypt and God made a covenant with Jacob to always be with him and that his family will inherit a great nation.

Not too soon later Jacob passed away and as promised Joseph took his father to be buried in Canaan. After his father died, his brothers grew fearful of Joseph,

[19] But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? (Genesis 50:19)


What a truly forgiving and faithful man. Eventually Joseph died at the age of 110 and he had told his people that God will lead them to the promise land eventually and that they are to take his bones with them when they go.

Imagine if you will, your siblings selling you to slavery. Do you think you could be as forgiving as Joseph? What would you do if you were Joseph?