Genesis 39

Two threads of theological truth run throughout the book of Genesis. One thread is the awe-inspiring Person of God. In Genesis, God speaks the universe into existence and breathes life into man. When Satan led Adam and Eve into rebellion, God promised to send One to crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15) and chose a people through whom to send the Savior. Genesis continually points us to the cross as God’s unbreakable covenant is passed on from generation to generation. God always keeps his promises.

The second Genesis thread reveals how the Person of God works intimately and personally in the lives of his people. When Abraham and Sarah faced childlessness, they met El Shaddai—the all-sufficient One. When Hagar was abandoned and alone, she met El Roi—the God who saw and encouraged her. When Abraham was in desperate need, he met Yahweh Yireh—the God who provides. When Jacob was running for his life, God met him and promised, “I will not leave you….” The same God, who wrote the story of those we are studying about in Genesis, is writing our story today.

God is writing our story, and sometimes our story takes unexpected turns. We will see this exemplified in Genesis 39, as God continues to write his story through Joseph’s life.

Joseph enjoyed the favored son status until his jealous brothers sold him to a band of traders. In Egypt, Joseph was bought by “Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard” (Gen. 37:36). The word “guard” comes from a verb that means “to slaughter.” This title could indicate that Potiphar was the chief executioner in Egypt.

Genesis 39:2-5
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.

Note the emphasis on God’s presence in these verses. “The Lord was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:2). “The Lord caused all that [Joseph] did to succeed” (Gen. 39:3). In fact, Scripture says God’s blessing on Joseph overflowed from Potiphar’s house to his field, and “on all that he had” (Gen. 39:5). God’s hand was on Joseph, so did Potiphar recognize these blessings came from God, or did he simply see Joseph as a good luck charm? We don’t know. We do know that Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything, while the high-ranking official tended only to his private matters.

With Joseph running Potiphar’s household, his physical appeal was noticed by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph’s mother, Rachel, was very attractive. She is described as “beautiful in form and appearance” (Gen. 29:17). Joseph was similarly striking. He was “handsome in form and appearance” (Gen. 39:6). After deliberately and lustfully checking Joseph out, Potiphar’s wife invited him to a sexual encounter.

Genesis 39:8-9
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?”

Let’s slow down and consider what’s unfolding. Joseph had been the favored son, wearing a unique coat showing his elevated status, giving a bad report about his brothers, and sharing dreams implying that his family would bow before him. We don’t get a clear understanding of Joseph’s motives within his family dynamics. Did God approve of Joseph’s prior actions, or was he behaving as a spoiled, self-focused teenager? However, in this situation, we get a new sense of maturity with Joseph. He stands strong, demonstrating his love for God and determination to obey. Potiphar’s wife’s seductive behavior was not a one-time event. She pressed Joseph to engage in an illicit sexual relationship day after day after day (Gen. 39:10). Yet, he remained firm in repeatedly rebuffing the temptress. He refused to “do this great wickedness and sin against God” (Gen. 39:9).

Joseph went to work one day when no other servants were in the house. Potiphar’s wife approached Joseph and “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” (Gen. 39:12). The apostle Paul instructs believers to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22). Perhaps Paul was thinking about Joseph when he penned those words. Joseph escaped without his garment and without witnesses. Turns out he had rejected Potiphar’s wife for the last time.

Genesis 39:13-18
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.”

When Potiphar heard his wife’s story, his “anger was kindled” (Gen. 39:19). The Hebrew text says, “his anger burned.” Potiphar put Joseph into prison, “the place where the king’s prisoners were confined…” (Gen. 39:20). The Hebrew word for prison here is “house of roundness,” suggesting that the prison was a fortress or citadel.^[1] If it is true that Potiphar was the chief executioner, it’s a wonder that he didn’t put Joseph to death right then and there. But God has many more chapters to write in Joseph’s life.

Following Joseph’s story is like riding a roller coaster through the text. A special son, then a shackled slave. Sharing dreams, then standing on an auction block. Serving faithfully then falsely accused. Blessed by God, then bound in prison. Joseph had stood firm in the face of temptation; he ran from sexual immorality, yet the outcome of his obedience was a prison sentence! Where were the blessings now? Did God forget about Joseph?

Even in prison, God was with Joseph. That’s where we’ll start next time.

Yes—if the story stopped here, it would seem unfair. Just as your story might seem unfair now. But don’t stop here. God is still writing Joseph’s story. And don’t quit on God. He is still writing yours.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 39. As you continue reading Joseph’s story, don’t miss God’s blessings on his life and his strength in resisting temptation.

Talking to God
You may feel like Joseph today: rejected, confused, alone. But God is right there with you. Share your heart with him. Listen to his voice. He will never leave you.

Have Questions?
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^[1] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Gen. 39:20.