May 4, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 39 (NIV)
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.……Continue Reading
Genesis 39
Genesis 40. Joseph had a lot of confidence in Gods love for him and steadfastness with him by his comment that only God can interpret dreams. I WAS a little caught off guard when he told the two to tell him the dreams so HE could interpret them. Just seemed somewhat self righteous until I remembered how he was very aware that God has been with him through all his trials. How sad that the cup bearer showed no gratitude toward Joseph and didn’t reciprocate his kindness and do what Joseph asked of him.
Imagine Pothiphar could see God’s blessings in a slave! God’s protection and provision for Joseph was obvious even in where he ended up a slave and then beyond that God’s blessing was still evident so much so that people took notice!
The temptation of Potiphar’s wife was strong, obvious, and probably for the time fairly easy to get away with. It seemed the moral standard when it came to sex was not very high. But the faithfulness of Joseph to not only God but to his master was stronger and I love that he didn’t dance around with it…there was no flirting back, but rather clear no and a deliberate avoidance of being alone with her to avoid such temptation. Many of us complain of “feelings” being too strong to avoid sin and yet we leave ourselves in situations that antagonize rather than following our common sense and removing ourself from the temptation.
And when her rejection gets the better of her she gives over to anger and makes an accusation that can cost a man his life! So sad but God even in prison is still with Jospeh and she will have to face her own sins one day!
“And the Lord was with Joseph….”
Out of all the maelstrom of sin, debauchery, faithlessness to date in our readings, we see a man who found grace in the eyes of God!
No matter what the world threw at Joseph, the LORD God intervened in his affairs, and prospered him in Egypt. Truly God is Awesome! -reb
Kelly, you said the most profound words!
“Many of us complain of “feelings” being too strong to avoid sin and yet we leave ourselves in situations that antagonize rather than following our common sense and removing ourself from the temptation.”
Until the day we recognize we are free from sin right this second, we will continue to play with it, and enjoy it. -reb
Genesis 39; Romans 6
Genesis 39
What do we say about Joseph? We actually can say a lot about him. Ever since I became a Christian at the age of 20 in 1973, I have always admired his walk with God. He was one of my favorites people in the Bible along with Moses and Noah. Not counting Jesus. You see I didn`t grow up with any good godly role models. So they were huge examples to me. In everything that he did the Lord was with him. He was an honest man and without question obeyed his father. His brothers were jealous of him for he was his father`s favorite. But that wasn`t his fault. That`s on the father for their shouldn`t be favorites. With all the lies and other sins that he was surrounded by it is amazing how he stayed true to the Lord. His mother had died years before when she bore his brother, Benjamin. Then his brothers mocking him probably for years. Then the same brothers wanting to kill him but sold him instead. Then false accusations by Potiphar`s that could have killed him but instead was put in prison. Then later after helping the butler who forgets about him. At any time he could have thought that God had forgotten about him but instead continues to honor God and serve Him. The people that he was around saw that the Lord was with him and blessed him. He kept being open to God`s leading and trusted Him fully to work it all out. He did not have a grumbling attitude but instead had a attitude of giving thanks. God help us with our heart attitude on a daily basis.
Genesis 39
Genesis 39. In contrast to the last chapter, Joseph stays strong in Gods will resisting temptation. In favor he is blessed and protected by God in prison.
God’s sovereign hand is all over Joseph’s life. It is found first in Joseph being sold to Potiphar, someone influential in the hierarchy of Egypt. Next Potiphar notices God’s hand on Joseph because He blesses everything he does…another indication of God working on His behalf. But naturally, wherever God is moving, evil lurks and so Joseph shows why he is worthy of God’s blessing by turning aside the heavy temptation coming from Potiphar’s wife. It is unfortunate that the spurned woman chooses to implicate Joseph in something he didn’t do, but in reality, you cannot keep God’s man down. Because when God’s hand is on us, what seems to be a negative thing, God turns around anyway. And so even in prisons Joseph shines…and why? Because God’s sovereign hand is upon him. What a comfort to know that God’s sovereign hand is on us as well…as long as we follow in His will. Otherwise, He has to work against us..but even that is an expression of His love for us.
Genesis 39