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Genesis 39
00:26:01
God’s plan and purpose for our lives isn’t always what we’d choose, but He is always faithful. That’s the lesson we’ll learn as we continue to follow the life of Joseph. We pick up as Joseph is sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah. While overseeing...
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- [00:00]
Dr. J. Vernon McGee
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is made for your faith
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Steve Schwetz
in his excellent word. Welcome to through the Bible where we're picking up the story of Joseph as he was sold into slavery at the hands of his own brothers. Our teacher, of course, is Dr. J. Vernon McGee. I'm Steve Schwetz, your host, welcoming you aboard the Bible bus for another great adventure in the Old Testament book of Genesis. Now, as you find your seat, Greg and I have an update on great things that are happening with God's word in Scandinavia.
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Greg
Well, that's right. And every month, Steve, we like to highlight our main global newsletter article because now, by the grace of God, we have a lot of different team members traveling the globe, knowing our partners more intimately. And, and you're part of that team and we're very grateful that you also not only went, but you're willing to write an article. I appreciate that, you know, because you're a volunteer.
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Dr. J. Vernon McGee
Yeah.
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Greg
So you're worth every cent, really. We feel that way.
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Steve Schwetz
I'm just kidding.
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Greg
We value it a lot.
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Steve Schwetz
Yeah. And it is a blessing to be able to just see the ministry. I mean, I've spent literally decades talking about it behind the microphone. And then, you know, about a decade ago, having the opportunity to go out and see it firsthand for myself and now being able to come back from the Scandinavian countries particularly, I visited three partners there in Finland, Norway and Sweden. And I want to spend a little bit of time talking about both Finland and Sweden. And just as an aside, and I referenced this in the article, that about a decade ago, in part because of the minimal response that we felt we were getting there, we made a difficult stewardship decision and we cut the funding for that program. And we, you know, know, didn't have a lot of contact with those ministry partners during that time. And then fast forward a ways and we find out they're still airing the program even though we're not funding it, which praise the Lord for that. But they were in a, in a somewhat of a difficult situation and just we re engaged with them. And coming out of those meetings, the, the thing that we realized was they were not taking the program and, and really telling the story, the greater story of, through the Bible like we do, like what we're doing right now, talking about other countries and, and the impact which such a pull on people, I think. And the Lord uses those kind of testimonies to allow people to say, I want to be a part of that. I want to pray for it, most important thing. But also I want to support it financially. And so we're re engaging with these partners. I'm going to be going back in the, right now, the June time frame during, for a couple of weeks and spending some time with the Swedish ministry and with the Finnish ministry to rework their programs so that the introductions include some of the things that we have, the testimonies from different parts of the world, the impact that the, the, that the program is having in that language so that it'll get people more engaged. They just don't think, oh, it's a program I listen to, there's going to be a specific ask. Asking is always for prayer is the first thing. And if the Lord leads you to support the Bible bus, great, go ahead and support the Bible bus.
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Greg
Well, and the world has changed so much in the last 10 or 20 years. And, and so many of these ministries, we had a model, say 20 years ago where we trusted our main partner, Transworld Radio, and, and we would let them people and convey the message, well, globalism has risen and everybody around the world is much more aware of the rest of the world. The world is not isolated the way it used to be. And so in those old days we didn't talk about maybe in Scandinavia, the ministry to China or India. But now everybody, I mean, think about COVID The whole world wore a mask in one year and the whole world knew about this one thing called Covid. And so we are now taking a different strategy. And I think what's important for our listeners to hear is, is we don't just go on autopilot through the Bible. We made a tough decision not to fund it because we didn't think it was worth it. Now we're coming back and saying, I think it is worth it. We're going to invest in it human wise and financially now.
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Steve Schwetz
Yeah. One thing I also want to bring out is independent of really through the Bible, unsolicited in Finland and Sweden. Both partners said to me, we are seeing what I've seen in my own church and what I think we've seen in this country for quite a while is there is a revival and a resurgence of interest in biblical things among particularly young men. And we're, and both, both Finland and Sweden are having that. So we see real opportunity to, to re. Engage with those ministry partners, make some changes to the program and have it be effective. We're looking at revoicing the Swedish program because it is now about 30 years old. We're trying to figure out, okay, do we, do we do this again? And we're thinking we're going to do that so you can be praying for that and and Greg, why don't you do that as we begin the program.
- [04:58]
Greg
Father, thank you for the way that you provide and guide and lead this ministry and than Steve and the team had the chance to be in Scandinavia and see the fruit of your word. And I pray as we invest more in that part of the world that you will reach more people with your Word. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.
- [05:21]
Steve Schwetz
We're off to Genesis 39 on through the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee.
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Dr. J. Vernon McGee
Friends, if you have your Bible and have turned there to the 39th chapter of Genesis, and I trust you have the notes and outlines and if you have them, why you will want to follow along. If you do not, then be sure and write in and ask for yours today. Now we return to the story of Joseph. We saw last time that we were looking at Joseph in the 37th chapter that he was sold down in the land of Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of his guard. Now this is a pretty dreary prospect for a 17 year old boy now way down in a foreign land, sold into slavery, and there is certainly nothing in the outward aspect of things to bring any encouragement to his heart at all. And this boy seems to be more or less of a hard luck boy. You'll notice down in the land of Egypt, just as everything seems to be moving smoothly and nicely for him, then something always happens. But it happens for a purpose, and it was difficult for Joseph to see it. God never appeared to him at all. He's the one patriarch now that God did not appear to. And yet there's no person in the Old Testament in whose life the purpose of God is more clearly seen. That in Joseph the providence of God is manifest in every detail of this man's life. The hand of God was upon him, and the leading of the Lord is evident. But Joseph is the one to whom God did not appear directly. God appeared to Abraham, he appeared to Isaac and Jacob, but not to Joseph. And we see though the direction of God in his life more clearly than in any other. He's the Old Testament example of Romans 8:28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose. And Joseph himself expressed it in rather vivid language. When you get to the last chapter of Genesis, you'll find out when the brethren at the death of their father felt like Joseph might turn on them, they came to him to actually ask for mercy. And he told them he held no grudge against him. He says, but as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive. So that everything that happened in his life, looking at it from the outward aspect at the time, it looked dark, it looked like it was terrible. But each one of these was a step bringing to fruition God's purpose in this man's life. And we need to reckon that even in our own lives today, that whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. And God will not let anything come to a child of his unless it gets his permission, even something bad. You remember Satan had to say, well, there's a hedge about Job. Well God let the hedge down. There's a hedge about you if you're God's child. And nothing can touch you unless it gets his permission. And friends, if it gets his permission, all things are working for good. Even our misfortunes, our heartbreak, our suffering are for good in his glory. Now let's follow this young man, Joseph, and we'll see what's going to happen to him. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. Fine looking young man, 17 years old, make a very fine helper. And slaves were certainly sold in that day. And the Lord was with Joseph. And he was a prosperous man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now immediately that he gets into the home of Potiphar, an officer Pharaoh, while the Lord was obviously with him, a blessing came to that home. And his master saw that the Lord was with him. And that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. Well now this sounds fine, this is great up to this point and you'd like that. And they lived happily ever after. But they didn't. Because this is life, this is reality. And the child of God is going to encounter temptation and trouble and problems in this world. This is what's going to happen to Joseph. Now notice verse four. And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him and he made him overseer over his house. And all that he had he put into his hand. Now just think of this because of the way that Joseph served. Why he's elevated now to the position where he handles all of the material substance, the chattels, I guess, even the real estate of this man. In other words, the man trusted him with everything. Verse 5. It came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house in the field. And now verse six. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. And he knew not aught he had save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favored. This man trusted him so much that he never even demanded an accounting at all. He didn't have to get a CPA to go over the books. He believed in this young man. And the only thing that Potiphar worried about as an officer Pharaoh was that he pleased Pharaoh and that he did his job there. And he just let Joseph handle his own personal affairs. Only thing that he knew was that when he sat down at the table, the food was put before him. That's all that he was interested in because he trusted this young man. Now notice what's going to happen. Verse 7. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said, lie with me. Now if you'll note here, this man Potiphar gave him obviously the full run of his home palace. And he had charge of everything. And while Joseph was busy, why, the wife was busy, but she was busy scheming up. He was a handsome young man. I don't know this, but I have a notion. Old Potiphar was an old man. That was generally the custom in that day anyway. An old man and a young wife. And so she sees Joseph and she attempts to entice him. Now notice. And he refused and said unto his master's wife, behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house. That is, he doesn't know all, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in his house than I. Neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Now do you notice that this young man is serving God in all of this? When he went down to the land of Egypt, which was loaded with idols, it was a land filled with idolatry just as much as Babylon was. In that land of idolatry, Joseph maintained a testimony for the living and true God and a high moral standard. When this woman enticed him, why he Said no. He said, my master has turned over everything to me. But you, you're his wife. Look what a high viewpoint that Joseph had of marriage at this time. Way back here, at the beginning, you see, God gave marriage to mankind. It's given to all mankind. And when a man begins to despise the marriage vow, he is beginning to despise God, friends. And a man that will do that will generally break any vow he's made to God. It's been always interesting for me to note in my ministry that a divorced person, that is, who gets a divorce because he's been unfaithful, that generally that individual will get as far from God as any person possibly can. And I've seen that happen again and again. Now, Joseph here is attempting to be true to God, and what a high viewpoint that he has. Now look what's going to come to pass because of the fact that he is attempting to serve the living and true God. It came to pass as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her or to be with her. You see, this man Potiphar, as an officer of Pharaoh, was away from home a great deal, I expect, maybe too much away from home. And this woman didn't just tempt Joseph one time, but again and again and again it was a constant temptation to him. And this young man did not yield. Well, you can imagine that welling up in her. Now. There is just absolutely boiling a resentment now against Joseph. And the old bromide has it, hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned. And believe me, she's going to take revenge on Joseph. Notice verse 11 now of chapter 39 of Genesis. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, and there was none of the men of the house there within. She caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and was fled forth, that she called unto the men of her house and spake unto them, saying, see, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us. Timothus. Things weren't so well between Potiphar and his wife. Notice how she speaks of him in such a mean, degrading way. She says, see, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto Ustamachus. In other words, the wife probably had been guilty of this before. The one man that I feel sorry for is Potiphar he's the SAP if there ever was one. But I'm of the opinion that he suspected something all along. And she's beginning now to cover up her tracks. She says, see, he brought in a Hebrew unto us to Marcus. He came in unto me to lie with me. And I cried with a loud voice, may I say to you, this boy now just in his teens down there in the land of Egypt, now is being framed in the most dastardly manner. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried that he left his garment with me and fled and got him out. Now that's still her charge against him. And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home. In other words, the husband was away from home. And so she has all of this built up, this story to tell him when he arrives. And when he arrives, why she spake unto him according to these words, saying, the Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us came in unto me to mock me. And it came to pass as I lifted up my voice and cried that he left his garment with me and fled out. And it came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife which she spake unto him, saying, after this manner did thy servant to me, that his wrath was kennel. He believed her though. This fellow Potiphar, I don't know what he was. He was an officer in the army of Pharaoh. He must have been among the brass I guess when he was with them. He probably was a pretty sharp soldier, but he sure was a stupid husband. And he's a SAP. He believes his wife. I feel sorry for him married to this woman. He doesn't stand a chance. And I'm of opinion she'd been unfaithful many times before and Joseph was to be another one in her conquest. And it just didn't work. So she frames up against the young man, the charge now is brought against him. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound. And he was there in the prison. Now here, this boy is certainly having bad luck, is he not? He was the favorite up there of his father, wearing a coat of many colors. The next thing he knew, his brothers take off the coat, they put him down in a pit. The next thing he hears them dickering with tradesmen. Ishmaelites go into Egypt and this boy, 17 year old boy, sold down into Egypt. And I'm of opinion on the way down. And after he got there he spent Many nights wetting the pillow with his tears. And he certainly was homesick. Now, just as he's getting along in this new position, been elevated to a high position. He's a capable young man and a fine looking young man. The wife of Potiphar, she attempted to lure him to commit a sin. And his high moral standard is something that you need to note. And he does not yield. And as a result she frames him and the poor boy doesn't stand a chance. After all, you can see the position that Joseph is in. He's a slave and though he's been elevated, he's still a slave. And on the other side here is Potiphar's wife. It's like Caesar's wife. You just don't say anything about her and her word would be accepted. You can well understand poor Joseph. He didn't even need to open his mouth. He's guilty before he could make any kind of a defense at all. And he summarily and immediately finds himself put in the prison. And he's put in the prison where those that were prisoners of Pharaoh were put. Now again in verse 21 we read, but the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison. And whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand because the Lord was with him. And that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Now the hand of God is certainly obvious and seen in this man's life. But over against it is these terrible things that happened to him. Now he finds himself in prison. How discouraging that must be or would have been to the average person. But the interesting thing is we're told the Lord's with Joseph. He didn't appear to him as he did to the other patriarchs and he showed him mercy. And lo and behold, Joseph found favor here with the keeper of the prison. Now I think he was naturally a very attractive young man and a man of tremendous ability. I think that is true beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was a man of remarkable ability. But the important thing is all of that would have come to naught had not God been with him. And God was with this young man and God was leading him. All of this is moving to the accomplishment of a purpose in this young man's life. Now Joseph recognized that, and when he recognized that that Gave him a buoyancy, an attitude of optimism. The circumstances did not get him down. He lived on top of his circumstances. I have a preacher friend of mine and he tells me that my problem is the circumstances are all on top of me and I never live on top of my circumstances. Well, I'm of opinion that that's true to a certain extent. I think many of us may be that way. But certainly this boy here is one that's living on top of his circumstances. And the Lord is with him and he recognizes that the hand of God's in his life. And he never was discouraged. They say, you know, that discouragement is one of the finest weapons that Satan has. Discouragement and disappointment. But this young man seems to have surmounted all of his circumstances and we find here the chastening of the Lord. It's grievous at the time, but it's going to yield a peaceable fruit of righteousness in the life of this boy. Now the thing is that the story of Joseph reveals that every man does not have his price. Satan says he does. But there have been several men that Satan couldn't buy. Joseph was one, Job was another. Paul the Apostle was another. These were men and have been many of them that Satan can't buy. He certainly despises mankind. Poor old Potiphar here, he's the one to be pitied and not Joseph actually. And it's a good thing Joseph is out of that home. But God's moving in his life. Was it the will of God for Joseph to be put in prison? Well, it's almost essential for him to be there. We're going to see that next time. Until then, may God richly bless you. I beloved.
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Steve Schwetz
There's more to this dramatic story so don't miss the Bible bus next time. And why don't you invite a friend to join you. Listen anytime in our app or@ttb.org or just call us at 1-865Bible if we can help you find a radio station. I'm Steve Schwetz. Thankful to be going through the Bible with you. Jesus made it home.
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Dr. J. Vernon McGee
All to him, I hope. Sing I Left a Prison.
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Steve Schwetz
Through the Bible is a five year study of God's entire word. And together we discover God's purposes in history and our lives found only when we believe in Jesus Christ. Do you know him yet?