Genesis 39 - Joseph in Potiphar's House | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
The Bible by David Alley · David Alley
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Show Notes
In this video listen to Genesis 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 39 Joseph is sold into the house of a prominent Egyptian, Potiphar. He serves wholeheartedly and rises to a good position. The Lord is with him.
Potiphar’s wife notices Joseph and tempts him with sex, and very strangely for the times, he doesn’t go through with it. This is very contrasting to the previous chapter about his brother Judah who seems to have no qualms about being immoral. There is of course no law or ten commandments given yet, so where does Joseph obtain his sense of righteousness. He is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The temptation however does not go away, and Joseph resists until eventually he is despised and accused. The writer of the book of Hebrews says that some of us haven’t “resisted until the shedding of our blood.” (Hebrews 12:4-6) This is the type of overcoming Joseph demonstrated here - he resists to his own hurt, but to the glory of God.
Although he could easily have been killed for the indiscretion he was accused of, he is somehow shown mercy by only being imprisoned. Prisons were unusual in ancient times, with capital punishment being much more common. The Lord was in that.
Finally, Joseph serves in the prison with a whole heart as before. Paul wrote to slaves who had become believers in Ephesians 6:5 to serve their masters as though serving the Lord. Joseph does that here without even being instructed. Joseph is a truly remarkable biblical figure worthy of emulation.