run away
DESCRIPTION
When Joseph is confronted with an opportunity to sin, he runs from the house regardless of what consequences might befall him. When we are tempted by the devil, we would be very wise to follow Joseph's example.TRANSCRIPT
• This is an episode that we all know very
well. • Therefore, I believe it’s imperative that we
carefully pause and read the text quite carefully.
• When we take our time with familiar texts, we
often discover nuggets we haven’t noticed
before. • That, at least, is my experience.
• Therefore, we want to explore this passage and learn
from it.
• Joseph was taken down to Egypt and sold
to an officer of Pharaoh, Potiphar. • Potiphar in Hebrew is the shortened form of
“Potiphera” meaning “he whom Ra gave.”
• Potiphar seems to have been an important
individual. • He is “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard.”
• There is also some evidence of Potiphar’s position
from Joseph’s imprisonment.
• Joseph seems to have been imprisoned in Potiphar’s
home.
• Gen 40:1-3.
• If Pharaoh put two folks who offended him into the
custody of Potiphar, Potiphar had to be a very powerful
person.
• Therefore, God is orchestrating the deliverance of His
people from the moment Joseph sets foot in Egypt (and,
yes, even before).
• How willingly would we allow God to use our
lives like He did Joseph’s? • I don’t think Joseph had any idea what was
taking place in his life until after God had worked
His plan.
• I also don’t know that Joseph had any choice in
the matter. • Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, the Roman soldiers, and the
crowd had no idea that they were fulfilling God’s plan
when they crucified the Messiah (Acts 2:23).
• It’s not as if God gives us a choice to being a part of
His story.
• However, we have a choice as to whether or not we
will be willing participants.
• We, at times, have opportunities where we know we
can know we are part of God’s “story.”
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT GOD MIGHT USE OUR LIVES FOR
HIS GLORY?
• Scholars know from historical records that
the events recorded here correspond very
well to what was common in this time
period. • An Egyptian papyrus from the 18th century BC,
gives the names of 80 slaves in a household and
lists their occupations.
• Asian slaves fared far better than Egyptian
slaves. • Perhaps that partially explains why Joseph had a nice
position.
• Joseph was successful in Egypt because
“the LORD was with him.” • This phrase occurs three more times in this
chapter (39:3, 21, 23).
• Does this mean that if we are faithful to the Lord
that He will bless us in our occupations (cf Prov
10:22)? • It’s important to notice that God did not bless Joseph
to bless Joseph.
• Instead, God blesses Joseph in order to bless
Potiphar.
• Why would God seek to bless this pagan?
• Yahweh is being faithful to an earlier promise.
• He had promised Abraham (22:18), Isaac (26:4), and
Jacob (28:14) that all the families of the earth would be
blessed through their seed.
• How might God use us to be a blessing to others?
• What blessings might come by living intentionally to
bless others!
• “He (Potiphar) did not know what he had
except for the bread which he ate” (v 6). • That is a very literal rendering from the Hebrew.
• When I first read this, I’m thinking something like a
“blind trust.”
• This appears, however, to give a false
impression. • Apparently, “did not know what he had” was an idiom
of the ancient world.
• It refers to not having any concern.
• “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” (Gen 39:6, ESV).
• Do we need to have concern for what we have?
• “Joseph was handsome in form and
appearance.” • Scripture hardly ever describes someone’s
physical appearance. • What did Jesus look like? What about Paul? What
about Peter?
• When we do read about someone’s physical
appearance, that appearance matters to the narrative
(e.g., David’s appearance).
• Therefore, the fact that Joseph’s physical
appearance is mentioned means it’s going to be
important. • We all know the importance of his physical
appearance.
• How important is physical appearance in today’s
world?
• Do we need to exercise caution in physical
apperance?
• Potiphar’s wife “cast longing eyes on
Joseph” (v 7). • Why might she have cast longing eyes on
Joseph?
• What might prevent our casting longing eyes on
someone?
• I read that this is the only occurrence of a
woman’s acting so brazenly in Scripture. • I’m not so certain that I’d agree with that
sentiment.
• Lot’s daughters, in my opinion, might have even
acted worse.
• Notice Joseph’s reply: “Look, my master
does not know what is with me in the house,
and he has committed all that he has to my
hand. There is no one greater in this house
than I, nor has he kept back anything from
me but you, because you are his wife. How
then can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God?” (vv 8-9).
• Joseph gives three reasons he cannot act
on Mrs. Potiphar’s lust: • It would be a gross abuse of trust;
• It would be a violation of her marriage vows;
• It would be a sin against God.
• Why else is sexual sin wrong? • Sexual sin is in a category all by itself.
• 1 Cor 6:15-19.
• What are some solid ways that we can
prevent sexual sin in our own lives?
• There is a tradition that states Mrs. Potiphar
tormented Joseph for over a year. • That comes down to us courtesy of the Book of
Jubilees, an apocryphal book.
• We do know that this went on for an unknown
period of time: “She spoke to Joseph day by day”
(v 10).
• Joseph had no choice but to work in
Potiphar’s house. • He’s a slave; he cannot simply move somewhere
else.
• Would it be wise for us sometime to leave jobs,
homes, etc., if we’re being tempted? • Obviously, we need to do whatever we need to do to
be faithful.
• The text does not say that Joseph was
tempted. • It may very well have been that Joseph was such
a staunch, moral person that this situation offered
no temptation.
• Is it ever wise, though, for us to think we cannot
be tempted by something?
• Joseph went into the house in order to do
his work. • Notice that Moses does not leave Joseph’s
intentions to doubt.
• He did not go in order to have contact with
Potiphar’s wife--he went in to do his work.
• Mrs. Potiphar grabbed Joseph and said,
“Lie with me.” He left his garment and ran
outside. • This is going to be the second time that Joseph’s
garment gets him in trouble.
• Joseph seems to give no regard to his garment. • When is it wise to forget about material things and
leave stuff behind?
• It seems quite likely that Potiphar did not
believe his wife. • The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape
was the death penalty.
• The fact that he cast Joseph into a prison that he
operated from home (40:3-4) indicates that he
really didn’t believe her tale.
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