• 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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