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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday March 10, 2019
JOSEPH IN
POTIPHER”S HOUSE
Genesis 39
Throughout Scripture, we learn that the LORD provides us with two “temptation barriers” to help us to avoid sin. One is “HIS goodness”, and the other, is “HIS judgment”. In Genesis 39 we see an example of how the knowledge and experience of “GOD’s goodness” prevented Joseph, “Israel’s favorite son”, from committing adultery with his master Potiphar’s wife (Vs. 8-9).
After
being indirectly sold into slavery by his brothers to a group of traveling
Ishmaelites, Joseph had been subsequently re-sold to a man named Potiphar, who
was the captain of the guards for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Joseph, through his
faithful service to Potiphar, quickly rose to the position of “supervisor” over
his master’s entire estate. Here we see that, even while in “chattel slavery”,
the LORD was with Joseph, and blessed him greatly in everything that he did,
and, HE also blessed Potiphar for Joseph’s sake (Vs. 1-6).
In the process of time, Potiphar’s wife
became very attracted to Joseph, who scripture tells us, was a very handsome,
well-built man. She began to pursue Joseph sexually, but he, time and time
again, resisted her advances. He told her that her husband trusted him, and “had
been too good to him for him to do such wicked a thing”. He also told her that “He
has entrusted me with everything that he has, and has withheld nothing from me,
except you. No one on his staff has more authority than me. It would be a great
sin against GOD” (Vs. 7-9).
On one occasion however, when Joseph was
working alone inside the house, she saw him, and grabbed him and demanded that
he sleep with her. Joseph, however, tore himself away from her and fled from
the house as quickly as he could, leaving a piece of his garment clutched in
her hands.
Infuriated by Joseph’s continued
rejections, she screamed for the guards, and when they arrived, she told them
that Joseph had tried to rape her. She used Joseph’s garment as proof that he
had been there. When she told her husband Potiphar, he was furious at Joseph,
and as a result, he had him thrown into prison (Vs. 11-19).
Now GOD continued to be with Joseph while
he was in prison, just as HE was with him in Potiphar’s house. In both settings
Joseph was a faithful servant to those who were in authority. The conviction
and trust that he had, that GOD was with him in all circumstances, freed him up
to do the very best he could do, no matter how great his setbacks were, or
appeared to be.
Our faithfulness to a life of integrity can
prepare us for whatever advancement we will receive from GOD, whenever things
seem to be going downhill for us. Joseph’s faithfulness prepared him for those
sudden advancements that GOD bestowed upon him every time it looked like things
were getting worse.
When he was sold into the depths of chattel
slavery, GOD raised him to the heights of manager over his master’s estate.
When he was thrown down into prison, GOD raised him up to be in charge of
everything that went on inside the prison. Joseph was faithful with small
things, and so GOD entrusted him with greater things, and HE will do the same
with anyone who chooses to live a life of integrity before HIM.
This story in the life of Joseph serves to
remind us of the frequent advice of King Solomon where he warns us, time and
time again, of the folly of yielding to the temptations of a flattering woman
or man, and thereby, destroying all chances of having a life of true service to
GOD.
Joseph did not yield to temptation because
he was totally convinced that he would receive GOD’s goodness if he remained
true to HIM. And he was not willing to throw away GOD’s eternal blessings for a
moment’s pleasure in sin, and it did not bother him if he had to suffer for
righteousness sake. And incidentally, that brings to mind, another great MAN of
integrity, WHO was obedient to GOD simply because of GOD’s goodness to HIM, ONE
whom all true Christians know, as CHRIST JESUS, our LORD.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
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