GENESIS 39 STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY The development of character and the ability to deal with temptation and opposition, happens to those who have felt bondage. Then they will know true deliverance. Our minds want to be controlled by pureness and patience, but the power of things around us and challenges that tempt the mind, seek to take control. Thankfully, God delivers, loves waits for, empties and then fills us with divine strength when we seek for His wisdom and power. The sifting of the trials of faith are more valuable than gold that perishes. Character is formed, developed, tested and challenged in various ways during our lifetime. We must be careful that we do not over-emphasize talent and under-emphasize character.
Behind each event in the life and development of a young man into a leader, is the working of the Spirit of God who reveals some distinct trait of character that can change a trial into a blessing. The key to the whole narrative in this chapter is the phrase, “The Lord was with Joseph.” I wonder if this could ever be said of me. And yet, looking back over life’s experiences, there is no other explanation for the blessings I have experienced so many times. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Joseph’s God is our God and He has never changed and never will change. He cares for, protects, defends and blesses those whose faith is in Him. An active and vital faith, enables us to live a fruitful and fulfilling life when we know the Lord is with us.
Joseph was passive and submissive when wronged, and when he could do nothing about what was happening to him. When the situation changed and he was able to act in the fear of God with honor, integrity and devotion to duty, he did that effectively because he knew the Lord was with him. He never laid accusations on his brothers, Potiphar’s wife or other people when he was treated unfairly even when innocent. He didn’t make challenges of reproach nor did he make lengthy appeals. In silence, he endured what he later said was, “The anguish of his soul.”
Silence in times of false accusations may not answer the subtle suggestions or open challenges we have to face from those who oppose us, or those who may not even know us. There is a quiet strength and inner power from God that enables us to not “revile again” when we are reviled; not threaten when we are threatened; not retaliate when openly accused. People of integrity and faith, know that if God be for us who can be against us?
In spite of all the confusion and conflicts in Joseph’s life, he had learned enough about God from Jacob, that he feared God, believed in Him, knew God could be trusted in every situation – and he had learned all this and taken it to heart when he was young. The important moral choices by which we choose to live, are made when we are young and are learning how to live right. We may be a bit tentative when first challenged by those who do not know what a true Christian is like. First victories may seem small to others, but they are big and major events to those who pass through them.
Joseph’s first test in Egypt had to do with his employment. Potiphar, though an idolater, could see the Lord, was with Joseph. His attitude, body language, tone of voice, respect and sense of duty and awareness of who he was, made Joseph a unique person in Potiphar’s household. A trusted slave was a valuable person to have in the service of a member of the ruling class in Egypt. To have turned over to Joseph all responsibility for running his household and directing his property was a testimony to the high regard Potiphar had for Joseph’s character.
A person who can be trusted, is the result of moral strength and character, more than of talent. Both are important, but selfishness, deceit and faithlessness may be in a talented person and have an effect on their work. A person of good character may be hard to discern at first. More than judging a person’s talents and qualifications to do a work, is the insight to see what is in a person and the courage to go beyond outward evidence. Outward evidence reveals skill and talent; inward character that is needed for the “long haul,” takes awhile to clearly be revealed and then judged.
Joseph’s character became obvious to those in Potiphar’s house, even to his faithless wife. Her lustful, lascivious appeals were rejected day after day as she tried to tempt him to submit to her and sin against God. Time after time he refused by virtue of strength of character and commitment to God. He rejected her solicitation to sin knowing that it would be an act of treachery against his master, an act of defilement against himself, and more seriously, an act of rebellion against God. Joseph’s conscience was bound by the truth of God and his commitment was to God Himself. He was not going to “sin against God.” It was more important for him to please God than to please the sinful flesh and defile what God intends to be holy. His reverence and respect for God controlled his life.
The guidelines for living for those who are saved early in life and are brought up in a Christian environment, are made early in life. There may not be a dramatic change in one who comes to know the Lord early in life, but there will be evidence as they mature and grow in the Lord. There will likely be an experience of personal consecration in which the reality and depth of their faith becomes as real as their conversion to God. Those who God saves from a life of open sin, usually demonstrate a great difference in lifestyle and character change. What Joseph learned when he was young in his father’s house, he practiced when he came to the place where he was forced into a new kind of life, with responsibility put upon him and he was forced to grow quickly into acting maturely.
We should learn from Joseph who resisted the temptation to sin against God, by being open about our faith in God, our commitment to Him and our commitment to our own personal integrity. Sexual sin is not just between two people, but it is against God who never intended the seed of human beings to be adulterated.
IN EGYPT From a favored son, to a slave and then being sold for a price to be a household servant, would really test the faith of a grown man, let alone a seventeen-year-old alone in a foreign country. He was placed among people of a different culture, different religion, different language, and yet remarkably, Joseph quickly rose above those things, and overcame those obstacles. He was raised to a high and trusted position in a rich man’s household because “The Lord was with Joseph.”
In Prosperity, v.1-6. Instead of complaining about unfair treatment, it is a good testimony to God’s grace and power, to be thankful for every one of His mercies to us. When we do the very best we can in any legitimate situation, using all our abilities, talents and strength to produce the best result, that lets others know the Lord is with us as He was with Joseph. Because the Lord was with him, Joseph was a prosperous man. That is quite a statement to make about one who is a slave.
Real prosperity does not depend on circumstances or how much a person is worth financially. True prosperity is based on character and character on our faithfulness to God. A person whose character is intact, so that it is obvious to those with whom we work, is a person who will be trusted even though our superiors may not have spiritual insight. Our work and conduct, along with a pleasing attitude, enables other people to see the reality of our life of faith. When one honors God, God honors them.
As long as Joseph was in Potiphar’s household, the Lord blessed that house for Joseph’s sake. God- fearing employees instill confidence in them when they use their capabilities wisely and they can be trusted. When God “prospers” a person, that person lives with a genuine hope based on their faith in God. We don’t know the future, but we know who holds the future in His hand.
In Peril, v.7-12. For young people particularly, but in a sense, for older people as well, there will come many occasions to be tempted in one way or another. In fact, temptation is one of the greatest tests of character, convictions and conduct that we will face in our lives. An innocent person becomes a person of virtue when tempted. Being tempted is not sin, but yielding to it is sin.
Joseph “refused” to yield to sexual temptation even though it came day after day. He had power because by an act of faith and an attitude of his will, without any hesitation or delay, he made it clear he was not going to do what the woman wanted. He refused! His mind and his conscience were on full alert. He was trusted and honored by his master, and Potiphar had faith in his trusted servant. He was faithful to both his master and to his God. His integrity remained intact as it should be, no matter what trying circumstances brought. Joseph’s first duty was to God who was his Supreme Master and he would not sin against God. To him, God was first!
In spite of all his virtue, sin would not be daunted and the temptation continued until sin’s desire could not be contained. There are times when temptation by its very nature, demands that we run away from it as fast as we can. The sin of uncontrolled passion does not take defeat without a fight. To flee some temptations, is the only way we can resist. We must flee as fast as possible from such sins. False love can turn into hate in an instant.
Sin does not have dominion over us. We do not need to surrender to sin. We can remain pure and we can be victorious over sin when we face sin by the power of God, strength of character and the grace that God provides when grace is needed.
In Prison, v. 13-23. Slander is hard to deal with when there are no witnesses to a charge that is made. There usually are some people who want to believe the worst. They will say or suggest that there must be some truth to the accusation, or it wouldn’t have been made in the first place. The tongue is an unruly evil that cannot be tamed and causes much hurt. Evil can quickly come from an unguarded or lying tongue.
Potiphar must have known what his wife was like or else he would have killed Joseph on the spot. Joseph, on the other hand, remained silent without defense or making an accusation against Potiphar’s wife in order to save himself. Perhaps he wanted to spare Potiphar’s wife from dishonor, or he knew that Potiphar knew him and his character. For whatever reason, Joseph did not remonstrate but “suffered wrong” because he knew “the Lord was with him.”
The value of an unblemished character cannot be overemphasized. The force of character, the dignity of a clear conscience, the silence of innocence all demonstrate what a child of God should be like. It was those same character traits that led the keeper of the prison to commit to Joseph all that was needed to run the affairs of the prison, in the same way he had run the household of Potiphar.
Difficulties lead to discipline The value of difficulties is not always understood at first. It is good when a yoke is laid on a young man and it results in the development of strength of character. It is not good to have to go through the difficulties, but they prepare us for further and fuller service for the Lord. Yokes strengthen integrity, promote maturity and open doors that had been previously closed. The best things in life are not easy. The costs are high but for us, it is good when we know like Joseph, “The Lord was with Joseph.”
The duty in difficulties is that we maintain our composure, our integrity and our commitments to God and other people when passing through the hard times. Such times, lived with grace instead of complaints, a cheerful spirit instead of disheartening grumbling and being thankful for small mercies instead of dissatisfaction with circumstances, can be a powerful testimony to our faith in God.
Assurance in difficulties can be maintained when we are conscious of the presence of God with us. There may be times when we may wonder for a short time, if God has forgotten or forsaken us. And then, in some way, He speaks peace to our soul and the light of life shines again in us as we wait for Him to do what He wants for His own purposes. Disappointments sometimes are blessings in disguise. Evil and sin may seem to have won victories, but we need to remember they are only temporary. Truth and righteousness will prevail. “In vain do earth and hell oppose, for God is stronger than His foes.”
Our Lord intent, is for us to remain faithful to Him and to our calling in life. It is our responsibility to do what He wants, wait patiently for Him to make whatever changes He wants possible, and then to go forward with humility, faith and effective action, knowing that God justifies our faith in Him. He will be glorified by His grace working through His servants in whatever trying time in which they are found.