OVERSEER IN THE HOUSE OF POTIPHAR
We return to the story of Joseph after the interlude of chapter 38, which we classified as one of the worst chapters in the Bible because it certainly tells a sordid story of the man Judah.
We will discover that Joseph is altogether different from Judah.
I have always felt that Joseph and Benjamin got a great deal of teaching, instruction, and personal attention that the other ten boys did not receive.
These seemed to be the only two boys in whom Jacob was interested.
Because of the hatred and animosity of Joseph’s brothers, he was sold into slavery and taken to the land of Egypt.
To be in a foreign land and sold into slavery is a very dreary prospect for a seventeen-year-old boy.
There is certainly nothing in the outward aspect of things to bring any encouragement to his heart.
Joseph seems to be more or less a hardluck boy.
Even in the land of Egypt, just as things would begin to move smoothly for him, something else would happen.
Of course, it always happened for a purpose, even though that was difficult for Joseph to see.
There is no person in the Old Testament in whose life the purpose of God is more clearly seen than Joseph.
The providence of God is manifest in every detail of his life.
The hand of God is upon him and the leading of the Lord is evident, but Joseph is the one patriarch to whom God did not appear directly, according to the text of Scripture.
God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but not to Joseph.
Yet the direction of God in his life is more clearly seen than in any other.
He is the Old Testament example of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Joseph himself expressed it in rather vivid language.
At the death of their father, Joseph’s brothers felt that Joseph might turn on them, and they came to him asking for mercy.
He told them that he held no grudge against them at all and said, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
Although everything seemed to go wrong for him and the outward aspect was dark—it looked terrible—each event was a step bringing to fruition God’s purpose in this man’s life.
My friend, in our own lives we need to reckon on the fact that “. . . whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb. 12:6).
If we are the children of God, in the will of God, we can have the assurance of God that nothing comes to us without His permission.
God works all things together for good to them who love Him. Even our misfortunes, heartbreaks, and sufferings are for our good and His glory.
There is a hedge about every child of God, and nothing gets through it without the permission of God.
You remember that, when Satan wanted to test Job, he said to God: “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land” (Job 1:10).
Satan asked God to let the hedge down. Even if Satan gets God’s permission to test us, still all things will work for our good.
There is another aspect of the life of Joseph which should be an encouragement to every child of God.
None of God’s children today have ever had a direct revelation from God.
Some modern false prophets claim to the contrary, but God has not appeared directly to any person today.
It is for our encouragement that God did not appear to Joseph directly because we can still know that He is leading and directing us.
Now let’s follow this young man Joseph and see what is going to happen to him.
Genesis 39:1-6 KJV
[1] And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
[2] And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
[3] And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
[4] And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
[5] And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
[6] And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Genesis 39:1 KJV
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
Genesis 39:2 KJV
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3 KJV
And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:4 KJV
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Genesis 39:5 KJV
And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Genesis 39:6 KJV
And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
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