In Genesis 39 the narrative focus shifts back to Joseph, after a short detour in chapter 38 (of which provides stark contrasts with chapter 39).<\/p>\n
Verse 1:<\/strong>\u00a0This chapter begins by picking up right where the end of chapter 37 left off; with Joseph being sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. Even here we see the hand of God’s providence attracting Potiphar to Joseph to purchase him.<\/p>\n Verse 2:\u00a0<\/strong>As frightening as being sold into slavery under a tyrannical government may have been for Joseph, and we can be assured that it was, verse 2 is sufficiently more comforting – the Lord was with him. Though Joseph was far from the land of his fathers, the land of promise, he was not far from God. God did not abandon him to whatever fate may befall him in the land of Egypt. Though his brothers sold him, God did not. Here we learn that whatever frightful situation or uncertain scenario the believer may find himself in, we have a sufficient comfort and hope because of the Lord’s presence with us that has been guaranteed to us by the gospel of our Lord.<\/p>\n Verse 2, 3, and 5:\u00a0<\/strong>The Lord caused Joseph to be successful by prospering the work of his hands under Potiphar, in his home. Again we see, opposite of the Lord leaving Joseph for dead, He prospers him. Here we see the lesson spelled out clearly in Psalm 127v1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” There is no doubt that Joseph was an excellent worker, yet<\/strong> without God granting success, he would have had none.<\/p>\n Verse 3:\u00a0<\/strong>What a striking grace this verse reveals to us! The Spirit of God opened Potiphar’s idolatrous eyes to see the one true God present with Joseph, and as the cause of the success in his labors. The God who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also the God of the gentile as Potiphar is an undeserving recipient of Yahweh’s self-revelation of Himself in Joseph. Was Potiphar converted to the worship of the true God? It is not abundantly clear in the Scripture one way or the other, but I tend to see the work of grace more clearly in him than not.<\/p>\n I would also be amiss to not observe that Joseph’s character had to have been supernaturally powered by the Holy Spirit. How else could someone have such a pleasant attitude after being sold into slavery and betrayed by his brothers? It could only be due to the presence of the Lord with him. What a witness it is when believers are content with Lord despite the most harsh and unfair circumstances. What a beautiful spirit Joseph displays for us here.<\/p>\n Verse 4:\u00a0<\/strong>Here is another evidence to Potiphar’s conversion, he looked favorably upon Joseph. Even after having Yahweh revealed to him in Joseph, he did not, as unregenerate men do, despise and revile Joseph because of the Lord, but instead, He looks favorably upon Joseph, thus possibly indicating to us that he looks favorably toward Yahweh.<\/p>\n Verse 5:\u00a0<\/strong>Thus the theme continues as the Lord blesses Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. At the very least, the kind arm of common grace is extended to Potiphar through his faithful servant, Joseph. This passage is reminiscent of Genesis 30v27 where the Lord blesses Laban because of and through Jacob who was working under him at the time.<\/p>\n But most clearly of all we see the Lord Jesus typified here in Joseph. Just as Joseph mediated the blessing of God to Potiphar, so Christ mediates the salvific blessings of God to us. There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Only in and through Christ do we receive forgiveness of sins, righteousness, justification, acceptance, and all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. The christian is blessed by God with all the benefits of salvation for Jesus’ sake.<\/p>\n The type continues in more ways. Just as Joseph did all the work for Potiphar, so Jesus does all the work for us. We are not saved by our works or anything that we do, we are saved by Jesus’ work for us. And just as Potiphar reaped all the benefits of Joseph’s work, so we reap all the benefits of Christ’s work. Potiphar could have worked until his fingers fell off, and yet he would have never been blessed by God. It wasn’t until he stopped working, and Joseph did the work for him, that he began to be blessed by God, for Joseph’s sake. Likewise, all the work that we do, no matter how hard we try, will not merit us the blessing of God. The blessing of God will only be found in resting in Christ’s work.<\/p>\n Even further we continue. Joseph has gone from being the beloved and well-favored son safe in his father’s home, to being humiliated down to the form of a servant, in a distant, pagan land. In the same way, Christ left the bosom of His Father, emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, humiliated himself, taking on the flesh of a rebel people, and serving them (Phil. 2). Joseph stepped down in society in order to prosper Potiphar. How much greater did Christ step down, in order to prosper us poor sinners, not material prosperity, but eternal prosperity. Christ went from riches to rags so that we could go from rags to riches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In Genesis 39 the narrative focus shifts back to Joseph, after a short detour in chapter 38 (of which provides stark contrasts with chapter 39). Verse 1:\u00a0This chapter begins by picking up right where the end of chapter 37 left off; with Joseph being sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":3506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,32],"tags":[205,274,465,539,557,562,679,696,963,1105,1249,1283],"class_list":{"0":"post-3505","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commentary","8":"category-theology","9":"tag-bible","10":"tag-christ","11":"tag-exposition","12":"tag-genesis","13":"tag-god","14":"tag-gospel","15":"tag-jesus","16":"tag-joseph","17":"tag-potiphar","18":"tag-scripture","19":"tag-thoughts","20":"tag-truth","21":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/170125131714-open-bible-super-tease.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3512,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-39v6b-23\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":0},"title":"Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 39v6b-23","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Introductory Comments The fight against sin and temptation is a fundamental element of the Christian life and it is a fundamental fight that we never stop fighting until we cross the finish line. Many faint at the first sound of shots, others fall out along the way, but even some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/0aafb871c2a6d16a37093b69ead0b807.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/0aafb871c2a6d16a37093b69ead0b807.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/0aafb871c2a6d16a37093b69ead0b807.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/0aafb871c2a6d16a37093b69ead0b807.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3515,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-40\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":1},"title":"Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 40","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here we find Joseph in prison, as we left him at the end of Genesis 39. Though unjustly imprisoned, it was not without providence. For Joseph, prison is not punishment, but preparation. God is preparing, sanctifying, testing, and teaching Joseph to trust in Him. Whatever \"pit\" we find ourselves in,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/dp818816.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/dp818816.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/dp818816.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3534,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-41v1-45\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":2},"title":"Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 41v1-45","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In this passage we find three themes that relate to Joseph typifying Christ: resurrection, interpretation, and ascension. We will explore these and observe other lessons of principle for the Christian life. Verse 1:\u00a0This verse is here to connect us with where we left off, and to tell us how long\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/027-joseph_interprets_pharaohs_dream-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3541,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/abundance-in-christ-commentary-and-gospel-thoughts-on-genesis-41v46-57\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":3},"title":"Abundance in Christ – Commentary and Gospel Thoughts on Genesis 41v46-57","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In this passage we will observe four elements of the grace of God: the abundance of grace, the forgetfulness of grace, the fruitfulness of grace, and the exclusivity of grace. The Abundance of Grace Verse 46:\u00a0Moses tells us that Joseph, at this time, is now 30 years old. This marks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/04\/tombe_doumsou_2-crop.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3570,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-substitute-for-the-guilty-commentary-on-genesis-44\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":4},"title":"A Substitute for the Guilty: Commentary on Genesis 44","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"There are three elements to the narrative that will guide our thought concerning this passage here: Joseph's Test, The Brother's Guilt, and Judah's Plea. Joseph's Test Verse 1:\u00a0The passage begins with Joseph filling the brother's sacks full and putting their money back in their sacks. In other words he continues\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/open-bible.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3567,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/there-again-feasting-in-famine-commentary-on-genesis-43\/","url_meta":{"origin":3505,"position":5},"title":"There Again: Feasting in Famine – Commentary on Genesis 43","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"May 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In Genesis 43 there are three overarching themes that will guide our consideration of this passage: the famine grows in severity, the brothers grow in honesty, and Joseph grows in mercy. The Famine Grows in Severity In the last chapter we noted how God uses means to accomplish his purposes;\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/05\/desk-and-bible.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3505\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}