Today's reading tells us about the trial that fell to Joseph in Egypt. It would seem that Joseph's being sold into slavery was already a trial; what could the Egyptian prison in which...
Today's reading tells us about the trial that fell to Joseph in Egypt. It would seem that Joseph's being sold into slavery was already a trial; what could the Egyptian prison in which Joseph found himself add to that (vv. 19-20)? And yet, paradoxical as it may appear at first glance, it was precisely that prison that became Joseph's first truly serious trial, though his situation in confinement can hardly be called extremely harsh (vv. 21-23). For it was here, in Egypt, that Joseph first had to experience both a rise in life and a fall in life.
Having become the manager of his master's household (vv. 1-6), Joseph, while legally remaining a slave, in fact made a career and attained a place in society of which any of his tribesmen could only dream, and in a country where not only half-wild nomads but also inhabitants of many neighboring, fully civilized countries would have counted it happiness to live. To lose such a place, and to lose it as Joseph did, was a real collapse of life.
What was most frightening and destructive for Joseph's spiritual life was that what happened to him was not merely undeserved; it happened precisely because Joseph firmly followed the moral norms that, as far as one can judge, he considered absolutely binding for himself (vv. 7-18). Joseph, after arriving in Egypt, could hardly have forgotten the God of his fathers; and although the Decalogue had not yet been revealed by God to His people, some moral norms must have been known to Joseph, as to all his kin, and known specifically as given by God and therefore binding. And then it happened that by following these God-given norms, Joseph, instead of receiving a reward, ends up in an Egyptian prison. Such a turn of events could make anyone doubt not only the unshakable nature of moral norms, but even the very existence of God. In those days people were convinced that the favor of higher powers brought well-being and prosperity, while every misfortune was regarded as a sign of wrath from above.
Now Joseph faced a very serious spiritual crisis: he had either to revise completely these ideas traditional for his age, or to lose faith. On the other hand, having passed through the crisis and still kept trust in his God, Joseph entered a new level of relationship with Him, one that no longer depended on life's successes or failures. And judging by the fact that God does not abandon Joseph in prison (v. 21), Joseph did not lose faith as he passed through the crisis. Then, as usually happens in such cases, the next stage of his spiritual and life journey opened before him.
39 At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here,
and yet there greatly honoured and favoured,
Imprisoned, Gen 39:19-20.
And yet his imprisonment made both honourable and comfortable by the tokens of God's special presence with him, Gen 39:21-23.
39:1 The Jews have a proverb, If the world did but know the worth of good men, they would hedge them about with pearls. Joseph was sold to an officer of Pharaoh, with whom he might get acquainted with public persons, and public business, and so be fitted for the preferment he was afterwards designed for. What God intends men for, he will be sure, some way or other, to qualify them for.
39:2 Those that can separate us from all our friends, cannot deprive us of the gracious presence of our God. When Joseph had none of his relations with him, he had his God with him, even in the house of the Egyptian: Joseph was banished from his father's house, but the Lord was with him. It is God's presence with us that makes all we do prosperous. Those that would prosper, must therefore make God their friend; and those that do prosper, must therefore give God the praise.
39:6 He knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat - The servant had all the care and trouble of the estate, the master had only the enjoyment of it; an example not to be imitated by any master, unless he could be sure that he had one like Joseph for a servant.
39:9 How can I sin against God - Not only how shall I do it and sin against my master, my mistress, myself, my own body and soul, but against God? - Gracious souls look upon this as the worst thing in sin, that it is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. They that love God, for this reason hate sin.
39:10 He hearkened not to her, so much as to be with her. Those that would be kept from harm, must keep themselves out of harm's way.
39:12 When she laid hold on him, he left his garment in her hand - He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but flew out from it with the utmost abhorrence, he left his garment as one escaping for his life.
39:20 Where the king's prisoners were bound - Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison because it was the worst; for there the irons entered into the soul, Psa 105:18, but God designed it to pave the way to his enlargement. Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph was bound, and numbered with the transgressors.
39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and shewed him mercy. God despiseth not his prisoners, Psa 69:33. No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison - God can raise up friends for his people even where they little expect them. The keeper saw that God was with him, and that every thing prospered under his hand, and therefore intrusted him with the management of the affairs of the prison.