Life of Joseph - Genesis 39
Pastor Chris Casoni
Part of Life of Joseph
October 15, 2023

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. 11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” 19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. —Genesis 39

Big Idea: We can overcome the hurt of being sinned against and do good in our lives because

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.

1. Joseph was a trusted slave (v.1-6)

  • a. Sold into slavery (v.1)

In a fallen world, sin and injustice are

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. None of us are exempt from
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.

  • b. Yahweh: the personal covenant name of God (v. 2, 3, 5, 21, 23)
  • c. God’s presence empowered Joseph’s success (v.2-6)

While Joseph had every human reason to

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and be
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, he chose to
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, and God chose to
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.

2. Joseph was a faithful follower of God (v.7-10)

  • a. Warding off temptation (v.7-8)
  • b. Maintaining his integrity Joseph refused to sin against (v.9):
    1. The trust given to him over the household
    2. Potiphar
    3. God Himself (Psalm 51:3-4a)

      3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. —Psalm 51:3-4


Knowing God is
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gives reason and support to
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and walk in
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.

  • c. Persistent temptation (v.10)

Those who are wise refuse to

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for
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.

3. Joseph was unjustly punished by man and still loved by God. (v.11-23)

  • a. Deceptive tactics (v.11-18):
    1. A False testimony
    2. An Accepting audience
    3. Xenophobia
    4. Planted evidence
    5. Manipulation

  • b. Unjustly imprisoned (v.19-20)
  • c. God’s provision admits Joseph’s suffering (v.21)
  • d. Joseph is blessed in prison because of his character and God’s favor (v.22-23)

  • e. Immanuel, “God” with us. (Matthew 1:23; 28:20)

    “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). —Matthew 1:23
    teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20

  • f. Philippians 4:13 I can “endure” all things

Doing the right thing

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you to experience
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. We can do the right thing because
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.

Small Group Questions

  1. What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

  2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

  3. Can you share an example from your life or someone you know when seeking justice consumed their thoughts and actions after being wronged? What were the consequences of that focus?

  4. How can we grow in wisdom to refuse to entertain opportunities for temptation in our lives?

  5. How do you perceive God’s presence in the midst of trials? In what ways can we seek and experience His presence during difficult times?