 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 Lordwas with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. Meditation Trusting God’s sovereign presence fills the reservoir of contentedness in our hearts and cascades contentedness throughout our character. God’s sovereign presence is emphasized with the repetition of, “The Lord was with Joseph…” (2, 3, 21, 23). After being sold by his brothers, Joseph had been a servant in Egypt for years- and the Lord was with Joseph. After being framed by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph was put in prison- and the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord does not leave or forsake Joseph, and this sovereign presence strengthens Joseph’s security. Security in God’s sovereign presence fuels contentedness in Joseph’s soul. “Day after day” Joseph refused the sexual advances of one of the most powerful women in the world (10). God gave fruitfulness to Joseph’s work, in the palace and in prison, and Joseph saw himself as steward. Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife because “the master had put everything in his charge” except for her, refusing to dishonor Potiphar or sin against God. Joseph was content with limitations because he was secure in God’s sovereignty. Paul proclaims, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6) in the context of challenging the Church to not covet things of this world or crave money (1 Timothy 6). God is sovereign over our stuff! And contentedness looks like treasuring Christ’s presence in our hearts over and above the treasures of the world (Matthew 6:21). Wherever you are, God has sovereignly has a purpose for putting you in that place: “Be content with what you have for God has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the connection between God’s sovereignty and Joseph’s contentedness? -Are you content? If not, what does this reveal about your trust (or lack thereof) in God and His sovereignty? -How does the finished work of Jesus and His repeated promise to never leave or forsake you fuel your faith in God and His sovereignty? Where do you need to apply this truth? Be specific. Key Verse 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. Comments are closed.
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