Genesis 39 may be the most well known and most often referenced story in Genesis, certainly in the last half of the book. It has made-for-television type drama. The protagonist is far away from home, alone and in unfavorable circumstances until he works his way up into recognition and esteem. Also, it doesn’t hurt ratings that he is a hunk. The antagonist is also a stock character, the bored woman with a busy husband. She is one of the real housewives of Egypt. The conflict comes from her repeated attempts to seduce him and his resolute resistance. But heaven help the target of a scorned woman. Soon the honest hero suffers genuine consequences of false accusations and falls to a position worse than where he started.

While this narrative would indeed draw millions of soap opera viewers, and while it has produced perhaps millions of Sunday School lessons about resisting temptation, I’ve not yet mentioned the main point of the chapter, nor would that point probably be portrayed in a performance. The point of this story is not so much Joseph’s successes or his righteousness but rather the LORD’s providence. The point is less about Joseph’s plight and more about the LORD’s purpose. From the human perspective we appreciate Joseph’s industry and integrity and tenacity, as well as his doubts and discouragement; he must have wondered, “Is this how my sheaf is supposed to stand so tall?” From the divine perspective, which Joseph doesn’t get to see until afterward, we marvel at the LORD’s presence and blessing and plot to save all Israel’s family.

There are three scenes in chapter 39, blessing and promotion in a difficult situation (verses 1-6), temptation and accusation in a tricky situation (verses 7-20), and imprisonment and success in an unlikely situation (verses 21-23).

Blessing and Promotion (verses 1-6)

The account of Judah and Tamar interrupted the report about Joseph. The events in Genesis 38 took place over twenty-plus years, years that overlap with Joseph’s exile in Egypt. We knew that Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianite traders who then sold Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 37:36), and Genesis 39 takes us back in time to pick up the story.

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. Joseph became the property of a man in charge of soldiers and slaves. This was a man Pharaoh trusted to get things done, and probably not due to his charm.

The most important part of the chapter is in verse 2, and it is repeated in the final scene of the chapter as well in verse 21. The LORD was with Joseph . The LORD promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would be with them, but Joseph had not received such a direct word. It is uncertain how and when Joseph perceived the LORD’s presence. In fact, it is likely that Joseph didn’t “feel” like it was true, at least not in every moment. The reason Moses points it out is because first, being sold into slavery was not a sign that God had abandoned Joseph and second, the successes of Joseph were owed to the LORD. When the situation isn’t good we think He’s gone, when the situation is good we think we did it. Both are wrongheaded.

The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master . Potiphar was a “man of Egypt,” Joseph is a “man of success.” It’s unlikely that Joseph started in the house but rather in the fields. Moses doesn’t say in what ways Joseph was successful, but his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands . Joseph must have talked about his God, which is sort of surprising since it would not earn him sympathy with the Egyptians who had many gods. As things went well Joseph gave credit to the LORD. This is evangelism by thanking God for good work product.

Joseph kept moving up. 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 . This took years, which may be an inconvenient encouragement for those who desire their suffering temporary and their success immediate. It also would be difficult to fit in an hour-long show. “Boss, I worked forty-two hours my first week on the job, where’s my promotion?” However long it took Joseph to become Potiphar’s personal assistant, the results were outstanding.

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. 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. (Genesis 39:5–6)

Everything that Joseph touched turned to good. The secondary cause was Joseph’s wise and skillful administration, but the primary cause was the blessing of the LORD . Potiphar saw the value that Joseph’s work brought to the house and turned all that he had over to him, indoors and out; the thorough nature of his successes and responsibilities is mentioned in verse 3, 4, twice in 5, and again in 6. The only thing Potiphar spent mental effort on was the food that he ate . I imagine that Potiphar was like Lord Emsworth in Leave It to Psmith but instead of gardening at Blandings Castle, Potiphar got into gourmandizing; he needed a chef like Aunt Dahlia’s Anatole.

The last phrase of verse 6 shows that Joseph had it all. He was handsome in form and appearance . His figure and face are attractive, just as it was said about his mother (Genesis 29:17). The only problem is that he was still a slave, but it didn’t feel like it day to day. Actually, there was one problem that came about because he was so good looking. Beauty is a blessing, and sometimes it’s a blessing to be ugly.

Temptation and Accusation (verses 7-20)

Things were going as well as possible for a foreign slave. Everyone noticed Joseph’s addition to the house, including the mistress of the house. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” Her advances show that she wanted a little less conversation and a little more action. This is not an offer for a nap.

She doesn’t love him, nor is she thinking about what is good for him. Yet Joseph is a young, single, handsome man, doing well in his career. He’s far from home; who would know? Or care? And he has needs, right?

What becomes obvious is that Joseph’s greatest need was to honor God. He made no excuses or rationalizations. His response is as fearless as it is fluid. Usually men are the less chatty sex but his answer is lengthy.

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. 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?” (Genesis 39:8–9)

Joseph asserts stewardship, marriage, and theology. He’s been entrusted; Potiphar trusts him. How can he betray that? And Potiphar is in covenant with his wife; that ought not be broken. And also, God knows what happens, even the things we think are secret, and He has standards. Before God it would be a great wickedness , a sin . Betraying the trust of his master is one thing, betraying the law of his LORD is far worse.

He probably made this speech more than once since she spoke to Joseph day after day She wouldn’t give up. But he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her . He showed integrity and loyalty and constancy, and he did so because the Lord was with him.

But it was just a matter of time, not before Joseph compromised but before Potiphar’s wife called a full-court press. “Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman” may be an exaggeration, but a scorned woman can still cause a fury of hell on earth.

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… foreshadows no good. Joseph wasn’t trying to get near temptation, he was going about his duties as usual, but trouble found him nonetheless.

She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me,” Seducing verse, same as the first. He doesn’t even try to reason with her this time. But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house . Sexual immorality is not a sin to fight but one to flee (1 Corinthians 6:18). Get away. Don’t go near the fire (Proverbs 6:27). She used force by grabbing his garment , we might think of a t-shirt. He’s pulling away and she’s pulling off his clothes. He doesn’t try to wrestle her for it. He had to know that he was in trouble.

She crossed the Rubicon of seduction; it was too late to keep it secret. So if she can’t have him, she’ll have him punished. She called to the men of her household, gathering the other servants who could easily be turned against their fellow servant who had been put over them. She tells them a story to create group empathy and a group of pseudo-witnesses, though they saw nothing. She gets them on her side, mocking her husband in front of them. She gets them, she is with them, she is a victim like they are. She’s also an Egyptian like them, not like that Hebrew her husband brought in. We can hear some of the servants saying, “You know, now that you mention it, I never did like that guy.”

Note that she says, he left his garment beside me . She makes it appear that he was the aggressor, that he took off his clothes, and when she yelled he must have been confused and forgot to pick up his clothes.

Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home making sure she had the evidence in her possession. Her approach put Potiphar in a position where he would feel guilty. ”The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me.” It’s as if she said, “You are responsible for this. Your decision put me in this vulnerable position.” ”But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, in other words, “when I screamed my head off” (Hamilton), he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” Joseph was weak, easily frightened, and dumb enough to leave his shirt behind.

The testimony and one piece of circumstantial evidence didn’t look good for Joseph.

Imprisonment and Success (verses 21-23)

As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him…his anger was kindled . He believes enough of her word and doesn’t investigate further. 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. Yes, he was in prison. This is worse that being a household slave. It is far worse than his position in charge of the house.

That said, it isn’t as bad as death. This is at least a little curious that Potiphar didn’t have Joseph executed. A foreign slave attempting to rape one’s wife was a capital offense in Egypt. Maybe this suggests that Potiphar knew the kind of wife he had. Maybe he was angry because it was going to require him to start working again whether or not the accusations were true. Maybe Joseph made a reasonable defense. Regardless, Joseph seems anything but successful, and he has no legal rights.

Even in prison, though, the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison . Only God makes men look great in the slammer. Like in Potiphar’s house,

the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 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 39:22-23)

The warden turned everything over to Joseph.

Conclusion

Genesis 39 does illustrate Joseph’s purity in contrast to Judah’s promiscuity; Joseph was faithful and Judah was fleshly. Joseph is a great illustration of fleeing sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:22).

Would you remain steadfast if you knew that you would eventually be put second in charge?

Would you remain steadfast if getting to second in charge meant years of slavery and a collar of iron (Psalm 105:18-19) first?

The LORD wanted Joseph skilled and successful. The LORD also wanted Joseph sold, tempted, alone in the house, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Did he wonder how this could be the LORD’s reward for his integrity? It may have felt like a roller coaster to Joseph, not fun with ups and downs, but the unexpected route was of course on course because God was in control.

This is what we should want as well. This is the only way our successes will be any good and a platform for testimony. Prison, this prison, is precisely where God predestined to save Israel and continue the covenant promises to Abraham (Psalm 105:7ff). It was an unlikely place for success, but part of the LORD’s gracious favor on Joseph.

You are also in the place God wants you to be. It is true even if you don’t feel like it’s true in the moment.