Genesis | November 1, 2020

 

Genesis 39, 40 – The Prison

 

The Promise – Where Dreams Are Born

 

The Pit – Where Dreams Are Shattered

 

The Prison – Where Dreamers Are Rebuilt

 

Genesis 39:1-6(a) “When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!”

 

Huge Decision #1.  I Have To Decide Whether Or Not To Give Up

 

If I’m Joseph…

 

I might…

  • Catch the first camel back to Israel

  • Go to work with an attitude

  • Say, “I’ll go through the motions…but my heart won’t be in this.”

 

But Joseph…

  • Refused to quit

  • Worked hard

  • Was promoted (The only thing Potiphar had to do was decide what to have for lunch.)

 

And God…

  • Built his character

  • Taught him principles he would use in the redemption of two nations

  • Prepared him for his destiny

 

Prison Principle #1:  Adversity Leads To Achievement

 

Genesis 39:6(b)-21(a)  “Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7  and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8  But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9  No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10  She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11  One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12  She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. 13  When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14  she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. 15  When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.” 16  She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17  Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18  “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!” 19  Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20  So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.”

 

Huge Decision #2.  I Have To Decide Whether Or Not To Give In To Sin

 

If I’m Joseph…

 

I might…

  • Rebel

  • Think to myself, “Who even cares?”

  • Think to myself, “I deserve a little happiness.”

 

But Joseph…

  • Ran

  • Honored God

  • Was thrown into prison

 

And God…

  • Was pleased

  • Was with Joseph

  • Prepared Joseph to make tough on-the-fly decisions

     

 

Prison Principle #2:  The Thing That Threatens You Will Be Used By God To Deliver You

 

Genesis 39:21(b) – 40:7 “And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22  Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23  The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed. Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. 2  Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, 3  and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. 4  They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. 5  While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6  When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. 7  “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.”

 

Huge Decision #3.  I Have To Decide Whether Or Not To Give To Others

 

If I’m Joseph…

 

I might…

  • Think my pain is the only pain around

  • Develop a cold heart and lose compassion

  • Isolate myself from others

 

But Joseph…

  • Lived in prison the same way Jesus would live if He were in prison

  • Treated forgotten men like human beings when no one else did

 

And God…

  • Grew Joseph’s heart of compassion to prepare him for a time when the entire world would need compassion

  • Used this moment to pave the way for Joseph’s release from prison

 

Prison Principle #3:  The Way You Treat Other Prisoners Is The Way You Will Be Treated

 

 

 

 

 

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