QT 12/9/2025 Gen 39:1-12, The realities of life under the sun

Genesis 39:1–12 (ESV) —

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.

 

NOTE: It is no accident that Joseph is sold in slavery to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. Joseph is successful in whatever he does. His father saw it and now Potiphar sees it, but with success comes temptations from the evil one. Joseph does the right thing, but still is caught in a situation where he will be charged with something he didn't do. It is an ancient case of "woke" and sexual harassment where the female is always right. It is so discouraging for you career to be curtailed by a lie.

 

I've experienced the same thing once in life. It was a lie by a disgruntled employee who felt two years of experience qualified her as a full scientist. When I did not promote her, she went to Employee Relations claiming discrimination and I was almost fired by the male VP. Fortunately, by God's grace, my immediate boss was a female Asst VP, and she stood up for me and against her own boss. She knew it was a lie. God used the situation to teach me a lot of things. I still pray at times for that employee who left the company sometime afterwards.

 

PONDER:

1. When things go against us, do we stop and ask God for wisdom?
2. Rather than being bitter, have we prayed for God to help us understand what he was doing for us during those bitter times?

 

PRAYER: Father, I am thankful for what you were doing in my life. I learned a lot about leading people in a non-military situation. I thought you just took care of people, but I have learned to be more discerning. I can still be a witness for Christ, but it takes special care and careful steps and documentation when working.