I refer you to Genesis 39:7-23 for today's message. When the sun sat each day on Joseph’s life, he could rest easy, because he has been faithful. When he was home with his father Jacob, he had been a faithful son. When he minded his father’s flocks, he had been a faithful worker. When he was sold to Potiphar, he proved to be a faithful servant. Because he had been faithful, the Lord blessed everything he did.
In this passage, we are allowed to see the faithfulness of Joseph very clearly. He remains faithful to His God, and to himself, in the face of some problems that would cause many others to fail.
Of course, there's a word here for our lives today. As we pass through this life many situations will arise that have the potential to throw us off course. The world, the flesh and the devil will all conspire to get us to quit on God. They will do everything in their power to cause us to drop out or to fall far short of our potential.
God wants us to be faithful. He wants us to stay the course and run the race for His glory until He calls us home. Joseph teaches us how to be faithful in spite of what we may face in this life. In today's message, let's examine the areas in which Joseph was faithful to the Lord. He expects no less from you and me! Let’s not disappoint Him.
In Genesis 39:7-12, we see how Joseph remained faithful to the Lord despite various temptations that presented themselves to him. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a good looking young man, (Genesis 39:6). Not that I would know, but beauty must bring with it its own set of problems! As Joseph ministered in Potiphar’s house, he caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife. She began to flirt with him, (Genesis 39:7). After a short time, she became downright brazen in her approach, asking Joseph to “lie” with her. He refused her advances, but she persisted, (Genesis 39:10).
Then, on a certain day, she was in the house alone and when Joseph came in she grabbed him by his outer garments and said “Lie with me”, (39:11-12). Joseph left his garment in her hand and ran away. In this “trial by fire” remained absolutely faithful to the Lord.
I'd like to point out here that there are several features of this temptation that would have made it very attractive to any young man: It was a temptation to fulfill a natural need – The offer from Potiphar’s wife was for sex, pure and simple. Joseph was a long way from home in a strange land – Some people might have adopted the motto: “When in Rome, do as the Romans”. A lot of people live like that.
Mrs. Potiphar was surely a beautiful woman – Egyptian women were renowned in that day for their physical beauty. Surely she would have appealed to the male in Joseph. It came on the heels of a big promotion – A lot of people would assume that they had arrived. After all, Joseph had the Midas touch. He had the favor of Potiphar. It came at the perfect time and opportunity – Potiphar’s wife caught Joseph when there was no physical reason why they should not and could not commit adultery. The only thing that stopped them was Joseph’s integrity.
In this passage (Genesis 39:13-19), we also see how Joseph was faithful in spite of trials. Mrs. Potiphar has been scorned and she sets her trap. When Joseph runs out, I can see her as she tossles her hair, smudges her makeup, and tears her clothes. She starts to scream and cry. The other servants come running to see what is going on. She tells them that Joseph tried to rape her.
She holds on to the garment and when her husband arrives home, she springs the trap. In essence, she blames Potiphar for the problem, (Genesis 39: 17). She says, “If you hadn't brought this slave home, none of this would have happened. Look what you have allowed to happen in our home.” To make a long story short, Joseph winds up in prison.
Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes for a moment. You have been a faithful servant to your master. You have successfully avoided committing adultery with his wife even though she has practically thrown herself at you every day. You have been falsely accused. What do you do?
Most of us would have launched a loud and long defense. We would have declared our innocence and we would have vowed to take our revenge when the opportunity presented itself. Not Joseph! In fact, there is no record of him even opening his mouth. In this respect, Joseph is once again just like Jesus, (Isaiah 53:7). He took the trial that came his way and he endured it with grace and faithfulness.
I am not saying that we should never defend our name and reputation when it is slandered. What I am talking about is the fact that trials are going to come along in this life. There will be times when you will be attacked, misunderstood and misrepresented. When those times come, remember that God knows the truth, and, eventually, that truth will come out!
What I'm saying is that you and I must learn to be faithful even during the trials of life. When everything goes against us, and the full weight of life comes crashing down on top of us, we must ever remain faithful to the Lord Who loved us, bought us and saved us. Trust God and stay the course, He is looking for faithful servants, (1 Corinthians 2:4). He is looking for people who will be the same regardless of which way the wind is blowing.
In Genesis 39:20-23, we see Joseph being faithful in spite of tragedies. There Joseph is back in the pit once again. This time he is not in a pit of earth, he is in a prison. Surely he felt like his star was on the rise, now, it looks like those dreams will never be fulfilled. Many people would have given us and quit had they found themselves in the same situation. Not Joseph!
He just did in the prison what he had done at Potipher’s house and what he had done at Jacob’s house. He remained faithful in spite of everything life threw at him. He did his job there in that prison and he did it so well that soon he was running the place. The jailer trusted Joseph to do the right thing and he turned the day to day operation of the place over to him. How was this possible? You see, Joseph was faithful to the Lord regardless of where he was; and regardless of where he was, the Lord was faithful to Joseph.
Dear friends, there are going to be times when the bottom will fall out of your life. That is the clear teaching of the Word of God, Job 14:1; 5:7; John 16:33. When that happens there will be the temptation to give up and quit on God. Many of us do. However, God wants us to remain faithful in spite of whatever we may face in this life. God knows what He is doing and He is working out a perfect, eternal plan, (Romans 8:28; Psalm 37:23). You can trust Him to do right by you, (2 Corinthians 4:17. Romans 8:18; Jeremiah 29:11).
I have seen people in the valley of depression be used by the Lord. I have seen people held in the grip of terminal illness be used by the Lord. I have seen people who didn't have a dime to their name and still God used them. If you will be faithful where He puts you, He will use you there for His glory!
The greatest thing that can ever be said about you and me, as far as our walk with the Lord is concerned, is that we were faithful. I want to be found faithful. How about you?
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; John 14:15; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 10:22; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:13
Prayer: Dear Lord, give me the wisdom to understand that it is not what I begin that counts, but what I finish. Amen
Have a blessed day!
Connor
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