“Genesis 39:19-23”

Thursday, March 26, 2020

“Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, 'This is what your slave did to me,' his anger burned. So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“Now when his master heard the words of his wife...his anger burned.” (verse 19) The text does not specify just who Potiphar's anger burned toward, but it seems that he believed the lie that his wife told had him about Joseph unconditionally. Of course, he could not have been happy at all about losing the services of such a highly skilled and talented manager as Joseph, but then again, he could have chosen to actually investigate the matter instead of just taking his wife's word at face value. I guess keeping the peace at home was more important than keeping a valuable servant in his position, even if he had proven himself loyal and trustworthy time and time again.

“So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined...” “The prison, of which there was one in each town of any size, served as a penal institution for convicted criminals, as a labor camp for those forced into the corvée, and as the seat of the criminal court. In the present instance, the prison is under the jurisdiction of Joseph's master and is housed on his property, as is clear from 40:3,7 and 41:10... Being an officer of the court, Potiphar puts Joseph in the section reserved for royal prisoners, a detail vital to the understanding of the next episode. Why does Joseph escape execution, which would certainly have been the fate of a slave who attempted to assault his master's wife sexually? Is it because of Potiphar's extreme fondness for him, or because he really doubts the veracity of the woman's story?” (Nahum Sarna)

“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him...” (verse 21) Verse 3 tells us that “the Lord was with “ Joseph while serving in the capacity of administrator in Potiphar's house, and that his master could plainly see evidence of this divine favor and provision. But, just because Joseph lost his good standing with his earthly master who had him wrongly thrown into prison, that is no indication at all that the Lord was displeased with him or had departed from him or withdrawn His divine favor. The Lord did not keep Joseph from being put into prison as an innocent man, even as He had not previously shielded him from being abused by his brothers who sold him into slavery when he did not deserve it. But even in the dank shadows of the dungeon (Genesis 40:15), “the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him.” Do not believe that the Lord is displeased with you or has departed from you just because He allows you to experience troubles and endure trials that you do not deserve. He is either preparing you or testing you or opening a door for you that you do not yet see.

“And gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” (verse 21) Joseph grew and flourished where he was planted. He made the best of a bad situation, and, with the Lord's help and providence, he excelled at his tasks and looked for opportunity to do the next right thing. Remember, the Apostle Paul was praying and singing songs of praise with his traveling companion, Silas, while in stocks in a Jail in Philippi (Acts 16:25), and not lamenting the deplorable conditions. They never lost their hope or faith in the Lord and held tightly to their joy in spite of the misery. It was the same Apostle Paul who wrote: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

“The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.” (verses 22-23) Through the Lord's will and providence, and Joseph's diligence and virtue, he did not lose his position of authority and influence, he merely had a change in venues. “It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for 'the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.'” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)

Please read Genesis 40:1-8

The Lord be with you and make you to prosper!

-Louie Taylor

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