The Cushy Job

Genesis 37:36, 39:1–20

Genesis 39:1–20 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard. 1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his master saw

that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. 5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD’S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. 6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. 9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” 10 As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her. 11 Now it happened one day

that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside. 12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside. 13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. 15 “When he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.” 16 So she left his garment beside her until

his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with these words, “The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me; 18 and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.” 19 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. 20 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.

Key VersesAs for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Genesis 50:20

…God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28b

A. The Partnership(39:1–6)

B. The Hostile Takeover (39:7–20)

1. The request (39:7)2. The refusal (39:8–12)3. The revenge (39:13–20)

The Cushy Job (39:1–20)

For Our Note Takers

The Partnership

Verses 1-6

From Golden Boy to Slave BoyJoseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him

God is sovereignYour situation does not determine favor

The Hand of God“the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man” (39:2)“the Lord was with him” (39:3)“the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” (39:3)“the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph” (39:5)“the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned” (39:5)“the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him” (39:21)“the Lord was with him” (39:23)“whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper” (39:23)

The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man.God is workingI need to workFaith and works

Slave Personal ServantOverseer of house

Simple concept…the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:2b

Let your light shine at work1. You’re working for God- Col. 3:23-242. Be honest, especially with money- Prov. 11:13. Grow in your skills- Prov. 22:294. Do excellent work- Matt. 5:165. Bless others with your earnings- Eph. 4:28 6. Include God in your plans- Jam. 4:13-157. Share the Gospel- 2 Cor. 5:20

Scripture references 1. Colossians 3:23–24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 2. Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight. 3. Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. 4. Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 5. Ephesians 4:28 ..he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 6. James 4:13–15 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 7. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

All this and looks too[Potiphar] left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Genesis 39:6

The Hostile Takeover

Verses 7-20

The RequestIt came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

Genesis 39:7

Time for a level headSay to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend; That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.

Proverbs 7:4–5

Proverbs 7 Woman

Seductively dressedCunningRebelliousPersuadesStalks like a thief Aggressive Seductive speech

Proverbs 7:16–23 (NASB95) 16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt. 17 “I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses. 19 “For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home.” 21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him. 22 Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, 23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life.

The Refusal Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?

Genesis 39:8–9

Some important factorsLoyalty to bossSin is against God Genesis 39:10 As she

spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.

The RevengeNow it happened one day that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household was there inside.

Genesis 39:11

ApproachedRefusedFled

Called the menSee, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to make sport of us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I screamed. When he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled and went outside.

1. He’s different “one from beyond”2. Creates division “to mock” us3. False accusation

Staged a scene The Hebrew slave, whom you brought to us, came in to me to make sport of me; and as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his garment beside me and fled outside.Genesis 39:17–18Genesis 39:19 (NASB95) 19 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 she left his garment beside her until his master came home.

Genesis 39:16

Wait!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.

Genesis 39:20

Falsely accused? 1. Pray for your enemy- Matt. 5:442. Continue to walk upright- Ps. 15:23. Keep your faith- Heb. 11:64. Serve them- 1st Pet 2:18

ScriptureMatthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Psalm 15:2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

Part of God’s planBut the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

Genesis 39:21