(Genesis) Genesis 39 Introduction

We had an interlude last time in the 38th chapter, which we've classified as the worst chapter in the Bible. It tells a sordid story of Judah, and it seems about every one of the sons was a problem child with the exception of Joseph and Benjamin. And of course, Joseph and Benjamin both brought him great heartbreak when they were taken off to the land of Egypt.

Now, we saw last time that we were looking at Joseph in the 37th chapter, that he was sold down in the land of Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of his guard. Now, this is a pretty dreary prospect for a 17-year-old boy, now way down in a foreign land, sold into slavery. And there is certainly nothing in the outward aspect of things to bring any encouragement to his heart at all.

And this boy seems to be more or less of a hard luck boy. You'll notice down in the land of Egypt, just as everything seems to be moving smoothly and nicely for him, then something always happens. But it happens for a purpose, and it was difficult for Joseph to see it.

God never appeared to him at all. He's the one patriarch now that God did not appear to. And yet, there's no person in the Old Testament in whose life the purpose of God is more clearly seen than in Joseph.

The providence of God is manifest in every detail of this man's life. The hand of God was upon him, and the leading of the Lord is evident. But Joseph is the one to whom God did not appear directly.

God appeared to Abraham, He appeared to Isaac and Jacob, but not to Joseph. And we see, though, the direction of God in his life more clearly than in any other. He's the Old Testament example of Romans 8, 28.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. And Joseph himself expressed it in rather vivid language. When you get to the last chapter of Genesis, you'll find out when the brethren, at the death of their father, felt like Joseph might turn on them, they came to him to actually ask for mercy.

And he told them, he held no grudge against them. He says, But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. So that everything that happened in his life, looking at it from the outward aspect, at the time, it looked dark, it looked like it was terrible.

But each one of these was a step bringing to fruition God's purpose in this man's life. And we need to reckon that even in our own lives today, that whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth. And God will not let anything come to a child of His unless it gets His permission, even something bad.

You remember, Satan had to say, Well, there's a hedge about Job. Well, God let the hedge down. There's a hedge about you if you're God's child.

And nothing can touch you unless it gets His permission. And friends, if it gets His permission, all things are working for good. Even our misfortunes, our heartbreak, our suffering are for good in His glory.

Dr. Torrey used to say years ago, he'd make this statement. He says, Romans 8, 28, is a soft pillow for a tired heart. Someone has put it like this.

God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, but what we would ourselves, if we but could see through all events of things as well as He.