(Genesis) Genesis 39:1-7

Now let's follow this young man, Joseph, and we'll see what's going to happen to him. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. Fine-looking young man, 17 years old, make a very fine helper, and slaves were certainly sold in that day.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now, immediately that he gets into the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, while the Lord was obviously with him, a blessing came to that home. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Well, now, this sounds fine. This is great up to this point. And you'd like to add, and they lived happily ever after, but they didn't, because this is life, this is reality.

And the child of God is going to encounter temptation and trouble and problems in this world. This is what's going to happen to Joseph. Now, notice verse 4, And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Now, just think of this, because of the way that Joseph served, why he's elevated now to the position where he handles all of the material substance, the chattels, I guess even the real estate of this man. In other words, the man trusted him with everything. Verse 5, It came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake.

And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field. And now verse 6, And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he knew not all he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favored.

This man trusted him so much that he never even demanded an accounting at all. He didn't have to get a CPA to go over the books. He believed in this young man.

And the only thing that Potiphar worried about as an officer pharaoh was that he pleased pharaoh, and that he did his job there, and he just let Joseph handle his own personal affairs. Only thing that he knew was that when he sat down at the table, the food was put before him. That's all that he was interested in because he trusted this young man.

Now, notice what's going to happen. Verse 7, And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. Now, if you'll note here, this man Potiphar gave him obviously the full run of his home palace, and he had charge of everything.

And while Joseph was busy, while the wife was busy, but she was busy scheming up. He was a handsome young man. I don't know this, but I have a notion old Potiphar was an old man.

That was generally the custom in that day anyway, an old man and a young wife. And so she sees Joseph, and she attempts to entice him.