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^“19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, ‘This is how your slave treated me,’ he burned with anger. ²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder. ²² So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³ The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”NIV

“So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did” (22,23).

When Potiphar’s wife says “your slave” (19) it sounds like she is blaming him for what happened. (Of course, nothing did happen – certainly not what she lyingly alleged). It so common that people who are guilty point the finger at someone else. They often kick up a furious storm at the same time, as if shouting will somehow establish their case.

But what really strikes me in this passage is how similar verses 22, 23 are to verses 6,8,9. It’s the same man (Joseph), living under the same blessing of God, and enjoying success in his work life. It’s just that his location and type of work were different. His surroundings were much less agreeable, but God did not stay behind at Potiphar’s place when Joseph went to prison. He was with him there also. He is omnipresent. We cannot get away from His presence (Psalm 139).

‘God is with us as we wait. Joseph spent two difficult years working in the prison, but he held to his faith and did what he could to serve others. The experience helped to “put iron into his soul” (Ps. 105:17-22). If the Lord controls us, it makes little difference who commands us.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.41.

PRAYER: Lord God Almighty, help us to truly believe that in all things you are working for the good of those who love you.

(There will be a break in the notes now for a couple of weeks. We will resume on Monday 17^th May, God-willing. Thank you for your interest and support. You may like to read ahead in the remaining chapters of Genesis, and get a feel for the territory in front of us).

¹¹ One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. ¹² She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.¹³ When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, ¹⁴ she called her household servants. ‘Look,’ she said to them, ‘this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. ¹⁵ When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.’¹⁶ She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she told him this story: ‘That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. ¹⁸ But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.’NIV

“She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home” (16).

First of all, this was a moment of opportunity. No other servants were in the house. He and the seductress were quite alone. Who would know? Well, Joseph knew God would. For him that was enough reason to run. ‘The test of true faithfulness and obedience comes when we resist the secret sins that no one else but God will ever know about.’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.187. Someone noted that ‘Character is what you are in the dark’ – when you think nobody else is watching.

This is also an example of  fidelity. As someone pointed out, he lost his cloak but kept his character (12). (“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Joseph put significant distance between himself and the temptation. But doing the right thing is not a guarantee that you’ll have an easy life. So, for Joseph…

…this marked the beginning of a new period of adversity. Tom Hale makes the point that Potiphar’s wife: ‘…accused Joseph of the very thing she had been attempting all along. And this time she had the “proof”; his cloak. This “proof” convinced the other servants and it convinced Potiphar as well, and Joseph was sent to prison. Joseph is the first major biblical figure to become a victim of slander and false witness. Slander itself is often based on truth: “I have Joseph’s cloak.” But its purpose is to defame someone behind his back. The episode provides a warning for us: when we think we’ve seen the “proof” concerning someone’s behaviour, we need to remember Joseph and his cloak.’

“with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, ⁷ and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’⁸ But he refused. ‘With me in charge,’ he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’ ¹⁰ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her.” NIV

‘’But he refused’’ (8a).

One of the Marx brothers quipped, ‘I can resist anything except temptation!’

Well, we could never say, ‘No’ to any temptation if we had to rely on our own strength. But even with the Holy Spirit’s power made available, there is still a need for resolve on our part if we are to refuse the sin so appetisingly offered on a plate.

I thought about Job’s words:

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl’’ (Job 31:1). That speaks of resolve and determination.

The psalmist in Psalm 18: 23b writes: “I…have kept myself from sin.” This is an expression of self-control. He has a tight hold on the reins.

How could Joseph have such resolve? What lay behind it?

• A sense of responsibility towards his master (8);
• Closely tied to the above, he had an awareness of his authority and its limits. He clearly knew where the boundary lines were drawn (9a). They were definitely drawn around Mrs Potiphar!;
• Above all, he knew that if he were to succumb to her advances, he would sin not merely against Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife, and his (Joseph’s) own body; he would in fact be sinning against God (9b).

So that’s how he was able to withstand the barrage of temptation which relentlessly beat at his door “day after day” (10).

Note the practical steps he took to remove himself from the presence of temptation (10b). That’s important. I often think of the quaint saying attributed to Martin Luther: ‘You cant prevent the birds of the air from beating around your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.’

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.² The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, ⁴ Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ⁵ From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lordblessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. ⁶ So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,” NIV

“…his Egyptian master” (2).

While it seems true that Joseph landed on his feet, let’s not forget that he was a servant (a slave even) in a foreign land. It certainly appears he had many benefits, living in the home of this eminent man. But for all that he was in a privileged position, he carried enormous responsibilities. He had to work hard, and I’m sure his hours were not 9 to 5!

“Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned” (4b);

“So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate” (6).

So Joseph had quite a workload did he not?

Therefore, it is worth considering these words:

‘Joseph’s life demonstrates many principles of Christian service; indeed, Joseph serves as a model for all of us. We have seen him start out in life as a cocky, spoiled young lad, the favourite of his father. If God was going to use Joseph, He first needed to humble him; and being sold into slavery by one’s brothers is quite a dramatic form of humbling (1 Peter 5:6).

Next we see Joseph being faithful in small things – the duties of a lowly slave. Then we see him elevated to greater and greater responsibilities. Some of us would like to become rulers without first being servants, but that is not God’s way (Matthew 5:21).’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.187.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.² The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, ⁴ Joseph found favour in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ⁵ From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lordblessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. ⁶ So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,”NIV

‘’When his master saw that the LORD was with him…” (3a).

One of my favourite stories is about the author Edgar Wallace, who lived in the same street as a godly man (a retired vicar I think). Wallace apparently said, ‘As long as I live in the same street as that old man, I cannot doubt that there is a God.’

May it not merely be the case that the Lord is with His people (wonderful as that is), but that others can see He is. May they be able to see and sample the fruit growing in our lives. May it be that the blessing of God overflows the banks to affect our environments – wherever we may be, in good times and bad: whether in the house of Potiphar or in prison.

Someone spoke about ‘the giveaway life of the Christian.’ We see something of this in Joseph, who was blessed to be a blessing.

‘In spite of Joseph’s very difficult situation, the Lord was with him. (This statement is repeated in verse 21, where we find Joseph in yet a worse situation.) And because the Lord was with Joseph, he prospered – even in the most difficult circumstances. Nothing is too hard for the Lord, and without the Lord everything is too hard…The Lord’s presence changes everything in a person’s life…The promise of the Lord’s presence was one of the most important covenant promises (Genesis 26:3; 28:15; 31:3). Another important promise was that, through Abraham’s offspring, blessing would come to all peoples (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14) – even to ungodly people like Potiphar…through Joseph, the blessing of the Lord came upon Potiphar also.’ Tom Hale: The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p187.

PRAYER: Lord, even in those times and situations where I cannot speak about you, may I ‘smell’ of you. Let it be that the fragrance, the aroma of Christ is always upon me, to your glory.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.² The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”NIV

Just a word about the context of chapter 39 before I comment on the first two verses. The contrast with chapter 38 is stark, and F.B. Meyer makes this point:

‘What a contrast between this chapter and the former: that like a Rembrandt background throws up the bright colours of this.’

The chapter opens with these words:

“Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt” (1a).

He had been “taken” by the Ishmaelite merchants. But the subtext of the story is that it was God who took him there. The best place to be in the world is wherever God puts you – wherever He sets you down. There is no sweeter place to lay your head.

Sometimes we are not simply taken; we also go. We make our plans in view of God’s guidance. We are actively involved in choosing to move somewhere we sense the Lord wants us to be.

But then there are those times when we are just “taken.” We have no control over the events. We are moved by sheer force of circumstances. So it was for Joseph. But if the Lord is “with” us wherever we go, we will have nothing to fear. That is not to say life will be trouble-free, but God will work out His purposes in us, for us, and through us in the places where He takes us.

PRAYER: ‘Yea choose the path for me, although I may not see, the reason thou dost choose to lead me so.’ (From the hymn: ‘Thy blessed will divine, with joy I make it mine.’

^“27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. ²⁸ As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, ‘This one came out first.’ ²⁹ But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, ‘So this is how you have broken out!’ And he was named Perez.³⁰ Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.” NIV

As we take our leave of chapter 38, it’s time to emphasise the point once more that God, in His mysterious sovereignty, uses even the sins of people to further His purposes. Listen to Tom Hale’s words. While he acknowledges that Tamar’s act was sinful, he adds that it:

‘…was all the more significant in that it resulted in twin sons, one of whom, Perez (verse 29), would become the ancestor of Israel’s King David and ultimately of Christ Himself (Matthew 1:3)…Tamar gave birth to twin boys. One boy seemed to be coming out first because his hand appeared, and the midwife marked it by tying a thread around the wrist. But it was actually the other twin who “broke out” first and thus became the firstborn. He was named Perez, which means “breaking out.” Once again, as with Isaac and Ishmael, and with Jacob and Esau, we see God reversing the order and causing the son who should have been second to become the first and thus obtain the birthright.

In this way the line of Judah was preserved through Perez and on through Old Testament history (Ruth 4:18-22), culminating in the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Once again we see God’s purposes being fulfilled, even through the sins and failings of ordinary people like Judah and Tamar.’ ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.186.

“ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” “Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36).

¹² After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.¹³ When Tamar was told, ‘Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,’ ¹⁴ she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.¹⁵ When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. ¹⁶ Not realising that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, ‘Come now, let me sleep with you.’‘And what will you give me to sleep with you?’ she asked.¹⁷ ‘I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,’ he said.‘Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?’ she asked.¹⁸ He said, ‘What pledge should I give you?’‘Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,’ she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. ¹⁹ After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.²⁰ Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. ²¹ He asked the men who lived there, ‘Where is the shrine-prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?’‘There hasn’t been any shrine-prostitute here,’ they said.²² So he went back to Judah and said, ‘I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, “There hasn’t been any shrine-prostitute here.”’²³ Then Judah said, ‘Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughing-stock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.’²⁴ About three months later Judah was told, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.’Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned to death!’²⁵ As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. ‘I am pregnant by the man who owns these,’ she said. And she added, ‘See if you recognise whose seal and cord and staff these are.’²⁶ Judah recognised them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not sleep with her again.”NIV

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things’’ (Romans 2:1)

Who was it who said, ‘When you point a finger at someone else, you have three pointing back at yourself?’ We have a tendency to shout loudly about our own sins when we see them in others.

This is undoubtedly a sad and sordid story. There seems to be no doubt that Tamar intended to obtain offspring through her father-in-law. Maybe it was because she knew him only too well that she realised disguising herself as a prostitute would work.

What atrocious double-standards men (in particular) can have (24). It was fine for Judah to use a prostitute, but not for Tamar to be one. But you can be sure your sin will find you out. Warren Wiersbe points out that the items left in (18) were like leaving behind fingerprints. Each man’s was unique. So, when Judah found himself caught in the searchlights (25, 26), he admitted it was ‘a fair cop’, and that Tamar was ‘’more righteous’’ than he. That, at least, was to his credit. Yet, as we have seen, the Lord overruled, and worked out His purposes through this sinner.

Come to think of it, He does the same thing through you and me!

^“11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, ‘Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.’ For he thought, ‘He may die too, just like his brothers.’ So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.¹² After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.¹³ When Tamar was told, ‘Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,’ ¹⁴ she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.”NIV

“For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife” (14b).

Judah gave a false assurance to Tamar. He implied that he would give her his son,Shelah, in marriage, when the boy was grown up. But, when it came to it, he did not arrange the marriage. It seems he never intended to. If Onan was motivated by self-centredness, it was fear turning Judah’s wheels – at least it was at this point. Fear can make one selfish.

Well, there is more than one way to lie.

Dishonesty should play no part in the life of one who is a new creation in Christ:

‘’You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body’’ (Ephesians 4:25);

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9, 10).

In Christ, we should and we can be honest. We have the resources. We do have the ‘power under the bonnet.’ Truthfulness is one of the hallmarks of the new creation.

It is interesting to note that, as in the story of Jacob, so it is with Judah, that he who deceived is about to be deceived. We reap what we sow.