10-12-2025 - ALWAYS IN GOD'S BLESSINGS. - Genesis 39 -1 Joseph (series)

MESSAGE BY PASTOR ROB INRIG

FROM BETHANY BAPTIST IN RICHMOND, BC

I invite you to pray together: O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech thee to behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servants for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon them with the eyes of thy mercy (Vicky O, Nancy R, Tere G, Liz N, Stevie A, Socrates D, Sara's mom H, Margarita G, Rosy Ch, Patricia L. Lina J. Magda- Laci M. Gloria F, Alicia G, Miguel A H.) Comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; preserve them from the temptations of the enemy; and give them patience under his affliction. In thy good time, restore them to health, and enable them to lead the residue of their life in thy fear, and to thy glory; and grant that finally they may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You can add names from family and friends who need prayer

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Understanding God's Presence in Our Lives

Last week, Rob asked, “How would you be different if you were completely convinced that God was with you in every situation you are or will be encountering?” This question is profound. It was posed at the beginning of the message and left lingering in our minds. Today’s message continues this exploration—perhaps offering part of the answer.

The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

We go to the Bible for answers, but we must also ask the correct questions. Or perhaps, we should ask them correctly. The Bible is rich with stories of individuals from all walks of life. Many of these stories end well. It’s tempting to ask, “How can I become like that?” However, the “that” often focuses on a few appealing moments while neglecting the majority of their lives.

The Account of Joseph: More Than a Self-Help Guide

Take the account of Joseph, for instance. There is a real risk of interpreting it as a self-help guide or an inspirational memoir. You can imagine a book titled How I Overcame Adversity or Bravery in Slavery. But as Tim Keller wisely stated, “The Bible is not a series of disconnected stories. It is a single narrative in which every story, every character points beyond itself to one who is greater.”

The account of Joseph is not merely to teach us how to deal with evil brothers or the injustices of slavery. It is not about how to escape slavery and become a successful person. Instead, it is part of a larger narrative that points to Jesus, whom God sent to save everyone.

Reflecting on Joseph's Conviction

Do you think Joseph was completely convinced that God was with him in every situation he faced? Answering this question might help us respond to Rob’s inquiry for ourselves. Let’s revisit Genesis 39, possibly Joseph’s most challenging time, and notice a few key markers.

Let’s read verses 1-6:

39 When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!

The first thing we should notice is that “the Lord was with Joseph.” This phrase is not used in chapter 37, but it is implied. Joseph faced severe trials: he was almost murdered by his brothers, sold into slavery, and became a slave in a foreign land. If you were Joseph, how would YOU describe your situation?

The Reality of Joseph's Trials

But wait, there’s more. Let me read how the chapter ends in verses 19-23:

19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favourite with the prison warden. 22 Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23 The warden had no more worries because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

While being a slave in a foreign place, Joseph was falsely accused of attempted sexual assault. Without any way to defend himself, he was thrown into prison. If you were Joseph, how would you describe your situation? How would you feel?

The Silence of Joseph's Emotions

One thing I noticed about Joseph’s account is the lack of detail from his perspective. It’s somewhat disappointing. The narration reveals very few of Joseph’s emotions until the end. We have scant direct quotes from him. There is no mention of Joseph praying, crying out to God, or seeking Him.

Yet, the passage begins with, “The Lord was with Joseph.” This is the defining epithet of Joseph during this time. This fact was not something Joseph achieved; it was a divine choice. God chose to be with Joseph, just as He chose Abram and promised to be with Abram’s children and descendants.

If Joseph were to write an autobiography, it might be titled, “The Lord was with me.” There was no self-help involved. Joseph’s help came from God, and God helped Joseph immensely. Joseph succeeded in everything.

The Paradox of Success in Adversity

Looking again at the beginning of the passage, isn’t it interesting that it starts optimistically? Joseph faced brutal trials: he was nearly murdered, sold into slavery, and became a slave in a foreign country. Yet, the Lord was with Joseph, and he succeeded in everything! Everyone, including his slave owner, was blessed.

Even after Joseph was unjustly imprisoned, the Lord was with him. The prison warden loved Joseph, and Joseph began to improve everything around him. But what does success look like in such dire circumstances?

I guess… in being a SLAVE? Being a PRISONER? What does that even entail? Well, it looks like Joseph did what he was told. He served, attended to his owner, managed his calendar, prepared his food, and took care of everything his owner owned. As Joseph did all these things, the Lord was with him, and he succeeded in all of them.

A Journey of Survival and Growth

This is unimaginable to us. If I were Joseph, I would expect God to be with me as I planned my escape and sought freedom. I would want to return home, confront my treacherous brothers, and bring them to justice!

Remember, Joseph was taken 600-800 km (400-500 miles) from his home. It likely took over a week of continuous walking. He did not speak a word of the Egyptian language, but he learned it. It seems he learned it well, which would prove very useful later on. He learned it not out of desire but out of necessity—he had to survive.

As Joseph served his owner well and did his best for everything his owner possessed, including his owner’s wife, he became an exemplary prisoner. I can hardly fathom how one becomes a “good prisoner.”

The Driving Force Behind Joseph's Actions

What drove Joseph to behave this way? It seems counter-instinctual—almost unnatural. I believe we find the answer in the middle of the passage, where Hebrew writing often places the most important points. Let’s read the central portion, starting from the last sentence of verse 6.

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man. 7 Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her and kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.” 16 She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18 “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”

19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.

At the center of this passage, we finally see Joseph’s motivation. He made it clear that his interaction with Potiphar’s wife was not just about the two of them. There was another presence—God. Joseph refused an OPEN INVITATION to sleep with a beautiful woman. You could argue it was a COMMAND—who was Joseph, a slave, to refuse?

To Joseph, sleeping with Potiphar’s wife was not just a betrayal of his master. It was a great sin against God.

Living Beyond Ourselves

In this pivotal moment of Joseph's life, we discover what drove him to live righteously. Joseph wanted his life to point beyond himself to One who is greater.

About 1400 years later, Paul would teach slaves who had given their lives to Jesus: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

This teaching does not imply that God is indifferent to societal injustices. He cares deeply. The very next sentence commands slave owners to treat their slaves as equals. But 1400 years before Jesus was born, in Joseph, God was already teaching His people not to view their situations or others at face value. No matter the circumstances, do everything as if for God.

Our Identity in Christ

If you have surrendered your life to Christ, you have been forgiven, bought, and saved to point beyond yourself to One who is greater—Christ. Our story becomes part of His Story. This does not erase our identity; rather, it helps us discover our true meaning and identity as sons and daughters of God. This is true regardless of our station, title, or situation in the world.

Even if we give in to temptations and sin, God’s promises still stand because great is His faithfulness. We can remain in His hands, confident of His love for us.

“The depths of God’s sovereignty are not demonstrated by his repression of our [and people’s] choices that inevitably reveal our sinfulness and fallen self-will, but by the fact that there is no choice that we can make, however sinful or fallen, that can interfere with His plan.”

If God cannot use the sinful choices that we make, His sovereignty is limited, and there is no hope for any of us.”

Many things and people tried to come between Joseph and God. But Joseph lived fully convinced that God was with him in every situation—not because God granted him a wonderful life, but because God promised to be with him.

This is not a formula to follow to achieve a specific outcome. I cannot promise you anything particular for your life. But I CAN tell you what God promises: an everlasting love that is not dependent on what we do or have done, and an abundant life of joy despite our present circumstances.

He has revealed this to us throughout the Bible, and He will do it again in your life today.

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