Graced to Excel in Lockdown

 

Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Joseph was sold by his brothers to Egypt, and he became the slave in the house of Potiphar. Potiphar was the captain of the guards of Pharaoh, and he was mighty and very powerful. However, Joseph did not give up hope just because his brother had sold him to a strange land. Instead, he was hardworking, and he made determined efforts to do the best in the new environment.

God was with Joseph, and He made him prosper in all his work and help him performed excellently. Joseph, from a common slave, was promoted to the position of a butler. Finally, Joseph tasted his sweetness after all the bitterness, but was his life going on forever happy and perfect? No. The life of Joseph is akin to quite many of ours, as he faced a life with many ups and downs and lockdown.

We Must Overcome the Irresistible Temptation

God was with Joseph in the house of Potiphar, and He watched over him and made him prosper in everything he did. Joseph even blessed his master greatly. It reminds us of the life of Abraham, where God had promised Abraham that people around him would be blessed because of him.

Joseph was appreciated by his master, and he raised to become the most trusted steward in his house.  His master entrusted everything under his care, except the food he ate. This was because the Egyptians and the Hebrews ate different kinds of food, and hence, they would not share the same table.

When Joseph began to enjoy success and God’s blessings, we see temptations, slanders and persecution came against him one after another. This time Joseph was targeted because physically he was well built and handsome. He could be inheriting all these good qualities from Rachel, his mother, because the Bible also described Rachel having a lovely figure and was beautiful (29:17).

We can imagine that Potiphar, as palace chief guard, might be a burly and rough man, a figure in stark contrast with Joseph. The good quality of Joseph was taken notice by his master’s wife, just like a prey was spotted by a hunter! The wife of his master spoke plainly to Joseph, “Come to bed with me!” (v7) But Joseph replied confidently with lengthy words (v7-9).

Joseph told her that he could not commit such an evil deed, lest he sinned against his master and God. The rhetoric highlights the blatant desire of Potiphar’s wife the uncompromised righteousness of Joseph.

Potiphar’s wife seduced him day after day, and her seduction escalated to the point where she got hold of Joseph violently, forcing him to succumb to her. From seduction, her passion for Joseph grew to “invasion.” She caught him by his cloak and said again, “Come in here to sleep with me!” There was nobody else at home then.

Joseph was trapped in an irresistible situation. What did he do next?

He was forced to take off his cloak and ran away in his embarrassment. In the Land of Canaan, Joseph was stripped off his colorful robe his brothers, and thrown into a pit. Here the wife of the master took hold of Joseph’s cloak after he ran away, and it became the evidence of her accusation that caused Joseph to be imprisoned, a place that was much more painful than the pit.

Potiphar’s wife turned her love for Joseph into hatred, and she framed him mercilessly. She decided to charge against him before he took any action, because she wanted to protect herself, fearing that Joseph might tell the truth and her husband might blame her for that. And she was determined to destroy the thing she could not possess.

Upon returning home, Potiphar was burned with anger after hearing the words of his wife (v19). The Bible does not refer to whom he was angry with, whether he was angry with Joseph or his wife remained unknown. We can imagine that he might not trust his wife’s words fully, but it was inappropriate for him to openly blame his wife, for this would cause a disgrace to the family.

Potiphar was left with no other choice but to command that Joseph to be imprisoned. Joseph was put in the prison where the prisoners of king Pharoah were kept (v20) and he wore the prison garment.

Joseph faced a severe predicament; his tests were intensified continually. He faced oppression from his master. Though he was a very innocent victim, he couldn’t receive any helps; and he would any how suffer no matter how he response to the temptation! How would we respond if we were to encounter this type of unavoidable test? Joseph had won a battle. He chose to keep himself pure and innocent, though he had to pay a very heavy price for this.

We can imagine that when men are in their high positions with power and authority, they will certainly be seeing their future bright. Everything is under their control, and hence they will relax themselves. This type of life will make them trusting in their own self rather than in God. They will claim that even without God, they can accomplish things as usual. Then, they will not honor God and others, and ultimately, they will not bother about “tests/temptations” anymore. They will live a godless life.

Thus, Joseph as servant of the highest position, could have become proud and arrogant, and thought that he could collude with his master’s wife in doing evil and did whatever they wanted under the sun!  We are familiar with the scriptural text that mentions about King David, that after his ascension to the throne, he was destroyed by a comfortable lifestyle and power when he committed adultery and killing.

Joseph was just the opposite of David in comparison. He did not commit adultery when he was at the peak of his success and prosperity. He kept his reverence towards God, and dared not sin against Him and men. It was indeed a good character hard to come by for him to keep his vigilance and to be self-controlled when he was put to this irresistible test!

Where are we today?

Do we sin against God and others and become dumb to temptations in the midst of the pinnacle of success? 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Let’s return to the embrace of God, to draw near to Him, to fear Him, and to humbly seek His grace and strength, so that we can overcome our weaknesses and the temptations of this world.

God is with us in times prosperity and also persecution and sufferings

Joseph prospered in the house of Potiphar, and he became the steward of his house. The Scripture says that God was with him. However, when Joseph was tested and accused, the Scripture does not mention that God was with him. God was with Joseph all the ways from the Land of Canaan to the house of Potiphar, but He seemed to be silent after that!

We cannot help but question, “Does it mean that God is not in control now?” Definitely not so!

We see that Joseph continued to work tirelessly in the prison. He did not get frustrated and give himself up due to the sufferings and lockdown. The scripture says that God was with him, and He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden that he could be entrusted with great tasks. The prison warden appreciated Joseph’s ability and attitude and promoted him to take charge of all those held in the prison, and all that was done there (v22-23).

The Lord was in Potiphar’s house and was with Joseph, so Joseph was promoted. Then God was with him in the prison, that he could be promoted even when he was in the lowly and dangerous place. This proves that God was there keeping watch over Joseph and He did not abandon him when he was tested and under attack. God’s presence is there whatever the circumstances. God will help us experience both our good and bad times. Through this way, we can see God’s faithfulness.

We might not feel God’s presence when we are tested, like the time Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. The Bible is silent about the presence of God, only when it came to the end of the testing that it says that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and He returned to Galilee (Luke 4:14).

Moreover, when the devil left him, the angels came and served Him. (Matthew 4:11) This means that God in fact does not leave us when we are tested. It seems to us as though He is unconcerned by standing aside, but His intention is for our own good, so that we can pass the test of hardships and grow continually.

Joseph encountered many hardships in life, and every hardship made him a better character. And he was further promoted, and finally become the Prime Minister of Egypt! The truth is, we will still be tested and attacked even when we have God’s presence with us. 

Whatever circumstance it was, we see that God kept watch over Joseph. Sufferings, tests, or environment changes cannot hinder us from being with God. God’s grace is sufficient for us to excel in any lockdowns.

When everything is smooth for us, and when we are healthy, we should be thankful for the blessings of God. At the same time, we must prepare our heart and be watchful, knowing that sufferings and testing might come one after another. If we know well about this, our faith shall not be shaken in times of testing and suffering, and we will not doubt whether God is true.

What circumstance are you facing now? You should remember that God is with you and He is still in control no matter what situation you are in. Don’t be shaken in your faith, but learn to wait upon God, for He is our rescue in time!

We must tally with God in the midst of sufferings

God’s presence goes beyond the constraint of our environment. Joseph did not allow changes in his environment to affect his character and faithfulness, making him compromise to sin and give up faith. Generally, the natural response of people who are innocent, who are hard pressed under bad environment will be cynical, bitter, self-abandoned and complaining.

Joseph was deprived of reward and justice, and freedom, but he had something that could not be taken away forever, and that was his power to make choices. Joseph chose to continue to put his trust in God and work faithfully and diligently in prison and in suffering.

Man is unable to change an adverse situation, but he is able to choose how he will face this situation. This choice made within him is not to be snatched away by others. We must make full use of this liberty in the midst of the most painful situation, that we choose to live our daily life with faith and hope.

Are you in the house of Potiphar or in prison? Are you experiencing testing or disaster? We need to believe that God will never be absent, and He will be watching over us in the midst of our hardships. We need to have hope, knowing that any suffering will pass ultimately. After we have gone through trials of fire, we will be promoted eventually.