The Lord Was With Joseph
Text: Genesis 39
Core Idea: God’s greatest blessing is not what He gives us but that He gives us Himself. So, whatever season you find yourself in today, let your hope be anchored in the Lord who is always with His people.
INTRODUCTION
We’re continuing our journey through the Book of Genesis – tracing how God’s promises moved forward. And last week, we stepped away from Joseph’s story and turned our attention to Judah. At first glance, it almost felt like a disruption. Joseph had just been sold into slavery, and Jacob was grieving. So, naturally, our anticipation grew – wanting to know what would happen next. But this wasn’t an interruption to the story – it was part of the story God wanted us to see. The author wanted us to understand that while God was working in Joseph’s life in Egypt, He was also working in Judah’s life in Canaan. God’s purposes were unfolding in both places at the same time. And what we initially saw was the depth of Judah’s sin – how he drifted away from the covenant family, followed his own desires, fell into grievous sin, became blind to the condition of his own heart, and blamed others for everything that was wrong in his life rather than confronting his own failures. But the story didn’t end there. Through the gracious exposure of his sin, God began a work of transformation in Judah’s life – reminding us that God’s grace is always greater than our failures. Now, as we come to Genesis 39, the author takes us back to Joseph. And it becomes clear that the placement of Judah’s story was intentional as we could see that the author was deliberately placing these two men side by side to create a contrast. Both were sons of Jacob. Both found themselves away from home. Both faced temptations. And yet the paths they took couldn’t have been more different. And through that contrast, we’re going to learn something profound about the presence of God in the lives of His people. So, with that in mind, please turn with me to Genesis 39. And I will read this for us.
1 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 favor 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 LORD blessed 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, 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 be with her. 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.” 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 favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 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. 23 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.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Verse 1 brings us back to where we left off in Chapter 37. Joseph had been taken down to Egypt and sold to Potiphar – one of Pharaoh’s officials and the captain of the guard. Now, remember what Joseph had just endured. He had been betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and carried away from everything familiar. Nothing about his circumstances suggested that God was blessing him. But look at how the author continues the story in verse 2: “The LORD was with Joseph.” That statement appears again at the end of the chapter in verse 23. In other words, the phrase “The LORD was with Joseph” bookends the entire chapter – signifying that this is the central truth through which we’re meant to read everything that follows. One interesting detail is that this is the only chapter in the Joseph narrative where the covenant name Yahweh appears – the word “LORD” in all capitals. Throughout Joseph’s story, God works quietly through ordinary events rather than dramatic miracles. And yet here, as Joseph enters one of the darkest seasons of his life, the covenant name Yahweh appears multiple times – showing us that God is personally present with His servant. And maybe that’s exactly what we need to remember as well. When we walk through seasons of suffering, disappointment, confusion, or injustice, it can feel as though God is distant. But this chapter will remind us that God’s presence is not determined by our circumstances. So then, how was the Lord with Joseph in this chapter? In three ways – the Lord was with Joseph:
· IN HIS SUCCESS
· IN HIS TEMPTATION
· IN HIS SUFFERING
1) IN HIS SUCCESS
Verse 2: “The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” One thing we need to understand is that Potiphar was one of the most powerful men in Egypt, while Joseph was a nobody. He was just a slave with no status and no rights. And yet despite his circumstances, the Lord was with him. In fact, God’s presence became evident in the way Joseph carried himself – and his character, diligence, and integrity eventually caught Potiphar’s attention. Verse 4 tells us that Joseph found favor in his eyes and eventually became overseer of his entire household. Now, this likely didn’t happen overnight. Joseph probably spent years proving himself trustworthy. And that’s what makes his story so remarkable. Think about it. Joseph had every reason to become bitter. Because of all that he experienced up to this point, he could’ve resented his brothers, despised the Egyptians, questioned God’s goodness, and drowned himself in self-pity. But Joseph chose a different path – in that when he was given authority, he didn’t abuse it. He didn’t become manipulative or self-serving. Instead, he faithfully stewarded what had been entrusted to him. That’s why verse 5 says, “From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed 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.” God blessed Joseph, and Joseph became a channel of blessing to others. The favor of God upon Joseph overflowed into the lives of those around him – even into the household of a pagan Egyptian master.
Now, what does this have to do with us? In many ways, Joseph was living out the calling God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:2 – “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing.” God’s blessings were never meant to stop with His people – they were meant to flow through His people to others. And that’s exactly what we see here. God blessed Joseph, and Joseph became a blessing to those around him. What’s remarkable is that he wasn’t serving the covenant family. He was blessing the Egyptians. In other words, through ordinary faithfulness, wisdom, and integrity, God used him to seek the good of people who didn’t know or worship the Lord. And the same calling has been given to us. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Notice that Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to shine only among fellow believers. No, He called them to live in such a way that everyone around them would catch a glimpse of God through their lives. Brothers and sisters, the truth is that God has placed every one of us in a mission field. For some of you, that’s your workplace. For others, it’s your classroom, neighborhood, extended family, or circle of friends. Then, the question is not whether or not God has placed you somewhere to be a blessing – the question we should be wrestling with is whether or not you’re being a blessing where He has placed you. So, let me ask you: Would the people around you describe you as someone who serves others or someone who mainly serves yourself? Are your employer, your coworkers, your classmates, and your neighbors blessed because you’re there? Do the people around you see something of Christ through the way you speak, work, respond to pressure, and treat others? Are you still committed to being a blessing even when life is difficult? Because the truth is that it’s relatively easy to bless others when everything is going well. It’s much harder when you’ve been overlooked, mistreated, or disappointed. And yet that’s exactly what Joseph did. His circumstances were unfair by every measure – but he refused to let his suffering become an excuse for bitterness or selfishness. He chose to be a blessing, even to those who may not have deserved it. He used his wisdom, power, and skills to help others. Friends, remember that the power of the gospel is displayed when believers continue to love, serve, and bless others despite their own suffering. Anyone can be kind when life is easy. But when Christians respond to hardship with grace, hostility with kindness, and injustice with faithfulness, the beauty of Christ becomes visible. So, today, don’t just ask, “How is God blessing me?” Ask, “How can I be a blessing to the people God has placed around me?” Because one of the clearest signs that the Lord is with His people is that they become channels of His blessing wherever He places them.
2) IN HIS TEMPTATION
Verse 6: “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’” Joseph was a good-looking man – and it attracted the attention of Potiphar’s wife. In fact, she made no attempt to hide what she wanted – in Hebrew, it consisted of just two words: “Lie with me!” All that to say, the temptation had come, and Joseph now had a choice to make: Give in or walk away. Now, look at how he responded in verse 8: “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 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?” Two things stand out. First, when temptation came, Joseph remembered the blessings he had received. Potiphar had entrusted him with tremendous responsibility and withheld nothing from him except his wife. So, considering this, he couldn’t betray his master. I mean, think about how easily he could’ve justified himself. He could’ve said, “My brothers betrayed me. I’ve been treated unfairly. Why shouldn’t I take what I want? Why should I care about others’ interests when no one cares about mine?” But Joseph refused to think that way. He didn’t become entitled because of his suffering – nor did he abuse the authority he had been given. Instead, he remained grateful for what God had provided. Second, Joseph remembered that this wouldn’t just be a sin against Potiphar but also a sin against God. Joseph understood something we often forget – that every sin is ultimately committed against God. Yes, adultery would’ve harmed those directly involved. But Joseph’s deepest concern wasn’t horizontal – it was vertical. His greatest concern was that it would grieve the God who had been with him every step of the way. That’s why he didn’t just say, “What are the consequences if I get caught?” He asked, “What would this do to my relationship with the Lord?” Now, despite Joseph’s refusal, Potiphar’s wife did not give up. Verse 10 tells us that she approached him day after day. In fact, verse 11 tells us that she finally caught him alone in the house. So, she grabbed his cloak and demanded once again, “Lie with me!” Let’s be honest. Joseph must have felt the weight of that temptation. No one else was around – which means that no one would’ve known. Not just that, Potiphar’s wife was a powerful woman who could make his life miserable if he rejected her. So, he could’ve rationalized his sin, convinced himself that this was just how everyone lived in Egypt, or told himself that one compromise wouldn’t matter. But Joseph did none of those things. He didn’t stay and negotiate with her. He didn’t linger to see how much he could handle. He didn’t try to manage the situation. Leaving his cloak behind, he ran out of the house. Sometimes the most spiritual response to temptation is not to stand and fight – it’s to run.
Now, what can we learn from Joseph’s response? First, we fight temptation by cultivating gratitude. In the story, Joseph focused on what he had been given – instead of focusing on what he didn’t have. The truth is that many of our sins grow out of discontentment. We become jealous because we’re discontent. We become greedy because we’re discontent. We become bitter and complain because we’re discontent. We lust after others or resort to pornography because we’re discontent. We often minimize what God has given us and magnify what He hasn’t. We become experts at counting our frustrations rather than counting our blessings. And as a result, we make ourselves vulnerable to temptations. Then, let me ask you: What blessings from God are you taking for granted today? What is one thing you don’t have that’s occupying your thoughts far more than all the things God has given you? Are you spending more time thanking God or complaining to God? Brothers and sisters, one of the ways we fight temptation is by keeping our eyes fixed on God’s goodness rather than on the things that we lack. Second, we fight temptation by remembering that sin is ultimately against God. The Bible makes it clear that sin isn’t just breaking a rule – it’s grieving a Person. It’s rebellion against the God who made us, loves us, provides for us, and walks with us. And this is why there’s no such thing as a secret sin. Even when no one else sees, God sees. Remember the theme of this chapter: “The LORD was with Joseph.” Even though God was never visibly seen in this chapter, Joseph lived with a constant awareness that God was there. As a result, Joseph couldn’t separate his actions from his relationship with the Lord. In fact, one of the greatest ways to weaken the power of temptation is to deepen our love for God. Joseph wasn’t resisting just because he feared consequences – he was resisting because he loved the Lord. “How can I do such a wicked thing to the Lord?” This reminded me of Genesis 29:20 – “Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” The work was difficult. The waiting was painful. But Jacob’s love for Rachel transformed how he perceived that time. And he was able to persevere joyfully. If you think about it, that’s a strange concept – how can you persevere difficult seasons joyfully? But love enables us to do that. And the same principle applies here. When our love for Christ grows, sin gradually loses some of its appeal. Then, let me ask you: When was the last time you thought about how your sin affects your relationship with God? Do you see sin primarily as breaking a rule or grieving the God who loves you? Are you fighting sin simply because of consequences, or because you genuinely desire to honor Christ? Finally, we fight temptation by fleeing from it. Notice that Joseph didn’t stay to negotiate. He didn’t linger to see how much temptation he could handle. He didn’t test his limits. He ran. Why? Because he knew he wasn’t as strong as he wanted to be. Many of us get into trouble because we overestimate our spiritual strength. We tell ourselves, “I can handle it.” “I won’t go too far.” “This won’t affect me.” But listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality.” And in 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee the evil desires of youth.” Now, how do you practically do this? I’m talking specifically about sexual sins. For some of us, it may mean deleting an app. It may mean putting filters on our devices, avoiding certain shows, websites, or situations, or even confessing our struggles to a trusted brother or sister in Christ. The question is not, “How close can I get to temptation without falling?” We should instead be asking, “How far can I stay from it?” So, let me ask you: What temptation do you consistently try to manage rather than flee? What practical step of obedience do you need to take? Are you trusting your own strength more than God’s wisdom? Brothers and sisters, Joseph’s story reminds us that the Lord wasn’t only with him after he overcame temptation – the Lord was with him in the temptation itself. How do we know this? Because God’s presence shaped his thinking, directed his desires, strengthened his resolve, and gave him the courage to flee. Friends, know that the same Lord who was with Joseph is with us today – which means that when temptation comes, we’re not fighting alone. He is with us so that we can resist and flee.
3) IN HIS SUFFERING
In verse 13, Potiphar’s wife is left holding Joseph’s cloak. And for reasons we’re not told – maybe she felt humiliated by his rejection or angry that she couldn’t get what she wanted – she turned the story around and presented herself as the victim. In front of her household servants, she accused Joseph of trying to violate her – claiming that he fled only because she screamed. And she repeated the same lie to Potiphar when he returned home. And we’re told in verse 19 that Potiphar burned with anger – and Joseph was thrown into prison. Now, this is difficult for us to swallow because we know Joseph was innocent. More than that, he was faithful. He had resisted temptation. He had honored his master. He had obeyed the Lord. And yet, it was precisely because of his faithfulness that he suffered unjustly. Now, if we’re honest, this is where many of us struggle because we assume that if we obey God, life should become easier. We assume that faithfulness should be rewarded with comfort and blessing. But Joseph’s story shares that obedience does not exempt us from suffering. In fact, at times, obedience may place us directly in the path of suffering. Think about it. If Joseph had given in to Potiphar’s wife, he likely would’ve remained in the comfort of Potiphar’s house. But because he remained faithful, he ended up in prison. So, humanly speaking, integrity cost him everything. And we can’t help but ask, “How can God allow this to happen? Where’s God in all of this?” The author answers that question in verse 20: “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 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.” Twice, we’re reminded of the same truth because the author wants us to know that even though Joseph’s circumstances had changed, God’s presence had not. Joseph may have moved from Potiphar’s house to a prison cell, but the Lord had not left him. Now, we need to be careful. This story is not teaching that whenever God is with His people, He will immediately remove their suffering. Sometimes He does – as He eventually did for Joseph. But many faithful servants of God endured suffering that was never removed. Stephen was stoned to death. John the Baptist was beheaded. Paul lived with a thorn in the flesh until he was eventually executed for his faith. Even Jesus was crucified. All that to say, the promise of this chapter is not that God will always take away our suffering. The promise is something far better: That He will be with us in our suffering. God’s presence is not proven by the absence of trials but by His faithfulness in the midst of them. In fact, what Joseph could not see at the time was that God was using even this painful injustice to accomplish His purposes. The prison was not a detour from God’s plan – it was part of God’s plan because through this imprisonment, God was placing Joseph exactly where he needed to be to fulfill the dreams He had given him years earlier.
Now, what does this mean for us? The truth is that many of us live in the world of “what if.” We say to ourselves, “What if I lose my job? What if my health gets worse? What if my child walks away from the faith? What if I never get married? What if my marriage falls apart? What if this suffering never ends?” And honestly, these questions can consume us. I certainly experienced this in my own life. There have been seasons when my mind was filled with all the “what ifs.” And the more I focused on those possibilities, the more fearful, anxious, and discouraged I became. Why? Because “what if” trains us to imagine a future where God is absent. It causes us to focus on the possibility of suffering while forgetting the certainty of God’s presence. But I heard somewhere that believers should have a different perspective. Instead of saying, “What if?” we should learn to say, “Even if.” “Even if I lose my job, the Lord will be with me. Even if my health fails, the Lord will be with me. Even if my plans fall apart, the Lord will be with me. Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Do you see the difference? “What if” focuses on what might happen – “even if” focuses on who will be there when it happens. Brothers and sisters, some of you are walking through painful seasons right now. Some of you are carrying burdens that nobody else sees. Some of you are facing circumstances that make no sense. And maybe you’ve been asking yourself, “What if things don’t get better?” If this is you, reflect on this passage again and again because it gently reminds us that the greatest promise God gives His people is not that He will explain everything or remove every hardship. The greatest promise is that He will be with us. It’s true that you may not understand what God is doing, but you can know that He hasn’t abandoned you. He was with Joseph in the pit. He was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house. He was with Joseph in prison. And He will be with you wherever He leads you. So, let your confidence be not that suffering will never come, but that the Lord will be with you when it does.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, God’s greatest blessing is not what He gives us but that He gives us Himself. So, whatever season you find yourself in today, let your hope be anchored in the Lord who is always with His people.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Joseph became a blessing to others even though he had been deeply hurt. Why do you think Joseph was able to remain faithful and serve others despite being betrayed and sold into slavery? What is one practical way you can become a greater blessing to someone God has placed in your life this week?
2) Joseph focused on what God had given him rather than on what he lacked. Why is gratitude such a powerful weapon against temptation? What are some blessings from God that you may be taking for granted right now?
3) Joseph viewed sin primarily as an offense against God. How does that perspective change the way we think about temptation? Do you tend to fight sin because you fear consequences, or because you love God and desire to honor Him? What temptation are you currently trying to manage rather than flee? What practical step might God be calling you to take?
4) Have you ever experienced a situation where doing the right thing made life harder rather than easier? What happened? How does remembering God’s presence help us face uncertainty and suffering differently? Which “what if” fear do you most often struggle with? How would your perspective change if you replaced that with an “even if”?
