And now back to Joseph.
1 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.
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Above all, Joseph had a love for God and His righteousness. God blessed him for this.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Potiphar was no dummy. When someone is so “lucky” that everything they touch is blessed, you make sure they touch everything you have. Joseph is the boss of this important household. You could see the path to a certain amount of ruling through this in order to fulfill God’s promises through Joseph’s dreams, but God has even bigger plans.
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.
5 And 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.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not what he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.
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.”
Temptation will always come into our lives. Satan doesn’t much bother us as long as we are serving him, but when great things begin to be done for God, he takes notice and interferes.
Joseph would have been well served to obey his mistress. She would have protected him and made sure he had every favor possible. And as a slave, the unrighteous could argue it was her right to command him as she pleased.
But he knew God wouldn’t be happy if he gave in. So even though he was a healthy single man, he refused her advances.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, “Behold, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand;
9 “There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Some men would have used their power in the household to take advantage of the owner’s wife. But Joseph was a righteous man and he knew where his blessings came from. It’s not every slave that gets to such a place of power. He wasn’t about to risk that for a romp in the hay!
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he listened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Very likely she sent all the other slaves away on errands so she could get Joseph alone.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me:” and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
When evil tempts- RUN!
Or as Matthew Henry said, “It is better to lose a good coat than a good conscience.”
Joseph ran as if for his life.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, “See, he has brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 “And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.”
What is the saying? “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” If she can’t have him in her bed, she’ll have his head.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his boss/owner came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, which thou have brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 “And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.”
She’s laying quite a guilt trip on her hubby. It’s his fault she was threatened because he brought that foreigner into their home.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, “After this manner did thy servant to me;” that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
From the heights of favored son to a slave to the most important man in an important household to prison. It’s enough to make you dizzy.
It is possible Potiphar didn’t really believe his wife, but he wouldn’t have had a lot of choice in the matter. This could account for why Joseph was put into the king’s prison instead of executed.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
From the highest heights to the lowest lows, it’s the same God.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Most prisons were work camps until very recently in history. Joseph was put in charge of the work and it prospered.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.