Apply Within

Bob Davis: Every time you do what God wants you to do, Joseph, you get a punch in the face. And you know what Joseph says? I'll just keep trusting God. Joseph's going to say some amazing things almost 20 years from now when he sees his brother. You meant this for evil, but I'm looking back and hindsight is 20/20. God meant this for good. Your good, my good, and yours. God is good. But it almost always takes hindsight to see it clearly.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Apply Within, a verse-by-verse study of the Word of God with Pastor Bob Davis of North Country Chapel. We invite you to join with us as we, by the power of God's Holy Spirit, apply His word within our own hearts as we study line upon line, precept upon precept, verse-by-verse through the Bible. Our study of Genesis continues in chapter 39, as Joseph is punished for doing the right thing. Here's Pastor Bob.

Bob Davis: We finished up the last time we got together in chapter 38. Remember that in chapter 37, poor Joseph, his brothers sold him into slavery. They wanted to murder him, but they thought let's let time do it. And they sold him into slavery and he got purchased. He is now a slave. He was a free man, and out of nowhere, he's now a slave in Egypt. And we left him there for chapter 38 so we could see Judah and the things that went on. Why Judah? Because that's the lineage, that's the line that Messiah will come through, that King David will come through, and Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. So we learned a little bit about the lineage of Judah and the things that went on back that way. You can take a look at that when you get some time. But now we want to move on back into Egypt. We want to take a look at chapter 39 of the book of Genesis.

And Joseph was taken down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian bought him, bought Joseph from the hand of the Ishmaelites which had brought him down there. Verse two: And the Lord was with Joseph. God went on down to Egypt with Joseph. And Joseph was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian Potiphar. And his master, Mr. Potiphar, verse three, saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph, verse four, found grace in the sight of his master, Potiphar. He found grace there and he served him and he made him, Potiphar made him overseer over the entire household. He was the head slave of all the slaves. He was running everything except the kitchen.

He made him overseer over his house and all that he had put into his hand. And it came to pass, verse five, from that time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph or for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and even in the field. The crops were even growing better. And Potiphar, he left all that he had, everything he owned, he gave it a thought no more. He turned it all over to Joseph, put it in Joseph's hand, and he did not know anything that he had except the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a good-looking boy, a goodly person and well-favored. He was a strong, handsome guy.

I wonder if you understand, Christian, that you're not here because you've worked your way here. You're here because that is where God put you. Where's here? Wherever you're at right now. If you live way back there in North Carolina, if you live way on up there in Maine, if you live way on over to the left coast, somewhere in Oregon where it rains every day or something, you are right where God has you. I don't know if you'll stay there, I don't know what will happen to you, but I know this: you're right where God has you. Serve there. That's what Joseph does. Potiphar was a captain of the guard, a powerful man in Egypt. Joseph is now his slave at his house.

He was serving his father, Joseph was, way back there in Israel. It wasn't called Israel yet, the land of Canaan, but it's Israel. And he was helping his dad, 17 years old, every bit of 17 years old. He's not 50, he's not all seasoned and leather-tough, he's 17 years old. But I love it, and so mark this down if you're a Bible-underliner: and the Lord, the God of all creation, the God Almighty of Israel, was with Joseph there in Egypt. You can't go wrong if right now you belong to the Lord by grace through faith in Jesus Christ because wherever you're sitting, wherever you're standing right now, wherever you're listening from, God is with you there.

There is nothing to be afraid of. You have a secure future if you are in the hands of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what tonight brings or tomorrow. We know what's coming, and that is our salvation is held in His hands and He will take us home to the Father's house someday soon. God was with the God of all creation, God Almighty was with Joseph in Egypt, in Potiphar's house. God is in the house of infidels because that's where Joseph lives. If that were to happen to me or let's pretend for a moment there's you, if that were to happen to you, chances are great we would have felt that God had forsaken us.

And some of you are feeling that way right now. I don't know what's going on. It looks like I've probably lost my job, I don't know that there's a job to go back to. We're still not allowed out of the home without putting bags over our heads and you're thinking God has forgotten, God has dropped the ball, God has forsaken you. That's the way we would think. And so God says, no, read chapter 39 of the book of Genesis. Before you take another step, what do we learn? And the God of all creation, God Almighty was with Joseph in Egypt. The Lord was with Joseph and the Bible says He blessed Joseph.

And because Joseph was serving God faithfully at Potiphar's house, Potiphar got blessed too and his whole household, even his gardens were growing better and his fields. He was the blessing of Joseph, blessed everybody. If you are a business owner, if you could hire someone who fully trusts in God, God's going to blow you out of there with the blessings. John chapter 12, verse 26. Jesus says: if any individual will, wants to serve me, let them follow me. And where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him or her my Father will honor. If I'll just serve the Lord, God will bless that.

Joseph was so trustworthy, the Bible says, and did so well that he was given the position of running the entire household. You're in charge of everything except the food I eat. Joseph is running the entire household, he's managing the entire household. He's 17 years old and he is overseeing. And this Potiphar was very wealthy, had many slaves and many etc. He had family, he's got wife, he's probably got whatever else he's got running around there. You know it, so this is a pretty good-sized household he's very wealthy, even those that are working out in the fields, even the ones that are keeping the herds and the sheep and etc. Joseph is overseeing everything except Potiphar's menu.

But think about this: while some Christians complain about their circumstances, some Christians simply surrender and give their lives to the Lord and trust Him right in that circumstance, just like Joseph did. While some complain about this, Lord, I got dreams. I've had dreams since I was a kid and I'm pretty sure you put those dreams there. I got real talent, I got some abilities here. Why are you wasting me? You should probably put me in ministry. Why don't you do this with me? Why am I wasting my time doing the work of a slave? Can you hear a Christian? Why are you wasting me in doing the work of a slave?

It came to pass after these things, his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said, lie with me, go to bed with me. Sex, in other words. But verse eight: he refused. He said to his master's wife, behold, my master does not know what is with me in the house. In other words, I oversee everything. He doesn't check on anything I'm doing. He trusts me. He has committed all that he has into my hands. There is none greater in this house than I, Joseph says. I'm in charge. Neither hath he kept back anything from me except for you, you're his wife. Because you're his wife, I don't have authority over you. I have authority over everything else. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

David will write in Psalm 51: I have sinned against you and you alone. That's exactly what he's talking about here. If I do this, this would sin against God, not you, not your friends, not the Egyptian whatever. And it came to pass, verse 10, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, she that he would not listen to her to lie by her or to be with her. And verse 11 says: and it came to pass finally about this time, Joseph went to the house to do his work and there were nobody else in the house. The house was empty, in other words. But she was in there, Potiphar's wife. She caught him by the garment, by the outer coat. She just grabbed it and said, come to bed with me. And he turned and ran and left his garment in her hand. He ran as fast as he could get out. He ran out of the house.

Put yourself, if you're able to, in Joseph's sandals for just a moment. 17 years old, no friends. He's a servant, he's a slave, he's starting to meet people, yeah, but basically his family and the ones he loves and the ones he knows, they're gone. They're long gone, figuring he's probably never going to see them again. Missing everybody that he loves, living in a completely strange world. What do I mean? They speak a different language, he has to learn a new language. They live different lifestyles, completely than Joseph has been living. It's all brand new to him and Joseph's got to be lonely and afraid. Here's a healthy, strong young man, very handsome on top of all that.

Potiphar's wife took a liking to this kid. She said to Joseph, come to bed with me. She tries to seduce Joseph into a sexual relationship. They were common in Egypt. No big deal in their culture. But Joseph said to her, no ma'am, no thank you. And he gave her three simple reasons. He's not going to stand and discuss it with her. He's going to say no ma'am and here's why. You're another man's wife and he is my master, basically my owner. And my master has given me everything around him to take care of. I wouldn't do that to him. He trusts me. He's counting on me. I'm not going to do this. No.

And then he basically, let me paraphrase, and even if nobody else found out about it, my God would know and that would be a sin against my God. It would be a great wickedness against my God. So no ma'am, no thank you. But Potiphar's wife was not about to take no for an answer. So she set it up. I'm pretty sure this has got to be a setup: she be in the house, make sure all the servants were out, knowing Joseph's got to do his job, he comes on tripping on in and she grabs him. She physically grabs him, the outer garment just holding onto him. Come to bed with me now.

Joseph didn't even stop to say no. He immediately turned around completely, ran away, leaving his garment in her hand. She's holding his clothes. He didn't try to sit down and have some coffee and explain to her how his God sees it and that. That's not the time, everybody. Get out of there. And he did. Full speed away. He literally ran for his life. That's exactly, exactly what the Word of God tells every one of us to do, guy and girl. Word of God teaches us all to do that. All who call upon Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Second Timothy 2:22, written to Timothy, written to Bob, written to every one of us, male and female alike: Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, love, peace with all that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Run away instantly from the trouble. Don't stay and try to discuss with the trouble or hang out with the trouble and convert the trouble. Stop it. There's another way and another time to do something like that. Now's the time to run away. And he did. And it was the right thing to do, but it's going to get him thrown in jail again. His brothers sold him into slavery, he was in chains. Now his honesty and his faith in God's going to get him thrown in chains again. Romans chapter 13, verse 14. For me and you and Joseph: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make any provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. Run. An old preacher once said this: Joseph lost his coat but he kept his character. He can always get another coat.

Verse 13 says: and it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and he ran away, fled forth. She called to the men of the house. She starts screaming. And she spake unto them saying, see, he hath brought in a Hebrew Potiphar. Notice this is Potiphar's fault, her husband. Of course it would be, right? She's the wife. It's your fault, right? Mm-hmm. He, Potiphar, brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He's making fools out of all of us. He came in unto me to lie with me and I cried with a loud voice. I screamed out. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and he fled. He had taken off his clothes. He was ready to go. And when I screamed, he just left those things and ran. He got out.

Joseph was faithfully serving and guess where he's going tonight? Now that Potiphar's home: prison. The dungeon. For nothing. He was sold into slavery for nothing. And here's what makes you thrilled: it was all God's plan. It was all God's plan. What did he do so wrong to cause this in his life? Well, absolutely nothing. He did everything that he should have done. But God is training Joseph. Joseph knows God's working, he just doesn't understand what's going on. You know God's working even though you may not understand what's going on. Trust. Don't jump to conclusions. That's how you get contusions.

Wait. Wait on the Lord and be of good courage. Continue to serve, continue to trust, continue to hope, continue to know what you know, what you know. That God is good and He will never leave you nor forsake you. And if this is going on in your life, trust Him and wait. He's working something through for His glory and for your kingdom position, I guess I should say. All right. Now Potiphar, verse 20: Joseph's master took him that very night as soon as he came home and put him into the prison, a dungeon, a place where the king's prisoners were bound. And he was there in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He was sold into slavery for no fault of his own.

Every time you do what God wants you to do, Joseph, you get a punch in the face. And you know what Joseph says? I'll just keep trusting God. Joseph's going to say some amazing things almost 20 years from now when he sees his brother. You meant this for evil, but I'm looking back and hindsight is 20/20. God meant this for good. Your good, my good and yours. God is good. But it always, almost always has to take hindsight to see it clearly. So Joseph's master took him, verse 20, and put him in prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in prison.

But the Lord was with Joseph. Now the Lord's not hanging out at Potiphar's place. Potiphar's going to be bummed in the long run. Now the Lord is with Joseph and He showed Joseph mercy and He gave Joseph favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Joseph is faithful to the keeper of the prison and the guy puts him in charge. And you think, wow, what a great thing. I'm the head prisoner of all the prisoners, but I'm a prisoner. So I'm free to be a prisoner, I'll never not be a prisoner, but I love my job. I guess is that what you think that he was saying?

The keeper of the prison, verse 22, committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in prison and whatsoever they did there, he, Joseph, was the doer of it. If they wanted to get out and I got a visitor can I please have my visit, okay, but you only have right, Joseph's in charge. The keeper of the prison did not look to anything that was under his hand. Once Joseph's in charge, the keeper of the prison can sit down and read a magazine or he can go and do this or he can go do that. Because you got a guy, man, you got a right-hand man over here who you know is going to be honest. He's going to be on top of it. He's going to be fair, he's going to be just, he's going to be kind. He's not going to you can spit in his face and he's not going to spit back at you unless he really needs to.

The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand because the Lord was with Joseph and that which he did, the Lord made to prosper. And you say, you're the head prisoner. That's not a great big deal. Okay. I mean you're still a prisoner, you're still locked away, you can't just walk off to see your friends, you can't get out and take a vacation for three days and go to the Nile and dip your feet in. You're a prisoner. And Joseph faithfully did that. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into the dungeon. It's not a beautiful place. The king's prison. And there are so many who wonder why Potiphar didn't have Joseph executed.

He could have. He is the captain of the guard. He said, cut his head off, just take him out and throw him in the trash. But he didn't. Why didn't Potiphar just have him put to death? He was the captain of the guard. Well, there are all kinds of theories and you can make up your own. You pick the one you like, pick a theory. Some say that Potiphar didn't really believe his wife and thought I'll put him in prison but I'm not going to take his life. You can think what you want. I think the Bible tells us: the Lord God protected Joseph because God has a plan for Joseph and it's to save all of Israel. Joseph is the type of Jesus Christ and Jesus will save anyone who will call upon Him. He paid the price for all sin. Joseph is going to save his brothers, his father, the whole nation.

God's got a plan, God's working. I'll read it again. Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end. And let's end with one more scripture. Romans 8:28: And we know, we know it. Not I've heard, not sometimes. No. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. What you're going through now: rest. Walk in it. Trust God. When you're feeling so weak you can't move, just in your heart run and hide in Him. In your heart just say, hold me up, Lord, I can't I don't have the strength. I'm afraid, I'm confused, I don't know. Just be honest with Him and run to God and trust Him. You're going to get through this and there will be other things that come. And all kinds of Christians are predicting what's coming next and going on. You know what? Well, I'm just going to go ahead and just take what the Bible says. And everybody else can prognosticate because I can't even spell the word. I know what's coming because I read what God's word tells me. You know what's coming if you're reading it too.

Guest (Male): Thank you for listening to Apply Within with Pastor Bob Davis. Apply Within is a radio outreach ministry of North Country Chapel. Our Sunday morning Bible studies are at 9:00 and 11:00 AM. We also have a Friday evening Bible study at 7:00 PM and a Monday evening Bible study at 7:00 PM. You can download today's message in its entirety at NorthCountryChapel.com/studies. That's NorthCountryChapel.com/studies.

If you would like a copy of today's message, write to us and ask for the message with today's date. The address is: Apply Within, 2281 West Seltice, Post Falls, Idaho, 83854. Or call us at 1-800-572-8851. That number again: 1-800-572-8851. Our mobile app is available for iPhone and Android. Download it to listen to full-length studies, watch the live stream of our services, or to find out more about church events. If you have been blessed by the teaching or have prayer requests that you would like to share with us, write, email, or call us as well. Please join with us every Monday through Friday as we study together verse-by-verse on Apply Within, sponsored by North Country Chapel. God bless you.