Thru the Bible

Steve Schwetz: Welcome to *Thru the Bible*, where we’re picking up the story of Joseph as he was sold into slavery at the hand of his own brothers. Our teacher, of course, is Dr. J. Vernon McGee. I’m Steve Schwetz, your host.

Welcome aboard the Bible Bus for another great adventure in the Old Testament book of Genesis. As you find your seat, Greg and I have an update on great things that are happening with God’s Word in Scandinavia.

Greg: That's right. Every month, Steve, we like to highlight our main global newsletter article because now, by the grace of God, we have a lot of different team members traveling the globe, knowing our partners more intimately.

You’re part of that team, and we’re very grateful that you not only went, but you’re willing to write an article. I appreciate that because you're a volunteer, so you're worth every cent. Seriously, we value it a lot.

Steve Schwetz: It is a blessing to be able to see the ministry. I've spent literally decades talking about it from behind the microphone. About a decade ago, I had the opportunity to go out and see it firsthand for myself.

Now, being able to come back from the Scandinavian countries—particularly, I visited three partners there in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. I want to spend a little bit of time talking about both Finland and Sweden.

As an aside, I reference this in the article that about a decade ago, in part because of the minimal response that we felt we were getting there, we made a difficult stewardship decision and we cut the funding for that program.

We didn't have a lot of contact with those ministry partners during that time. Fast forward a ways, and we find out they’re still airing the program even though we’re not funding it, which praise the Lord for that.

But they were in somewhat of a difficult situation and we re-engaged with them. Coming out of those meetings, the thing that we realized was they were not taking the program and really telling the greater story of *Thru the Bible*, like what we’re doing right now.

Talking about other countries and the impact has such a pull on people. The Lord uses those kind of testimonies to allow people to say, "I want to be a part of that. I want to pray for it." That's the most important thing.

But also, "I want to support it financially." So we’re re-engaging with these partners and I’m going to be going back in the June timeframe for a couple of weeks and spending some time with the Swedish ministry and with the Finnish ministry.

We want to rework their programs so that the introductions include some of the things that we have: the testimonies from different parts of the world and the impact that the program is having in that language so that it’ll get people more engaged.

They just don't think, "Oh, it's a program I listen to." There’s going to be a specific ask, asking always for prayer as the first thing. If the Lord leads you to support the Bible Bus, great, go ahead and support the Bible Bus.

Greg: The world has changed so much in the last 10 or 20 years. So many of these ministries had a model say 20 years ago where we trusted our main partner, Trans World Radio, and we would let them train the people and convey the message.

Globalism has risen, and everybody around the world is much more aware of the rest of the world. The world is not isolated the way it used to be. Think about COVID. The whole world wore a mask in one year, and the whole world knew about this one thing called COVID.

So we are now taking a different strategy. I think what’s important for our listeners to hear is we don't just go on autopilot at *Thru the Bible*. We made a tough decision not to fund it because we didn't think it was worth it.

Now we’re coming back and saying I think it is worth it. We're going to invest in it human-wise and financially.

Steve Schwetz: One thing I also want to bring out is independent of really *Thru the Bible*. Unsolicited, in Finland and Sweden, both partners said to me, "We are seeing what I've seen in my own church and what I think we’ve seen in this country for quite a while: there is a revival and a resurgence of interest in biblical things among particularly young men."

Both Finland and Sweden are having that. So we see real opportunity to re-engage with those ministry partners, make some changes to the program, and have it be effective.

We’re looking at re-voicing the Swedish program because it is now about 30 years old. We’re trying to figure out if we do this again, and we think we’re going to do that. You can be praying for that. Greg, why don't you do that as we begin the program?

Greg: Father, thank you for the way that you provide and guide and lead this ministry. Thank you that Steve and the team had the chance to be in Scandinavia and see the fruit of your work. I pray as we invest more in that part of the world that you will reach more people with your word. In the name of Jesus we ask, amen.

Steve Schwetz: We’re off to Genesis 39 on *Thru the Bible* with Dr. J. Vernon McGee.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee: Friends, if you have your Bible and have turned there to the 39th chapter of Genesis—and I trust you have the notes and outlines, and if you have them, you will want to follow along. If you do not, be sure and write in and ask for yours today.

Now, we return to the story of Joseph. We saw last time that we were looking at Joseph in the 37th chapter, that he was sold down in the land of Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of his guard.

Now, this is a pretty dreary prospect for a 17-year-old boy, now way down in a foreign land, sold into slavery. There is certainly nothing in the outward aspect of things to bring any encouragement to his heart at all.

This boy seems to be more or less of a hard-luck boy. You’ll notice down in the land of Egypt, just as everything seems to be moving smoothly and nicely for him, then something always happens. But it happens for a purpose, and it was difficult for Joseph to see it.

God never appeared to him at all. He’s the one patriarch now that God did not appear to. God appeared to Abraham, He appeared to Isaac and Jacob, but not to Joseph. We see though the direction of God in his life more clearly than in any other.

He’s the Old Testament example of Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Joseph himself expressed it in rather vivid language.

When you get to the last chapter of Genesis, you find out when the brethren, at the death of their father, felt like Joseph might turn on them. They came to him to actually ask for mercy, and he told them that he held no grudge against them.

He says, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." So that everything that happened in his life, looking at it from the outward aspect at the time, it looked dark.

It looked like it was terrible. But each one of these was a step bringing to fruition God’s purpose in this man’s life. We need to reckon that even in our own lives today, that whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.

God will not let anything come to a child of His unless it gets His permission, even something bad. You remember Satan had to say, "Well, there’s a hedge about Job." Well, God let the hedge down.

There’s a hedge about you if you’re God’s child, and nothing can touch you unless it gets His permission. Friends, if it gets His permission, all things are working for good—even our misfortunes, our heartbreak, our suffering—are for good in His glory.

Now let’s follow this young man Joseph and we’ll see what’s going to happen to him. "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 Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither."

Fine-looking young man, 17 years old, would make a very fine helper. Slaves were certainly sold in that day. "And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian."

Immediately that he gets into the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the Lord was obviously with him. A blessing came to that home. "And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand."

Well, now this sounds fine. This is great up to this point. You’d like to add, "And they lived happily ever after," but they didn't, because this is life. This is reality. The child of God’s going to encounter temptation and trouble and problems in this world.

This is what’s going to happen to Joseph. Now notice verse four: "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." Just think of this.

Because of the way that Joseph served, he’s elevated now to the position where he handles all of the material substance, the chattels, I guess even the real estate of this man. In other words, the man trusted him with everything.

Verse five: "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."

And now verse six: "And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured." This man trusted him so much that he never even demanded an accounting at all.

He didn't have to get a CPA to go over the books. He believed in this young man. The only thing that Potiphar worried about as an officer of Pharaoh was that he please Pharaoh and that he did his job there.

He just let Joseph handle his own personal affairs. Only thing that he knew was that when he sat down at the table, the food was put before him. That’s all that he was interested in because he trusted this young man. Now, notice what’s going to happen.

Verse seven: "And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me." Now, if you’ll note here, this man Potiphar gave him obviously the full run of this home, palace, and he had charge of everything.

While Joseph was busy, the wife was busy, but she was busy scheming up. He was a handsome young man. I don’t know this, but I have a notion old Potiphar was an old man. That was generally the custom in that day anyway, an old man and a young wife.

So she sees Joseph and she attempts to entice him. Now notice: "But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Now, do you notice that this young man is serving God in all of this? When he went down to the land of Egypt, which was loaded with idols, it was a land filled with idolatry just as much as Babylon was.

In that land of idolatry, Joseph maintained a testimony for the living and true God and a high moral standard. When this woman enticed him, he said no. He said, "My master’s turned over everything to me but you. You’re his wife."

Look what a high viewpoint that Joseph had of marriage at this time, way back here at the beginning. You see, God gave marriage to mankind. It’s given to all mankind. When a man begins to despise the marriage vow, he is beginning to despise God, friends.

A man that will do that will generally break any vow he’s made to God. It’s been always interesting for me to note in my ministry that a divorced person, that is, who gets a divorce because he’s been unfaithful, that generally that individual will get as far from God as any person possibly can.

I’ve seen that happen again and again. Now Joseph here is attempting to be true to God, and what a high viewpoint that he has. Now look what’s going to come to pass because of the fact that he is attempting to serve the living and true God.

"It came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her." You see this man Potiphar, as an officer of Pharaoh, was away from home a great deal. I expect maybe too much away from home.

This woman didn’t just tempt Joseph one time, but again and again and again. It was a constant temptation to him, and this young man did not yield. Well, you can imagine that welling up in her now, there is just absolutely boiling a resentment now against Joseph.

The old bromide has it, "Hell hath no fury like that of a woman scorned," and believe me, she’s going to take revenge on Joseph. Notice verse 11 now of chapter 39 of Genesis: "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."

"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. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her house, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us."

Things weren't so well between Potiphar and his wife. Notice how she speaks of him in such a mean, degrading way. She says, "See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us." In other words, the wife probably had been guilty of this before.

The one man that I feel sorry for is Potiphar. He’s the sap if there ever was one. But I’m of the opinion that he suspected something all along. She’s beginning now to cover up her tracks. She says, "See, he’s brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us. He came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice."

May I say to you, this boy now in his teens down there in the land of Egypt now is being framed in the most dastardly manner. "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."

Now that’s still her charge against him. "And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home." In other words, the husband was away from home. So she has all of this built up, this story to tell him when he arrives.

When he arrives, she spake unto him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out."

"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." He believed her, though, this fellow Potiphar.

I don’t know what he was. He’s an officer in the army of Pharaoh. He must have been among the brass. I guess when he was with them, he probably was a pretty sharp soldier, but he sure was a stupid husband.

He’s a sap; he believes his wife. I feel sorry for him, married to this woman. He doesn't stand a chance, and I’m of the opinion she’d been unfaithful many times before. Joseph was to be another one in her conquest, and it just didn't work.

So she frames up against the young man. The charge now is brought against him, 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."

Now, here this boy is certainly having bad luck, is he not? He was the favorite up there of his father, wearing a coat of many colors. The next thing he knew his brothers take off the coat, they put him down in a pit.

The next thing he hears them dickering with tradesmen, Ishmeelites going to Egypt. This boy, 17-year-old boy, sold down into Egypt. I’m of the opinion on the way down and after he got there, he spent many nights wetting the pillow with his tears, and he certainly was homesick.

Now just as he’s getting along in this new position, been elevated to a high position—he’s a capable young man and a fine-looking young man—the wife of Potiphar, she tempted to lure him to commit a sin.

His high moral standard is something that you need to note, and he does not yield. As a result, she frames him, and the poor boy doesn't stand a chance. After all, you can see the position that Joseph is in: he’s a slave.

Though he’s been elevated, he’s still a slave. On the other side, here is Potiphar’s wife. It’s like Caesar’s wife: you just don’t say anything about her. Her word would be accepted. You can well understand poor Joseph: he didn’t even need to open his mouth.

He’s guilty before he could make any kind of a defense at all, and he’s summarily and immediately finds himself put in the prison. He’s put in the prison where those that were prisoners of Pharaoh were put.

Now again in verse 21 we read: "But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it."

"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." Now the hand of God is certainly obvious and seen in this man’s life, but over against it is these terrible things that happen to him.

Now he finds himself in prison. How discouraging that must be or would have been to the average person. But the interesting thing is we’re told the Lord’s with Joseph. He didn't appear to him, as He did to the other patriarchs, and He showed him mercy.

Lo and behold, Joseph found favor here with the keeper of the prison. Now I think he was naturally a very attractive young man and a man of tremendous ability. I think that is true beyond a shadow of doubt, that he was a man of remarkable ability.

But the important thing is all of that would have come to naught had not God been with him. God was with this young man, and God was leading him. All of this is moving to the accomplishment of a purpose in this young man’s life.

Now Joseph recognized that, and when he recognized that, that gave him a buoyancy, an attitude of optimism. The circumstances did not get him down; he lived on top of his circumstances. I have a preacher friend of mine, and he tells me that my problem is the circumstances are all on top of me and I never live on top of my circumstances.

Well, I’m of the opinion that that’s true to a certain extent. I think many of us might be that way. But certainly this boy here is one that’s living on top of his circumstances, and the Lord is with him. He recognizes that the hand of God’s in his life and he never was discouraged.

They say, you know, that discouragement is one of the finest weapons that Satan has: discouragement and disappointment. But this young man seems to have surmounted all of his circumstances.

We find here the chastening of the Lord. It’s grievous at the time, but it’s going to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness in the life of this boy. Now the thing is that the story of Joseph reveals that every man does not have his price.

Satan says he does, but there have been several men that Satan couldn’t buy. Joseph was one; Job was another; Paul the apostle was another. These were men, and there have been many of them, that Satan can’t buy.

He certainly despises mankind. Poor Potiphar here, he’s the one to be pitied and not Joseph, actually. It’s a good thing Joseph is out of that home, but God’s moving in his life. Was it the will of God for Joseph to be put in prison?

Well, it’s almost essential for him to be there. We’re going to see that next time. Until then, may God richly bless you, my beloved.

Steve Schwetz: There’s more to this dramatic story, so don’t miss the Bible Bus next time. And why don’t you invite a friend to join you? Listen anytime in our app or at TTB.org or just call us at 1-800-65-BIBLE if we can help you find a radio station. I’m Steve Schwetz, thankful to be going through the Bible with you.

*Thru the Bible* is a five-year study of God's entire word. And together we discover God's purposes in history and our lives, found only when we believe in Jesus Christ. Do you know Him yet?