Below is my Teaching Outline surrounding this chapter - Genesis 39. As you will see - some of it is about Mrs. P and all of it teaches us how God uses Joseph to fulfill His plans.
Feel free to read / ponder / ask me questions. The 4th application (bottom of the TO) pertains to a goal I am working on to bring a Bible College into a prison. But . . . ultimately, it is up to God. I have been corresponding with a man since I met him in December 2011 at our Jail in Sumter County. He is serving his prison term (15 years) in the panhandle area of Florida. Please pray for this prison door to be open to enable this level of Spiritual Growth to take place INSIDE the prison. Praise God!
Evil Lurks In The Master’s House
(Genesis 39:4, 9, 20-21a, 23)
I. Concentration: on Joseph finds favor
1. 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. (v.4)
2. 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? (v.9)
3. 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 prison, the Lord was with him. (v.20-21a)
4. 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. (v.23)
II. Meditation: on Joseph remains righteous
1. The immature arrogant Joseph has grown into a highly valued servant, put in charge of almost everything belonging to Potiphar.
2. Joseph is stripped of his robe for a second time when Potiphar’s wife grabs it – as he flees from her sexual grip he leaves it behind to be used against him.
3. No one snubs Potiphar’s wife – she lies to her husband about Joseph – enraged, he imprisons him – but not to worry - God has always had plans for him.
4. Once again God puts Joseph in charge as part of fulfilling His plan.
III. Revelation: on God will use us where He needs us – even in prison
1. Our maturity doesn’t just happen – it requires our time, energy and effort; the time we spend with the Lord, with other Christians; teaching and preaching matures our faith.
2. When we are stripped of our defenses the most important thing is to rely on the truth.
3. People will lie for their own gain and sometimes we will get caught up in their lying; we always need to remember that God is never asleep – He is omnipresent – we need to stop, drop and pray – asking Him for a hedge of protection to surround us.
4. God will use us – it doesn’t matter where we are – in our church, in our home or even in prison – He will use us for His gain.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Continue to mature spiritually and faithfully through time spent with the Holy Spirit, my prayer time with Jesus and my obedience to my Lord.
2. Arm myself with the Truth - never be defenseless; most of all I need to “go” and “tell” the Truth – as Jesus told Mary Magdalene at the tomb to “Go” and “Tell” (John 20:17)
3. Start my day asking for a hedge of protection to surround me; know that when I start my day with the Lord He instills His character in me and I become the person He wants me to be – not the person I would be on my own.
4. Ask the Lord to open the doors of the prison to allow a Cell of Cells (Bible Colleges) to emerge from among those who are hurting the most.