THE TEMPTATION OF JOSEPH…Part One

(Genesis 39)

….A popular TV program of late is The Apprentice, in which Donald Trump has two teams of apprentices competing

   against each other.  From this rigorous training, one will emerge as best and given a job in his business.

…As a pastor, I have seen the value of apprenticeship.  I have had the joy of training many men for the Gospel

  ministry.  I have seen the great benefit of a man placing himself under the rigors of such a training, where he

  learns to discipline himself, so that he might be successful later.

…When you read Genesis 39 you are really seeing God’s curriculum for the training of Joseph.  The Lord needed

  to teach Joseph discipline so he could do God’s plan for his life.  (This chapter is God’s schoolroom for him!)

THREE DISCIPLINES THAT WE, LIKE JOSEPH, NEED TO SUCCESS-

FULLY DO GOD’S PLAN FOR US.   For God is presently training you for tomorrow’s work.

I.      We Must First Learn the Discipline of Sweat. (work)  (vv1-6)

                A.            Remember that Joseph had been the favorite son of his father, and being nearly the youngest

                                son, was not given the hard work that needed to be done.  Early, he was the boss…

                B.             Now, at 17 years old, he is a slave, working for Potiphar.   He was no longer the favored one.

                                He had to work and work very hard for his master. 

                                1.             God forced him to learn how to work.  Hard work has a way of developing us…

                                2.             He would work hard and long, for this would be his life for the next 11 years.

                                3.             God was teaching him humility and the importance of obeying orders.

                C.             As he worked hard, Potiphar saw the blessing of the Lord upon his life.  (vv 3-4)

                                …our life message, at home, school, or work, speaks loudly to those near us…

                                …as we learn the discipline of work, and God’s blesses us, it often overflows to the

                                  businesses for whom we work.  God’s blessings to us overflow to those near…

                                1.             So Potiphar put the whole business into his management.  He trusted him. (vv5-6)

                                2.             Because he was faithful in small things, God promoted him to greater ones.  It is not

                                                so important WHAT we do, but HOW we do it!!!! 

II.     We Must Learn The Discipline of Self-Control.  (vv.7-18)

                …Spirit-controlled self-mastery is essential, or we too will become ship wrecked and ruined!

                A.            Joseph’s mother, Rachel, was a beautiful woman (Gen 29:17) and he certainly inherited her

                                features.  He was “well-built and handsome.”  (v. 7)

                B.             Not only did he “find favor in the eyes of Potiphar,” but he also found favor in the eyes of

                                Mrs. Potiphar.  She wants him.  She invites him to her bedroom.

                                1.             Potiphar is called a eunuch…”officials” (niv)  It was common to require the prominent

                                                officers of the king’s court to be castrated.  He consented to this to gain position.  So

                                                it is  understandable, though not justified, that she would be prone to adultery.

                                2.             Joseph was probably not her first…for she seems so bold, “lay with me.”  

                C.             Up to this point, Joseph had pleased both God and man, but now he was being forced to make

                                a choice.  In this test, he must exercise discipline to do the right thing, choosing to please God. 

                                1.             He had learned the way of wisdom is to consider the high cost of sin.  So he refused!

                                2.             Joseph would not throw away God’s blessings for the pleasures of sin.  (vv 8-10)

                                                …he would not even consider how such an act would advance his career…

                                                …at first he reasoned with her, then avoided her, and finally ran from her!

                                                …Now scorned, Mrs. Potiphar would humiliate him as deeply as she could…

III.    We Must Learn The Discipline Of Suffering.  (vv19-23)

        A.            Joseph is taken from his lofty position and thrown into prison.  He would be there for 2 years.

                                …Psalm 105:18 tells “his feet were in shackles, his neck was put in irons.”  Wow!

                B.             Wiersbe writes, “not only was Joseph able to control his appetites, he was also able to control

                                his tongue.   He does not argue with the officers, or expose Mrs. P’s lies about him.

                C.             While suffering unjustly, he was faithful to the Lord and God blessed him by bringing him into

                                favor with the jail officers. (vv21-22)

…In all of this, God was in the midst of training-preparing a man for a future work.  Joseph was apprenticing.

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES: