MOTIVATE

The life of a Christian is not a paved pathway or a straight street to heaven. Recently, I drove with my daughter to TN on a college scholarship weekend. The main interstates (95/66/81/40) are basically straight shots – busy but straight. But once you exit the interstate and get on those rural routes in the backside of TN, the roads are curvy and paths are zigzagging. And this describes the life of faith. Even more, following Jesus does not mean there will not be roadblocks or recalculations on your GPS. Therefore, our faith needs what we described last week as “resiliency.”

Resilience derives from two words:

• Resilio: to rebound or bounce back
• ience: a state or quality; a mindset

So, resiliency is the mindset of bouncing back or persevering through external force or internal stress.
And the source of resiliency is a relationship with Almighty God. Our study is in Genesis on the life of Joseph:
Down 7 UP 8 with 8 traits of resiliency.

EXAMINE    Genesis 39         Integrity

Gen37 last week and Gen39 this week. Gen38 leaves out Joseph but is not unimportant to the narrative.

Gen38 keeps the focus on Jacob’s dysfunctional family with the son Judah. NT readers know that the Messianic line stems from Judah[1], so what we read in Gen is all the more remarkable. You can read the full chapter on your own, but the sum is that Judah creates the fun in dysfunction. It’s also a clear contrast with what we will read about Joseph’s life in Gen39.

Judah marries an unbelieving wife, diverging from his family and faith. Their children would cause traumatic abuse and evil in the sight of the LORD and be punished to death (38:7, 10). Their sole daughter-in-law would become a widow. Her name was Tamar. A long and scandalous story occurs but Tamar disguises herself for Judah to think she’s an ordinary prostitute; so he’s also equally guilty as they have relations and eventually she has twin boys (38:29-30). In all, the author purposefully juxtaposes the story of Judah with Joseph to understand integrity.

• Judah & Joseph grew up in the same household, heard the same faith teachings, but one drifted while the other stayed devoted. Judah allowed worldliness to distract and deter his faith.
  • Illus: Starting a campfire is fun. It keeps you warm and helps you cook whether dinner or dessert. The only downfall is afterwards your clothes smell like smoke. Likewise, Christians are in the world, and we cannot remove the scent or stains of the world. But we can change and wash our clothes. Christians must regularly repent of sin, be cleansed by the gospel and grow in the changing power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph did / Judah didn’t.

GEN 39^{: 1} Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

Judah’s going down to Canaanite culture was voluntary (38:1), but Joseph’s descent to Egypt was forced. Joseph was a victim: bullied and discarded by his brothers, and seemingly even abandoned by God. He possessed every human reason for disbelief and bitterness but instead Joseph chose resilience. The reader is left awestruck at how Joseph is able to navigate the down and up circumstances and still find in his heart to forgive, have faith, and move forward in his life.

 ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 

God’s presence with Joseph is repeated multiple times in this chapter (v.2, 3, 21, 23; 26:28), and more in remaining chapters. This focuses and frames the source of Joseph’s resilience. If Joseph’s faith waivered, God remained steadfast.

The LORD was with Joseph… and also with you, in Christ.

—Our non-Protestant friends have a phrase in their worship liturgy that stems from this concept with Joseph and others.[2] Leader: “The LORD be with you.” Congregation: “And also with you/your spirit.”[3] This relates back to medieval church age practices and formalized in 1549 with English Book of Common Prayer. While this is not our church’s practice, it is an encouraging reminder that we are never alone, and the Holy Spirit is guarding, guiding, and comforting us. The LORD was with Joseph, and also with you, in Christ.

⁴ So Joseph found favor in [Potiphar’s] sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.⁵ From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. ⁶ So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.

God’s blessing wasn’t just to hail Joseph but to help others – the Egyptians. Joseph’s life flourished and was the conduit of God’s blessing. Whether Potiphar’s house or the prison warden, everyone in Joseph’s orbit was blessed. And this is the theme of Genesis: God promising grace to one nation and extending generosity to other nations (cf Gen 12:3, 18:18; 22:18).

>>> Are you a conduit or cul-de-sac of God’s blessings? Are you helping others find their calling and flourish in competency? Or are you a frequent critic and shutting down conversation rather than inviting people to explore and discover more about the Jesus you say you believe in (cf 1Pet 3:15)?   

Are you a conduit or cul-de-sac of God’s blessings?

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Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance[4]. ⁷ And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lay with me.” ⁸ But he refused…

Joseph not caving to temptation or conforming to sin is key to understanding his resiliency.

…and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 

Joseph resisted sin by valuing responsibility. He wasn’t a rogue leader but under authority. Any leader who avoids accountability is dangerous. Joseph was accountable to Potiphar and understood the significant obligations he had to all those under his charge.
> What responsibility and purpose do you have that should keep you from sin?

⁹ He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 

Joseph resisted sin by viewing it relationally. Sin isn’t just an abstract idea or trivial behavior, but a relational offense that grieves others – namely God. Joseph understood his actions would hinder Egyptian success, hurt Potiphar’s family, but more harm his relationship with God.

What helps me focus (write your own list & names)

• I have a wife to adore.
• I have children to cherish.
• I have a family to honor.
• I have friends to support.
• I have a church to serve.
• I have a ministry to amplify.
• I have a Savior to be grateful and a God to elevate about my idols.

¹⁰ As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lay beside her or be with her.

Notice the nature of sin is frequent and relentless. It starts with a simple glance, then an ongoing gaze, leading to persistent fantasies. Potiphar’s wife was a calculated seductress. But Joseph avoided her as much as he could… God’s boundary lines were in pleasant places (Ps 16:6), and he understood asking the question “How far is too far?” was the wrong question bc it focuses on self vs God. Proverbs 5:3-5 “For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword… her steps follow the path to Sheol”

¹¹ But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, ¹² she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lay with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 

Joseph resisted sin by running to God.

Potiphar’s wife finally gets the moment for which she’s been waiting and working toward. Joseph is alone and vulnerable. Her grabbing his garment implies violence.^[5] Uniquely, the woman is in the position of power and exploiting her privilege. And Joseph doesn’t flirt or feed the sinful temptation, instead he flees. He knows giving the devil an inch will lead to him being our ruler.    

• 1Cor 6:18 “flee sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
• 2Tim 2:22 “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
• 1Pet 2:11 “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

¹³ And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, ¹⁴ she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” ¹⁶ Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, ¹⁷ and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. ¹⁸ But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

That’s quite a story with both gender and ethnic accusations! Today’s society does need to “believe women,” but we also need to investigate facts and truth. In this case, Potiphar’s wife appears to have a premeditated scheme. She has equally invested time and drive to gain the support of individuals against Joseph. As much as Joseph – or believers today – commit their efforts, so are those who are untrustworthy, corrupt, and evil. The LORD Jesus said, “We must do God’s work while it is day, for night is coming” (Jn 9:4).

¹⁹ As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. ²⁰ And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 

Potiphar was the “chief of executioners,” and seasoned with military experience with authority over life and death for one of the world’s most powerful nations.[6] So, what do you think would have happened to a person who defied Potiphar’s orders or defiled Potiphar’s wife? Yet, Joseph escapes the death penalty and is placed in the royal prison and experiences God’s protective hand. Many interpreters believe that Potiphar is saving face with his wife by punishing Joseph, but showing mercy in case his scheming wife was lying.

*This is also a good time to remind us that leadership will always have critics. Some criticism will be justified, and where a leader is able, they should seek to turn their critics into coaches to learn how to better serve the span of their audience. However, other criticism will be unfair, untrue, and unnecessary. A leader must have a tender heart but tough skin. Jesus said we must be innocent as doves but shrewd as serpents (Mt 10:16). Thus, be careful of believing and repeating every criticism of leaders.

²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. ²³ The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Joseph goes from a spoiled son of the family to a cold and callous pit in the ground, then sold to slave-traders, and surprisingly becoming a superior in a palace – but then he returns rock bottom to lodge in a prison. Yet, Joseph has the mindset of a resilient warrior.

• Php 4:10-13 “I rejoice in the Lord greatly… for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and how to abound – in having plenty or facing hunger; I have learned the secret that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• James 1:2-4, 12 “Count it all joy, beloved, when you meet trials of various kinds, or you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing… Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when you have stood the test, you will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Joseph’s resilience in prison results in leadership opportunities that will become God’s preparation and purposes once again…

Pr 16:7 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Joseph’s life is a diamond spectrum of instruction and inspiration for believers and anyone willing to grow.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

• Residence does not replace citizenship. Joseph was a resident of Egypt but a citizen of God’s kingdom. As a resident of Egypt, Joseph sought the nation’s good. He served faithfully as working for the Lord (Col 3:17). He honored positions of authority, but revered God as ultimate (1Pet 2:17). Joseph’s citizenship in God’s kingdom meant he had boundaries in his character, and he didn’t misappropriate reverence to a lesser king. He maintained integrity and didn’t compartmentalize his faith in God. Christians today would do well to learn from Joseph’s life to be a missionary in the marketplace, serve our neighbors – even those who are very different from us, and to discern how to bloom in any soil circumstances God plants us.

• Temptation is on your doorstep.
  Like Joseph, you will have seductive eyes of pleasure winking at you and sultry whispers promising you prosperity. But you must learn to discern the speech of trickery and the voice of truth. Satan counterfeits everything God creates. So, stay alert and put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ep 6:11).  
  Unfortunately, you will not graduate or progress to escape temptation. And ironically, the more you grow in faith the more you will be tempted to sin. Satan enjoys nothing more than to see the godly fail and Christian leaders fall. So, the time to decide about temptation is not in the moment but before it.
  • Decide now to value integrity and honesty over success at any cost.
  
  
  • Decide now to value people exorbitant profit.  
  
  
  • Decide now that God honors chastity before marriage and fidelity during marriage.
  
  
• God can redeem anyone anywhere. God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines; He can hit targets with bent arrows; and God can make masterpieces from broken vessels. The good news is that Judah and Joseph point us to Jesus.
  
  – Judah and his son’s sins were dehumanizing and damnable. Judah’s daughter in-law acting as a prostitute was disgraceful. Yet, God would redeem this family with a son – Perez who begat Hezron, who begat Ram who began Aminadab, who begat Nahshon, who begat Salmon, who begat Boaz, who begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David… and eventually Jesus Christ was born.[7]

> Why did God preserve and produce the line of the Messiah through Judah and Tamar instead of Joseph?
God did this to show the Savior came to save every kind of sinner. There is no one too far from God that His ears cannot hear your cry, His arms cannot reach into the pit, or His heart cannot open to forgive and love you. You don’t have to carry the weight of your sin – offload it to Jesus; repent and receive the Savior’s forgiving grace and fresh start.

– Likewise, Joseph’s life leads us to Jesus too. Joseph was the beloved son chosen by the father. The father sent Joseph to look after his brothers but they received him not. Instead, they despised him, abandoned him, stripped his cloak off, and left him hanging in a hole in the ground to die. Yet, Joseph was raised out of the ground and seated in a high place to forgive and bless.

God can redeem anyone anywhere. God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines; He can hit targets with bent arrows; and God can make masterpieces from broken vessels.

Friend, whether you are like Judah and have fallen into sin needing forgiveness or you are like Joseph and falling into struggles needing renewal, today is the day to rest your soul on the Rock of Ages.

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[1] Cf Ruth 4:18-22; 2 Chronicles 2:5-15; Matthew 1:3-6; Luke 3:31-33.

[2] See Gen 26:28; Deut 32:12; Judges 1:22; 1 Samuel 3:19; 18:12; 1 Chr 1:1; 15:9; Mt 28:20; Acts 7:9; also see the endings of many of Paul’s letters.

[3] https://anglicancompass.com/and-with-your-spirit-and-also-with-you-what-are-we-supposed-to-say/

[4] Joseph was just like his mother (Gen 29:17)

^[5] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 16–50, vol. 2, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1994), 375–376.

[6] Charles Swindoll: Joseph, p.24

[7] See footnote 1 !