Hello! Welcome to today’s bible study on Genesis 39 where we will read about Joseph’s slavery and imprisonment. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 39 took place between 1898 B.C. – 1889 B.C. approximately.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 39 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 39. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 38, we read about Judah and Tamar and how Tamar deceived Judah, her father-in-law, by playing the harlot. In today’s Bible study on Genesis 39, we will read and study about Joseph’s imprisonment.
Backstory on Genesis 38: Judah left his brothers to live alone and made friends with Hirah, an Adullamite. He met and married a Canaanite woman named Shua who bore him three sons. He took Tamar as a wife for his first son, Er. The Lord killed the first son because he was wicked. Judah advised his second son to marry Tamar and the Lord killed him too. Therefore, Judah sent Tamar to her father’s house to wait a bit before his youngest son grew up and reached adulthood. Time passed and Judah didn’t give his youngest son in marriage to Tamar. Meanwhile, his wife Shua also died. When he visited a certain city called Timnah, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot and demanded a pledge from Judah when he propositioned her. She conceived twins by Judah namely Perez and Zerah.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 39, shall we?
Genesis 39 Summary
Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Despite being a slave, Joseph was successful and favoured by Potiphar, who made him the overseer of his house.
Under Joseph’s authority, Potiphar’s house and field prospered because the Lord blessed Potiphar for the sake of Joseph. Potiphar trusted Joseph so much that he did not even take count of everything in the house. He was aware only about the food that he ate. He blindly trusted Joseph, seeing that he and his household also greatly prospered because of Joseph.
Joseph was handsome, and Potiphar’s wife wanted to lie with him. She tried to woo him, but he refused to sin against his master (Poitphar) and the Lord. However, she persisted, and he kept refusing. One day, she caught him by his shirt alone when there were no other men in the house and compelled him to lie down with her. When she took hold of him by his shirt, he ran away from her, thereby leaving his shirt in her hand.
She quickly called the men of the house and put false blame on Joseph, accusing him of trying to assault her and then fleeing when she cried out. Also, she accused him falsely of the very thing that she wanted to do to him. And, she kept Joseph’s garment with her to complain to her husband, Potiphar. When Potiphar came home, she complained, and in his anger, he threw Joseph in prison.
The Lord was with Joseph even in the prison and gave him favour in the eyes of the prison keeper. The prison guard committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. He did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority. Whatever happened in the prison took place under Joseph’s overseeing, and whatever Joseph did, the Lord made it prosper.
Genesis 39 Commentary
1. Genesis 39:1
Joseph was not sold into an ordinary household; he was sold to the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, which is one of the highest positions in all of Egypt. We can see how things begin to line up here to pave the way for Joseph to step into his calling and rise to a position of power and authority in Egypt. God was making a way for Joseph even when things seemed bleak for him.
2. Genesis 39:3-5, 21-23
The Lord prospered Joseph no matter where he was. He prospered Joseph in Potiphar’s house, and Potiphar didn’t credit Joseph’s prosperity to Joseph. He saw that the Lord prospered Joseph and therefore favoured him. Moreover, the Lord blessed Potiphar’s household and fields, even though they were Egyptians and were worshipping false gods, and they had no covenant with God. Potiphar making Joseph the highest authority in his house was prophetic and a foreshadowing of things that were to happen to Joseph in the future. He was lesser only to Potiphar in terms of authority in Potiphar’s house. The Egyptians hated the Jews and there was no way that a Jew like Joseph would be given authority in an Egyptian household. However, it happened because of God’s favour.
Even when Joseph was thrown into prison, the Lord elevated him and gave him favour with the prison keeper. Joseph was given authority over all the prisoners in the prison. This was again a foreshadowing of Joseph’s rise to power and authority in the Egyptian kingdom. He was destined for greatness and rulership, regardless of the circumstances surrounding him.
3. Geness 39:7-18
Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. This is similar to the story of Adam and Eve, where the serpent tempted Eve, who in turn convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. Adam made a choice to eat the fruit, while Eve was deceived. Satan often uses seduction to cause men to sin, as seen also in the case of Joseph. Potiphar’s wife, who may have had a history of seducing other men, attempted to seduce Joseph, but he refused to sin against Potiphar and the Lord.
It is likely that other men succumbed to Potiphar’s wife’s advances, but Joseph did not. When she did not get what she wanted from Joseph, she falsely accused him. There is a demonic spirit of seduction at play here, attempting to derail Joseph’s destiny. However, because he resisted sin, God was able to use and elevate him later on.
Genesis 39 Lessons
1. What the enemy meant for evil, God turns it around for good
The enemy worked through Joseph’s brothers, Potiphar’s wife, and eventually put him in prison to steal his destiny. Joseph already revealed his destiny by sharing his dreams with his brothers (read Genesis 37). Joseph’s prison sentence was probably a life sentence and there was seemingly no way out of it. But the Lord used everything in Joseph’s favour even though it didn’t seem so on the surface. There is nothing too hard for God, and nothing takes God by surprise. Also, Joseph waited patiently and put his trust in the Lord.
2. Righteous behaviour pleases God
Joseph kept himself from sinning (with Potiphar’s wife) and this pleased God. He kept showering favour upon Joseph even in prison thereby making him a figure of authority while he was still a slave and a prisoner. God does His part, but we must also do our part and keep ourselves from sinning intentionally.
3. When God is with you, you will prosper no matter your surroundings
When you walk uprightly before the Lord and follow Him, you will prosper no matter your situation or your surroundings. You will find favour with God and man, just like Joseph.
4. The Lord will bless those around you for your sake
Because Joseph was present in Potiphar’s house, God blessed Potiphar’s household, even though they had no covenant with God and even though Potiphar’s wife was wicked. It was not Potiphar who earned the blessing, but he was blessed because of Joseph. Similarly, you may have family members who are not saved, or you might work at a place where people don’t know God. However, because of your presence as God’s son or daughter within the family or workplace, they will be blessed too and prosper because of you.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study lesson on Genesis 39. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with others. Also, share your thoughts about it and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Genesis 39. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
What are your thoughts about Genesis 39?
Until next time!