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| DUKE CHAPEL, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, USA
THE BIBLE HAS NOTHING TO SAY REGARDING JOSEPH'S TRANSITION TO EGYPT.
We are told only that Joseph was sold to Pharaoh's captain of the guard, Potiphar. His position as captain of the guard was sort of like Colin Powell's when he made us to finally understand what the Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff did. If Potiphar wasn't the top man, he was certainly the most influential. Pharaoh depended on him to keep the political intrigue under control, and to protect him from usurpers, interlopers, and would-be assassins.
Joseph did well in Potiphar's household:
"The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 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." |
- When the LORD is with you, you will prosper
- Powerful people notice God's favor in your life
- Influential people are intensely interested in the manifest favor of God
God caused Joseph to have success at whatever he was doing. Potiphar took note of that, and soon turned the entire responsibility for the running of his household over to Joseph. The captain of the guard now had a clear field to focus upon his duties, and complete confidence in the enslaved man--Joseph became an integral part of his success. He gave Joseph authority over everything in his household, and went about his business of protecting and advising the ruler of Egypt.
Joseph had dominion.
This dominion settled upon him easily. He had adapted and adjusted to his new situation, and purposed to make the best of it. This determined attitude and diligent mindset soon caused Joseph to rise to a position as Potiphar's attendant. He must have proven a trustworthy and personable assistant, for he "found favor in his eyes." (Genesis 39:4) Nothing in his background had prepared him to do well in this environment; it was God's favor and his own personality and value system that caused Joseph to navigate these unfamiliar circumstances successfully. Joseph was not afraid to take on these responsibilities and master them. The customs and worship of the new culture did not cause him undue stress, either. He never stopped following his faith, and he did his job so well, became so valuable to his enslavers, that no one even questioned it. No one tried to impose the predominating culture upon him.
Joseph walked into his dominion fearlessly; he took it on with facility, and he manifested it with extraordinary results. He was well-liked and respected by his master and his master's household.
Joseph walked into his dominion fearlessly; he took it on with facility, and he manifested it with extraordinary results. He was well-liked and respected by his master and his master's household.
The young man Joseph handled his dominion so well that God even blessed the one who held him in chattel slavery. Potiphar was astute enough to see God's favor on his young servant and not try to bust it up, or cause it to conform with his personal values. He certainly showed respect for the Most High God--possibly even reverence that was rewarded :
"The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." (Genesis 39:5) The scripture says that it was because of Joseph. (39:5)
"The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." (Genesis 39:5) The scripture says that it was because of Joseph. (39:5)
DOMINION IS CONTAGIOUS. It shines light on everything. Even an unbeliever can be blessed by the obedience and humility of one who loves the LORD.
On a superficial level, Joseph was in control. However, being in God's favor and exercising His dominion stirs up The Enemy. In Joseph's case, he was "well built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice and said, '"Come to bed with me!"' (Genesis 39:7) The lustful, selfish nature of the boss' wife came against young Joseph's authority. It was beyond his control.
Still, with echoes of the same immaturity that got him sold off in the first place, he stated,
"No one is greater in this house than I am." (Genesis 39:9)
Joseph lacked the wisdom to pacify Potiphar's wife before he refused her. He let her know that everything was sooo great because of him. His response to her advances was insensitive, and therefore unwise. Possibly, if he had let her down more gently, she would not have gone to such great lengths to set him up:
The servants most certainly were aware that the lady of the house had been hitting on "that Hebrew," (Genesis 39:14) as she now referred to him, but his lack of humility may have been just the thing that kept them from coming to his defense.
No one spoke up for him when Potiphar got home and found his wife snuggled up with Joseph's cloak, telling a lurid story about how "that Hebrew slave you brought us" (Genesis 39:17) treated her. Apparently, Joseph did not try to defend himself to Potiphar either--possibly to keep from being executed, rather than merely imprisoned. He prudently refrained from pointing out the things he had told the man's wife. Potiphar, angry and embarrassed, did not stop to ask himself any questions--about his wife or her motives, or why a slave who had never given him a moment's trouble suddenly began coming on to her. Perhaps he knew his wife better than he was letting on, and so did not put Joseph to death. To save face, and to hush his wife, he put the young man in prison.
As a practical matter, dominion without wisdom does not last. If we lack subtlety, tact, and discretion, our dominion can vanish like smoke. Like Joseph, we can find ourselves, literally or spiritually imprisoned by circumstances beyond our control. Immaturity is lethal to dominion.
We may obtain mastery over circumstances, but if we have not gained mastery over ourselves, our connection with God and His plan for our lives is tenuous, and easily broken. The Holy Spirit is always there with us; the question is, are we available to hear and submit and be obedient to His direction?
We all want to achieve mastery over our lives. No matter how ambitious or laid back we may be, the call to have dominion over our sphere of influence is pretty much inescapable. Sometimes, it is hard to recognize where we hold or could be holding dominion. When we finally get to that place, if we are not ruling ourselves, there is no way we can maintain mastery over the outer planes of our existence. Temporal dominion cannot be maintained without spiritual dominion--over ourselves, over our relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit, and over our communication with them. Joseph did not have the gift of communication with Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit of God. You do!
Knowing this, there is no excuse for not discerning God's plan for your life on Earth. The things that block, hinder, and stop you are the things that serve to prepare you for your ultimate victory; your dominion--but only if you learn from them. Only if you overcome them. As we will see, Joseph even had dominion in jail, because "the LORD was with him." (Genesis 39:21)
Dominion transcends outward circumstances.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.
On a superficial level, Joseph was in control. However, being in God's favor and exercising His dominion stirs up The Enemy. In Joseph's case, he was "well built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice and said, '"Come to bed with me!"' (Genesis 39:7) The lustful, selfish nature of the boss' wife came against young Joseph's authority. It was beyond his control.
Still, with echoes of the same immaturity that got him sold off in the first place, he stated,
"No one is greater in this house than I am." (Genesis 39:9)
Joseph lacked the wisdom to pacify Potiphar's wife before he refused her. He let her know that everything was sooo great because of him. His response to her advances was insensitive, and therefore unwise. Possibly, if he had let her down more gently, she would not have gone to such great lengths to set him up:
"He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed."
(Genesis 39:14)
The servants most certainly were aware that the lady of the house had been hitting on "that Hebrew," (Genesis 39:14) as she now referred to him, but his lack of humility may have been just the thing that kept them from coming to his defense.
No one spoke up for him when Potiphar got home and found his wife snuggled up with Joseph's cloak, telling a lurid story about how "that Hebrew slave you brought us" (Genesis 39:17) treated her. Apparently, Joseph did not try to defend himself to Potiphar either--possibly to keep from being executed, rather than merely imprisoned. He prudently refrained from pointing out the things he had told the man's wife. Potiphar, angry and embarrassed, did not stop to ask himself any questions--about his wife or her motives, or why a slave who had never given him a moment's trouble suddenly began coming on to her. Perhaps he knew his wife better than he was letting on, and so did not put Joseph to death. To save face, and to hush his wife, he put the young man in prison.
As a practical matter, dominion without wisdom does not last. If we lack subtlety, tact, and discretion, our dominion can vanish like smoke. Like Joseph, we can find ourselves, literally or spiritually imprisoned by circumstances beyond our control. Immaturity is lethal to dominion.
We may obtain mastery over circumstances, but if we have not gained mastery over ourselves, our connection with God and His plan for our lives is tenuous, and easily broken. The Holy Spirit is always there with us; the question is, are we available to hear and submit and be obedient to His direction?
We all want to achieve mastery over our lives. No matter how ambitious or laid back we may be, the call to have dominion over our sphere of influence is pretty much inescapable. Sometimes, it is hard to recognize where we hold or could be holding dominion. When we finally get to that place, if we are not ruling ourselves, there is no way we can maintain mastery over the outer planes of our existence. Temporal dominion cannot be maintained without spiritual dominion--over ourselves, over our relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit, and over our communication with them. Joseph did not have the gift of communication with Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit of God. You do!
Knowing this, there is no excuse for not discerning God's plan for your life on Earth. The things that block, hinder, and stop you are the things that serve to prepare you for your ultimate victory; your dominion--but only if you learn from them. Only if you overcome them. As we will see, Joseph even had dominion in jail, because "the LORD was with him." (Genesis 39:21)
Dominion transcends outward circumstances.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.
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