JOSEPH IN EGYPT

Joseph's brothers planned to kill him. But instead, they decided to sell him as a slave to some Ishmaelites who were traveling together to Egypt. They thought if they sold Joseph, Joseph would never become greater than themselves. They thought they had put Joseph where they never would be bothered by his dreams again. The brothers also thought selling Joseph would keep his dreams from coming true. But God used their wicked act of selling Joseph into slavery to do what they did not want--Joseph becoming a ruler over them.SRme 1.376

God did not let Joseph go into Egypt alone. Angels prepared the way for him to be received in the right place. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites. God was with Joseph and blessed him.SRme 1.377

Potiphar was pleased with Joseph and trusted Joseph so much he "turned over everything he had to the care of Joseph and did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate" (Gen. 39:6). (The Egyptians did not like the idea of having a Hebrew prepare food for them.)SRme 1.378

When Joseph was tempted to disobey the law of God and to sin against his master, he firmly refused to disobey God. Joseph showed proof of his love for God in the way he answered Potiphar's wife. After telling her about the great trust Potiphar had given him, Joseph said, "'How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God'" (Gen. 39:9).SRme 1.379

Joseph could not be influenced either by threats or by promised rewards to do wrong and disobey God's laws. When Joseph was falsely accused of a terrible crime, he did not get discouraged. He knew he was innocent and had done what was right, so he trusted God to take care of the matter. God had always supported Joseph and continued to support him.SRme 1.380

Joseph was bound in chains and kept in a dark, gloomy prison. But God changed this awful experience into a blessing. God gave Joseph favor with the keeper of the prison. Soon Joseph was responsible for all the prisoners.SRme 1.381

In Joseph's experience we find an example for all who will ever live on the earth. People face temptations, but God always is ready to keep people from sinning. If people sin, that is their own fault. God will help, and the Holy Spirit also will protect them. When the strongest temptations come to God's people, they have a source of strength. God's people can ask God to keep them from sinning.SRme 1.382

Joseph met a very fierce temptation. The temptation came from a well-known person who had great influence, so the temptation could have led to sin. But Joseph quickly and firmly refused to yield to temptation. He had to suffer as a result of not being willing to sin. Potiphar's wife accused him of doing the very thing he refused to do, and then she used her influence to have Joseph put in prison.SRme 1.383

Joseph had put his reputation and his life in the hands of God. The Lord allowed him to suffer and be treated unjustly for a while to prepare him for an important position. But God kept Joseph's good reputation from being destroyed by an evil woman's lies. In God's own time, Joseph's character was seen to be pure. God used Joseph's experience in prison to bring great honor to Joseph. In time goodness brings its own reward. Love for God was Joseph's protection. Love caused him to be faithful to his master, and to be true to God.SRme 1.384

When Joseph was honored as a ruler over all the land, he did not forget God. He felt sad because he was a stranger in a strange land, separated from his father and his brothers. But he believedSRme 1.385

firmly that God was in charge of his life and had put him in an important position. Joseph depended fully on God, and did his duty faithfully as a ruler of Egypt.SRme 1.386

Joseph walked with God. No promise of reward or threat could make him leave the path of righteousness and disobey God's law. His example of loyalty to God, self-control, and patience during times of trouble is described in the Bible for our benefit.SRme 1.387

When Joseph's brothers finally admitted to him they had sinned against him, Joseph forgave them freely. His acts of love and mercy showed he did not keep hard feelings toward his brothers because of the cruel way they had treated him.SRme 1.388