Saturday, December 31, 2011

Joseph and the Naughty Lady

Jesus said to his disciples, “I have food to eat you know nothing about” John 4:32. 
The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Joseph and the Naughty Lady
J. C. Sheridan, II
Genesis 39:6–10 (NKJV) 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” 10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

These few verses reveal a lot. Potiphar had so much confidence in the young Hebrew that everything he had was now in Joseph hands as a steward. Potiphar knew nothing of his possessions except for the food on his table. Note the introduction to Joseph’s appearance. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. To put into today's jargon, Joseph was a “Hunk”. Potiphar’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph—Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people—in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar’s wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among the them, as the monuments too plainly attest [Wilkinson]. Potiphar’s wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station.

Joseph proclaims How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?When all inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral purity—a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.

After Joseph’s continued refusal she called unto the men of her house—Disappointed and affronted, she vowed revenge and accused Joseph, first to the servants of the house, and on his return to her lord. See, he hath brought in an Hebrew … to mock us—an affected and blind aspersion of her husband for keeping in his house an Hebrew, the very abomination of Egyptians. Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison—the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (Ge 41:14), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first outburst of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as great harshness of treatment (Ps 105:18) as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital crime. Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.


Next Time - Joseph and the Baker & the Butler

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Joseph-Finding Favor


Jesus said to his disciples, “I have food to eat you know nothing about” John 4:32.
The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Joseph-Finding Favor

Genesis 39:3–4 (NKJV) 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

Joseph was highly favored by his father Jacob AKA Israel. This love was prompted by the fact that Joseph was the son of his old age. Israel made him a tunic of many colors to express his love. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. To add injury to insult Joseph was a dreamer, good dreams, prophetic dreams. One of his dreams was an insight that these brothers would all bow in the presence of this hated younger upstart someday. These older brothers conspired to rid themselves of what they considered to be a self-serving arrogant intruder. They sold him into slavery to Ishmaelite's for twenty pieces of silver. Twenty pieces of silver—The money was probably pieces or shekels. Silver is always mentioned in the records of that early age before gold, because of its rarity. The whole sum, if in shekel weight, did not exceed $20. Joseph’s brothers dipped the many-colored coat in animal blood and told Jacob that Joseph was dead, destroyed by a wild beast.

Joseph a Slave in Egypt
Now Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, who was an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelite's who had taken him to Egypt. We don't know too much about Potiphar. But what we now learn is Potiphar possess a keen sense of character. He is able to discern God’s blessing on the life of this young Hebrew. The word translated “officer” literally means, “prince of the Pharaoh”—that is, in the service of government.

So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then Potiphar made Joseph overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Joseph consequently held a position of great trust and authority. This is a part of the favor that Joseph discovered. Those slaves who had been war captives were generally sent to labor in the field and subjected to hard treatment under the “stick” of taskmasters. But those who were bought with money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly treated, and enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern Egypt. Though changed in condition, Joseph was not changed in spirit; though stripped of the multicolored coat that had adorned his person, he had not lost the moral graces that distinguished his character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshiper of the true God. This is very significant, Joseph never lost his balance regarding the many dreadful actions of his brothers. Because God was blessing Joseph, everything that was in Joseph’s hands belonging to Potiphar was also wonderfully blessed. This fact plays-out in he end as the great spiritual lesson of this Bible expose.

The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. It might be—it probably was—that a special, a miraculous blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life. We do not know in what capacity Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his chief, his confidential servant (compare Eph 6:7; Col 3:23). The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him in all that he did.

Look for the next installment - Joseph and The Naughty Lady.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Pro Choice


Jesus said to his disciples, I have food to eat you know nothing about John 4:32.
The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Pro Choice
:

This is a familiar political term of our present culture. It denotes a woman right to abort her baby if she deems it not convenient. As I mused this concept I came to realize that the Bible clearly calls to humankind to make a choice.

The Old Testament makes an understandable declaration to the people of God. Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV) 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

In the Bible God’s relationship with his people is spoken of in terms of a “covenant”. The covenant was a legal agreement that contained specific promises and obligations. God’s covenant is different from other legal agreements among men because it is also a spiritual agreement between the holy God and his godly people. What we have here in Deuteronomy is an updated covenant which was given originally to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in Genesis 26:3-5.

After thirty-nine years of wandering in the desert or wilderness the rebellious and unfaith full generation has all died. God sets out through, Moses, to “refresh” his covenant with the new generation of his Israeli people in the plains of Moab.

God, the True Leader (31:1–8). Though the ceremony of covenant renewal is not narrated, it is clear that, the new generation of Israelites recommitted themselves to the covenant. (It is implied in 29:10–13.) Moses reaffirmed God’s role as the true leader of His people.

God’s provision for the future of the covenant included a leader (Joshua) to succeed Moses as covenant mediator, as well as a law, the covenant text delivered to the priests for safekeeping (31:9–13). God’s Provision (31:14–29).

God provided Joshua as a successor to Moses. God’s provision for the future of the covenant also included a song, whose purpose was to remind the nation of the covenant pledges they had made (see 31:30–32:43). Finally, God provided a record of the law so that future generations could know God’s will (31:24–29). The Lord, true to ancient treaty form, invoked heaven and earth as witnesses to the promises that Israel had sworn.

Moses’ Song (31:30–32:43) This wonderful hymn of covenant commitment extols the God of Israel for His greatness and righteousness despite the wickedness of His people. He had created them and had redeemed and preserved them. They rebelled in turn and followed other gods. This course of action provoked His judgment in the past and would do so in the future. At last, however, God would remember His covenant and bring His people salvation.

Choices (30:11–20). Israel’s pledge to faithful adherence to the terms of a covenant could bring immediate and lasting reward. But disobedience would produce only judgment.

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (NKJV) 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today...that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 ...love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.”

Choose life and love God by obeying His voice.