John 10; 22—23, “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s porch.” The Feast of Dedication is Hanukkah, Solomon’s porch was an area on the temple mount where the followers of Yeshua/Jesus would gather.

SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE --- LESSON 13

GODLY CHOICES

A HOME IN EGYPT FOR YOUNG JOSEPH

From Genesis 39

Jacob would have cried more for his young son if he had known what had happened to him. Down in Egypt, the slave traders had sold Joseph to an Egyptian named Potiphar, captain of the bodyguards for Pharaoh who was king of Egypt. But Adonai was working in Joseph’s life to make him successful in everything he did. Potiphar became increasingly aware of Joseph’s success and recognized that Joseph’s Elohiym was helping him. Before long, Joseph became Potiphar’s favourite and he made him a personal servant and business manager putting him in charge of his entire household. As time went on, Potiphar’s household began to prosper in an unusual way. Everything in his house went well, his crops were good, and his animals were healthy and profitable. Potiphar promoted Joseph again, giving him complete control over everything he owned. With Joseph in charge, Potiphar didn’t have to think about a thing except his own food. Joseph was not only a successful young man but also a very handsome fellow. Potiphar’s wife soon fell in love with him and wanted Joseph to lie with her. [Potiphar trusts me with everything that he has;’ Joseph said to her. Can’t you see how wrong it would be if I were to lie with my master’s wife?] But Potiphar’s wife wouldn’t give up easily and she pursued Joseph every day. Joseph tried to stay away from her as much as he could and would not listen to her when he had to be nearby. One day Joseph happened to be alone in the house with Potiphar’s wife. She came up to Joseph and grabbed the sleeve of his robe. Afraid of this sudden show of affection, Joseph pulled away, leaving his robe in her hands. Then he ran out of the house to get away from her. Potiphar’s wife was angry now. She stood there with only Joseph’s robe in her hands, not Joseph. He had run away from her and that did not please her. Quickly, she started screaming for the other men who worked in the house. When the other men came, Potiphar’s wife made up lies about Joseph. She cried and screamed and put on a fine act, saying that Joseph had tried to force her to lie with him. Later, when Potiphar came home, she told him the same story, adding a few details to make it sound true. [See!” she told her husband. Here is his robe which he left behind when I screamed!] Naturally, Potiphar was very angry. He had trusted Joseph with everything. Now he thought Joseph had done something very wrong to his wife and to him. Angry and hurt, Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison. He could have had him put to death but Potiphar still liked Joseph so much that he put him into a prison for government officials that was in the same large building where he lived. But Adonai continued to help Joseph, even there in the Egyptian prison. The man in charge of the prison noticed that, and Joseph became his favourite. Before long, he put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. When that happened, the man didn’t have to worry about a thing, for Joseph managed every detail in the best possible way.

COMMENTARY

WHAT DID A STEWARD DO?

Joseph stands in sharp contrast to his brothers. As a slave in the land of the Egypt, Joseph kept his faith in YHVH. And Joseph turned away from sin to choose good. The stories we read of Judah and of Israel’s other sons help us realize how special was Joseph’s commitment to YHVH. Sold as a slave while he was still in his teen years, Joseph was taken to Egypt and purchased by a wealthy Egyptian named Potiphar. Joseph soon became overseer or steward over Potiphar’s household. In the servants’ quarters on the ground level, some servants or slaves would spin and weave linen, while others prepared bread and drink. Stairs led to the roof where the cooking was done and grain was stored in bins. When Potiphar recognized Joseph’s good -- Management skills -- and promising attitude, he appointed him overseer, or steward, of the entire household business. This was a complex and demanding job, for the household of a wealthy Egyptian was a beehive of activity. As Potiphar’s steward, Joseph was in charge of all of the activities and workers. It was quite a responsibility.

Thought for Today: Friday December 16:

Father Elohiym is calling us to a life of thankfulness. He wants all our moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for our gratitude is His Sovereignty. He is the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with His Glorious Presence. When we criticize or complain, we are acting as if we think we could run the world better than Father can. From our limited human perspective, it may look as if He is mismanaging things. But we do not know what He knows or see what He see. If He should open our spiritual eyes to allow us to view heavenly realms, we would understand much more. However, He designed us to live by faith, not by sight. He lovingly shields us from knowing the future or seeing into the spiritual world. Let us acknowledge His Sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances.

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