Genesis 39 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 39

WHEN:

• Joseph was 17 when he went to Egypt (approximately 1728 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Joseph – Jacob’s son with Rachel. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.  

• Potiphar – An officer of Pharoah, the captain of the guard.

• Potiphar’s wife – She lied about Joseph and got him thrown in prison.

WHERE:

• The story recorded in Genesis 39 took place in the country of Egypt.

OUTLINE:

• JOSEPH IN POTIPHAR’S HOUSE (39:1-6a):

  • After Joseph’s brothers sold him, he was brought to Egypt and sold again to a man named Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah.

  • Joseph served Potiphar faithfully.

  • Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and he made him the overseer of his house and all his possessions.

  • The Lord blessed Potiphar’s house because of Joseph.

• POTIPHAR’S WIFE LIES ABOUT JOSEPH (39:6b-20):

  • The text tells us Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

  • Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused her advances.

  • He told her he would not break Potiphar’s trust.

  • She tried repeatedly to seduce him, but he continued to refuse. 

  • One day, when Joseph was in the house with her alone, she grabbed his garment and insisted he sleep with her.

  • Joseph ran out of the house but left his garment behind.

  • Potiphar’s wife lied to her husband and told him Joseph tried to seduce her but fled without his garment when she cried out for help.

  • Potiphar was furious at Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were jailed.

• JOSEPH IN PRISON (39:21-23):

  • “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

  • Joseph was put in charge of all the daily tasks of the prison and the keeper of the prison trusted him so much he didn’t even check on his work.

  • Whatever Joseph did, the Lord caused it to succeed.

APPLICATION:

• Being a servant of God doesn’t always mean you get immediate justice, but it does mean you will never be separated from the love of God.

• Joseph was thrown into prison for doing the right thing and he wasn’t immediately vindicated.

• But the text tells us God “showed him steadfast love” while he was in prison.

• Being in God’s love doesn’t mean you will never be treated unfairly, it means God will never forsake you, even when you are mistreated by a sinful world.