Joseph's Rise to Power [From the Pit to the Peak]
Genesis: From Promise to Peril to Provision • Sermon • Submitted
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1. How does the context inform the meaning of this passage? Please consider: a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage), b) the historical context (circumstances of the audience), and c) the biblical context (citations/allusions or historical connections to other books that the author is making).
LITERARY -
As to the context, we have already noted that this chapter continues the story of Joseph’s sale to Potiphar (37:36). The Judah-Tamar narrative serves to raise the tension in the Joseph story, while Judah’s sexual promiscuity serves as a foil for Joseph’s conduct. The theme of the Lord’s presence with Joseph reaches all the way back to God’s covenant promise to Abraham to be his God (17:7–8), while the theme of the Lord blessing Joseph and through him “the Egyptian’s house” (39:5) reaches all the way back to God’s original promise to Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (12:3). These themes recur especially with Jacob when he leaves the Promised Land (as Joseph has done here): at Bethel the Lord promised him his special presence (28:15; cf. 31:3), and through him the Lord also blessed the house of Laban (30:27). This narrative about Joseph’s rise and fall in Potiphar’s house (39), will be followed by his rise in prison and being forgotten (40), and will climax with his rise to power in Egypt (41).
The narrator further enables us to discern his message by the repetition of keywords. The name Yahweh is used eight times in this chapter (vv. 2, 3 [2×], 5 [2×], 21, 23 [2×]). This eightfold use of God’s covenant name stands out here because in the entire Joseph story it is used only once more (49:18; plus three times in the Judah story [38:7 (2×), 10]). Moreover, the narrator repeats four times that “the Lord was with Joseph” (vv. 2, 3, 21, 23). Three times he links this presence of the Lord with Joseph’s success/prosperity (vv. 2, 3, 23). Twice he mentions the Lord’s blessing on “the Egyptian’s house” (v. 5, verb and noun). “The word ‘all’ (kol) is insisted upon five times, clearly exceeding the norm of biblical repetition and thus calling attention to itself as a thematic assertion: the scope of blessing or success this man realizes is virtually unlimited; everything prospers, everything is entrusted to him.”
The word “hand” (yād) is used eight times. The “hand” implies power. Joseph is bought from the “hand” of the Ishmaelites (v. 1, literal Hebrew). The Lord prospers Joseph’s hand (v. 3), and Potiphar puts all that he has into his hand (vv. 4, 6, 8). Unfortunately, Joseph’s garment falls into the hand of his master’s wife (vv. 12, 13) and he ends up in prison. In prison, however, the chief jailor commits to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners (v. 22), and pays no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s hand (v. 23). Another keyword is “garment” (beged), which in the “hand” of the woman becomes evidence of wrongdoing. It is repeated six times (12 [2×], 13, 15, 16, 18). Finally, Westermann suggests that the words “see,” “cast eyes” function at crucial turning points in this narrative: “One can, in fact, understand the entire episode from the perspective of three kinds of seeing that occur: the Egyptian looks at Joseph (v. 3); his wife looks at Joseph (v. 7); the woman sees the garment left behind [v. 13].”
Joseph’s continued imprisonment
Provision for Joseph & Ultimately Israel
HISTORICAL -
BIBLICAL -
2. How has the author organized this passage? Please a) show the structure in sections with verse references and b) explain what strategies you used to see this structure.
v.1-13 - Pharoah’s Dreams & Need of Interpretation
The Challenge of Living to Please God (v.7-10)
The Unrelenting Assault of our Enemies (v.11-20)
v. 14-36 - Joseph’s Interpretation
The Blessing of God in the King’s Prison (v.21-23)
v. 37-57 - Joseph’s Promotion
3. Drawing on your work to this point, state the author’s aim for his audience (in one short sentence).
Reminded 5x in the first 6 verses [7x in the whole passage] that God is with Joseph…this is the main point of the text.
4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?
4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?
5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?
5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?
THEME:
APPLICATIONS:
THE SECRET INGREDIENT OF JOSEPH’S RESOLVE - Taking Pleasure in God (v.9b)
James 4:1
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Inward work of the Spirit in Joseph’s life - HEART CHANGE
If there is one lesson to be learned from the experience of Old Testament Israel, it is this: having God’s perfect law and a powerful experience of God’s deliverance is not enough. As the Lord reminded Israel through the prophets, they needed new hearts (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:26)
6. What is your sermon title and your preaching outline?Possible Outline -
Sermon Title -
Sermon Outline -
Pleasing God is the impetus to Resisting Sin (v.7-10)
Obedience doesn’t guarantee that life will always go well. (v.11-20)
God’s real work…Grace that is sufficient (v.21-23)
The Blessing of our Obedience
The Secret Sauce of our Obedience
The Relentless Assault against our Obedience
Sufficiency of Grace in our Obedience
7. QUOTES: