“Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt” (Genesis 39:1 ESV). Joseph was brought “down to Egypt.” The Lord’s plan to elevate Joseph over his brethren, and one day rescue them from famine, led downward. The dreamer found himself in a nightmare. Down, down, down he went. The once favored son was betrayed by his
Chapter: 39
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You” (Psalm 39:7 NKJV).
After considering the brevity and emptiness of human life, David puts his hope in the Lord. David observed that the length of his life was as a “vapor,” and the accumulation of wealth as “vanity,” for another inherits the fruit of one’s labor. Yet, David cried out to the Lord, recognizing Him as the only way to know eternal life and purpose and depending on Him for tomorrow.
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.” (Psalm 39:12 NKJV).
Even though David was king, he saw himself as a stranger and sojourner in this life. His psalm is a meditation on the brevity and vanity of life and the need for God’s help and perspective to make meaning of it all. On top of this, he is aware not only of his own frailty, but of his own sin, and the sense that God is disciplining him for it. He cried out that God would hear him and that he would hear from God.
Life is hard enough without feeling that God is against you. When we feel this way, we can cry out as David did. Pray out your hurts and fears. Be honest. God knows. God hears. God answers.
“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt” (Genesis 39:1 NKJV).
Joseph was “taken down to Egypt.” The Lord’s plan to elevate Joseph over his brethren, and one day rescue them from famine, led downward. The dreamer found himself in a nightmare. Down, down, down he went. The once favored son was betrayed by his brethren, stripped of his robes, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and left forsaken in a prison. Yet, Joseph’s character never crumbled, nor did his faith fail. He kept on trusting the Lord. And the Lord lifted him up to save his family. If Genesis 38 revealed the wickedness of humanity, then chapter 39 foreshadowed God’s eternal plan to rescue it.
The story of Joseph points to Jesus. For the beloved Son of God would one day remove His divine robes, and make “Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and come in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7), He would be betrayed by His brethren and become “obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore God will highly exalt Him and give Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8-11).
Just as Joseph’s betraying brothers later bowed before him, so rebellious humanity will one day bow before the Lord Jesus. Reading the Scriptures, we should always look for Jesus. Looking with spiritual eyes, we will see Him on every page.
“For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 39:18 ESV)
This was the Word that the Lord gave Jeremiah for Ebed-melech the Ethiopian eunuch who had rescued him from the cistern. The city of Jerusalem would fall, but the Ethiopian would be saved. On the eve of Jerusalem’s fall, a Gentile was promised safety. This anticipates the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch that Philip met on the desert road to Gaza in Acts 8:26-39. Even in the broad scope of nations at war, God cared for the one who gave aid to His prophet and believed His Word. God still cares for the one who does so.
“How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9 ESV)
After the ugly sexual sins of the previous chapter, it’s refreshing to see Joseph resisting temptation and maintaining his purity. Yet, surprisingly he is not immediately rewarded, but falsely accused and imprisoned for it. The world doesn’t reward righteousness, but God does. And even though Joseph was fallen from favored son to household slave, and then from slave to prisoner, God had not left him. In the midst of his low estate, God was with Joseph. No matter the circumstance, God gave Joseph favor before those in authority over him. And Joseph was found faithful in every place, so that in the fulness of time, God elevated him to the right hand of Egypt’s royal throne.
“Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them” (Exodus 39:43)
What gets inspected doesn’t get neglected. Good leaders know that delegated tasks aren’t complete until inspected. And wise leaders know how to give out a blessing to those who have served well. Leader tip: Inspect and bless.
“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life” (Psalm 39:4)
Recognizing the brevity of life should put a holy urgency in us, a desire to live life like we were dying. Yet most wallow and waste their minutes, hours and days as if there were an unlimited supply. If you knew Jesus would call you home tomorrow, how would you live today?
“Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby” (Exodus 39:10)
Every time I read this description of the breastplate for the high priest, I try to determine which stone goes with each tribe. There are many opinions, but I believe that this first stone symbolizes the tribe of Judah, David, and Jesus. Both its first place and red color point to our Lord and Savior.
“Joseph found favor in his eyes” (Genesis 39:4)
Whether enslaved or in prison, Joseph was faithful. Stop complaining about your boss or your situation. Bloom where you are planted. And God will give you favor with those over you.