Lessons from Joseph
Genesis 39:2-4
2 The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did,4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
Joseph after being sold off by his brothers as a slave ends up in the house of Potiphar. This was Pharaoh’s captain of the guard meaning this was not just some small time individual. Because Joseph maintained a clean heart and he did not harbor bitterness in his heart because of what his brothers had done to him, God was with him. Favor followed him even as a slave.
Things were so good that Potiphar left everything under Joseph’s control all except his wife. That speaks a lot about his work ethic. He was faithful with that which was not his. Before you cry out to God to give you your own, how faithful are you with that which belongs to another man? Joseph was basically in charge, he was the one calling the shots where this household is concerned. Now that’s a great place to be at considering that he had come from a pit right?
Joseph had a prophetic word over his life to be a leader, could this be it? Was he not in charge of an important man’s household? Potiphar’s house is the place many settle for something lesser that what God had intended for them. It’s a place of comfort, a place that is definitely better than the pit but it is still a place of slavery. It is the place where the enemy presents you with a camouflage that mimics what God wants for you and because of the comfort you have been accustomed to you settle for it.
Though he had authority in this homestead, Joseph was still a slave and that was never Gods intention over his life. One of the things that will reveal to you that you are in Potiphar’s house is that you will be required to compromise in order to maintain your position.
Genesis 39:11
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
Because Joseph was not settled in Potiphar’s house and the position he held, because he was still holding on to what God had showed him, because he had kept his heart pure, he could not compromise. His values were based on the god he was still holding on to, that was his standard.
Have you settled for Potiphar’s house instead of the palace?
Are you under pressure to compromise so that you can maintain your position? That is an indicator that that is not it. Like Joseph maintain your stand though it cost you!
DECLARATION
I will not settle in Potiphar’s house, though it is full of comforts and presumed rest, I will not settle for it. I will not allow myself to be enticed; Lord I will keep my focus on you!
