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Awesome Hands – part 29

“In the house of his Master”

Life as a slave can be hard. In physical terms, there has been slavery almost since the beginning of creation, but spiritually speaking we are all “prisoners” in one way or another.

In our study today, we are going to see, Lord willing, that the start of Joseph’s experiences while being a slave in Egypt are direct admonitions for what the Lord has planned for the liberty we have when we are servants and prisoners to Christ.

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

In the previous few studies, we connected the concept that Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers and then we had the story of Judah and Tamar placed in- between Gen 37 and Gen 39.

We have seen that the story of Judah and Tamar represents our walk with Christ and how we initially treat Christ.

When we look at the surface of the things that happen to us in our lives, it is easy to conclude for the natural man that the things the Lord does are foolishness or foolishly done.

It is easy to conclude for the natural man that the ways of God are outright wrong.

When we are confronted with logic and reason, with the veil which sits on the face of the issue we are dealing with, we are not going to be aware that what lies underneath is the working of what God is doing or is going to do in our lives for our good.

We have been told with Judah and Tamar how the Lord works all things out so that He can “save many people alive”, but it isn’t always so easily understand and implemented in ourselves.

That is perhaps one of the reasons why the Lord chose to interject this story right away after Joseph is sold into Egypt.

Though we are given dreams of rulership over the outward and most importantly the inward world, there are many details which will all take place in order for this to become reality in our lives.

Most of these details are going to involve a lot of pain, suffering, anguish, trial and tribulation, but if we are given faith to believe the Lord, we are able to count it all joy and realize that there is an end result for which the Lord is causing us to be used.

We can count it all joy because who the Lord loves He chastened.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Since we know that the Lord chastens those sons of God He loves, what are the admonitions we are given with the story of Joseph which happens in Gen 39?

“Come, let us sell him to the Ishmeelites”

To shortly recap what happens as Joseph is being sold into Egypt, we read:

Gen 37:26  And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Gen 37:27  Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
Gen 37:28  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

And then a few verses later which end chapter 37:

Gen 37:36  And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

Joseph is sold by his brothers so that “his blood isn’t on their hands”, and then the Midianites who bought Joseph then sold Joseph to Potiphar.

Now, we are picking up from this point to start off in Gen 39.

Gen 39:1  And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
Gen 39:2  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Gen 39:3  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Gen 39:4  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Gen 39:5  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Gen 39:6  And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

What is clear from reading these verses is that though God had planned to have Joseph in this situation from before Joseph was ever born, He also had it planned that while Joseph was in this trial, the Lord would bless Joseph and everything he puts his “hands” to.

This is something that everyone around Joseph recognized including the master of the house. Not only did everything Joseph put his hand to prosper [ everything Joseph put his mind to], but Joseph was blessed to be “easy to look at”.

Gen 39:6  And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

Gen 39:6  And he leftH5800 allH3605 thatH834 he had in Joseph’sH3130 hand; H3027 and he knewH3045 notH3808 oughtH3972 he had, H854 saveH3588 H518 the breadH3899 whichH834 heH1931 did eat. H398 And JosephH3130 wasH1961 a goodlyH3303 H8389 person, and wellH3303 favoured. H4758

H3303

ya pheh

Total KJV Occurrences:37

fair, 15

Gen_12:11, Gen_12:14, 1Sa_17:42, 2Sa_13:1, 2Sa_14:27, 1Ki_1:3-4 (2), Est_2:7, Job_42:15, Pro_11:22, Son_6:10, Jer_11:16, Eze_31:3, Eze_31:9, Amo_8:13

beautiful, 9

Gen_29:17, Deu_21:11, 1Sa_16:12, 1Sa_25:3, Psa_48:2, Ecc_3:11, Son_6:4, Son_7:1, Eze_16:13

well, 5

Gen_29:17, Gen_39:6, Gen_41:2, Gen_41:4, Gen_41:18

fairest, 3

Son_5:8-9(2), Son_6:1

goodly, 2

Gen_39:6, Jer_11:16

beauty, 1

2Sa_14:25

comely, 1

Ecc_5:18

pleasant, 1

Eze_33:32

 

H8389

to’ar

Total KJV Occurrences:14

form, 3

1Sa_28:14, Isa_52:14, Isa_53:2

beautiful, 2

Gen_29:17, Deu_21:11

favoured, 2

Gen_41:18-19(2)

goodly, 2

Gen_39:6, Jer_11:16

comely, 1

1Sa_16:18

countenance, 1

1Sa_25:3

fair, 1

Est_2:7

resembled, 1

Jdg_8:18

visage, 1

Lam_4:8

H4758

mar’eh

Total KJV Occurrences:105

appearance, 33

Num_9:15-16(2), Eze_1:5, Eze_1:13-14 (3), Eze_1:16 (2), Eze_1:26-28 (9), Eze_8:2 (3), Eze_10:1, Eze_10:9, Eze_40:3 (2), Eze_41:21 (2), Eze_42:11, Eze_43:3, Dan_8:15, Dan_10:6, Dan_10:18, Joe_2:4 (2)

sight, 18

Gen_2:9, Exo_3:3, Exo_24:17, Lev_13:3-4 (2), Lev_13:20,Lev_13:25, Lev_13:30-32 (3), Lev_13:34, Lev_14:37, Deu_28:34, Deu_28:67, Ecc_11:9 (3), Isa_11:3

vision, 14

Num_12:6, 1Sa_3:15, Eze_8:4, Eze_11:24 (2), Eze_43:3 (3), Dan_8:16-17 (2), Dan_8:26-27 (2), Dan_10:1, Dan_10:16

countenance, 9

Jdg_13:6(2), 1Sa_16:7, 1Sa_17:42, 2Sa_14:27, Son_5:14-15 (3), Dan_1:13

favoured, 7

Gen_29:17, Gen_39:6, Dan_1:2-4 (5)

look, 6

Gen_12:11, Gen_24:16, Gen_26:7, 2Sa_11:2, Est_1:11, Eze_23:15

appearances, 2

Eze_10:10, Eze_10:22

countenances, 2

Dan_1:13, Dan_1:15

fair, 2

Est_2:2-3(2)

apparently, 1

Num_12:8

appeareth, 1

Lev_13:43

beautiful, 1

Est_2:7

beauty, 1

Isa_53:2

form, 1

Job_4:16

goodly, 1

2Sa_23:21

looketh, 1

Lev_13:12

pattern, 1

Num_8:4

see, 1

Jos_22:10

seem, 1

Nah_2:4

soon, 1

Eze_23:16

visage, 1

Isa_52:14

In other words, Joseph has a beautiful form and appearance to look at. This blessing of the Lord is what was used to attract the master’s wife to Joseph.

In Joseph’s life, he had the blessing that he was born as the first son to the wife whom His father Jacob favored.

He was also given the blessing that he was a dreamer of dreams which caused his whole family to rebuke him and eventually cause his brothers to want to kill him.

Now, as he matured into a young man, he was blessed with good looks of which would cause him to be thrown in prison. In some respects, a person could look at these blessings and say that the Lord actually had other things in mind other than giving Joseph a good time while in the flesh.

We too, can look at the blessings the Lord has given us, and easily wonder if being blessed of the Lord is “all it is cracked up to be”.

At least, that is how our carnally minded old man thinks about the blessings of the Lord, and we must bring these thoughts into subjection to the mind of Christ.

2Co 10:2  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
2Co 10:7  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

In the last study, we covered what the veil represents and the purpose of the veil. One of those functions of the veil is that is hides what is underneath.

If we are focused on the outside of the cup, then we are missing the mark. Our focus is not on the things ‘without’ because we don’t judge another man’s servant.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

God alone knows where he has a person and why they are caused to be any given trial. Those trials are no less than the war that is going on in the heavens and NOT war after the flesh.

The temple of the Lord is a spiritual temple and is not a physical one, and that is stated over and over in scripture. In truth, Christ tore down the old physical temple to show us all what is beyond the veil.

With Joseph, he is now going to do battle with a spiritual matter that presents itself on the outside of the cup. God is going to use the fairness that Joseph has to the eyes and use that blessing to bring about the situation physically that causes the master’s wife to want to commit sin with Joseph.

“Lie with me”

Gen 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Gen 39:8  But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
Gen 39:9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen 39:10  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

For Joseph, this “great wickedness” was a war in his heavens, though he didn’t know or recognize it as such. For us, we know this is an admonition we are being taught.

At the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, I did a study entitled, “The King’s Prisoners.” In this study, I used verse 20 to title the talk and likened it to the walk we have with the Lord in “our generation”.

Gen 39:20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Here is a small excerpt from that two- part study of which talks directly about how the Lord uses what is physical to prove to us that everything we see physically should not be our focus, but what we know to be Truth spiritually should be our focus.

From the study, “The King’s Prisoners – part2”:

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

See, being the King’s prisoner involves being imprisoned to His mind. His mind will be encompassing everything we do, see, think and hear. We simply see the Lord working in all things…yes even all the evil and sin we see within ourselves and without ourselves in others and in the world.  We simply see the Lord working all things after the counsel of His own Will.

So, when we have situations like the conversation I had with my loved one, we are directly presented with a situation that was custom- made to show me where I am or where I am not.

Where is my mindset when my loved one says this bomber should be executed in front of a firing squad? Do I agree with this mindset, or have I judged it already with the mind of Christ?

When I am judging, am I judging the person who has spoken the words or the principalities,  powers, rulers of the darkness of this world which have spiritual wickedness in high places,  and the heavens of this person’s mind?

That is what I am a prisoner to. I am either the King’s prisoner who has been given authority of this fleshy carnal mind or I am still just the “standard prisoner” who is being dominated by it because I cannot judge the season, and I am NOT able to judge the sign of the times…which is in ME!

Jesus Christ in ME!

Just to bookend this, let’s read this again and pay close attention to what we are being told because it is HUGE! It is the greatest mystery of all!

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Where is Jesus Christ our Lord? Continuing we can see this:

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

This should be coming together for us by now!

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The pit that Joseph was ordained to be lifted out of is the same pit of death that we have been ordained to be lifted out of. This pit represents the imminent death of which the old man’s carnal mind is only able to produce.

Isa 24:22  And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isa 42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isa 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isa 42:9  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

We have the liberty of Christ when we put on His mind, but this only comes through death. Life comes through death and as such we are prisoners of Christ.

Eph 3:1  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph 3:2  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you- ward:
Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Phi 1:9  Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Bringing this all back into focus of what is now happening with Joseph and the master’s wife, we see that Joseph recognizes that if he commits this great wickedness, he is really sinning against God.

Likewise, when we have trials and tribulations of which constantly weigh us down and beat against us “day by day” we too will become weary and let our guard down.

This is exactly what happened to Joseph, but it is all completely 100% of the Lord.

Gen 39:11  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:13  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
Gen 39:14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
Gen 39:15  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:16  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

“Conclusion of part 29”

In this study, we have focused our attention on the blessings that Joseph received via the work of his prosperous hands. All that were involved in the “house of the master” knew that Joseph was blessed of the Lord.

This was used to progress Joseph from the role of a simple slave at the start, to being an overseer of this particular part of this walk in the “house” he was sent to serve.

What we are being shown in this admonition, among other things, is that Joseph is being used to ultimately be given all power but the throne.

During these trials, we can all be overwhelmed with the “day by day” attempts of the adversary to cause us to “curse God” with our actions and mouth just as Job’s wife told him to do and just as “the master’s wife” wanted Joseph to do.

In our walks today, we constantly have our old man and the ways we have learned in “babylon” being used to try us so that we miss the mark.

This is all ordained of the Lord so that with this chastening we can know that we are sons of God, but with the Words the Lord, we can also be confident that anything happening in the flesh is actually only being reflected in the physical realm from what is happening in the spiritually heavens that dwell within us.

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

With these foundational Words in mind, let us all continue on the Way we have been set on and trust in the Lord that He has our good at the forefront of everything He is doing in our lives.

As for Joseph and the situation we currently find him in, we will continue this story next week to see how the Lord once again puts Joseph in progressively worse situations for his flesh but a progressively better situation for the “new man” he is being shaped and molded into.

With the death of Joseph’s type and shadow of old man, the new man and ruler he is being created into will only glorify the Lord in the end.