FAVOURED March 14, 2021 GENESIS 39:1-23

If I were to use an illustration from the Princess Bride this morning, it would probably be the grandfather telling the grandson what the story is about: Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles . . .

When the grandson hears the description, he replies Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake.

Believe it or not, that leads to our talk about Joseph this morning. There is a lot to read in Genesis about Joseph. A lot. Two messages will not do it justice. In fact, two messages makes me wonder where to start and where to begin. And as we look at part of Joseph’s story I hope that you will try to stay awake!

Joseph. We’re actually going to start part-way through his story. In Genesis 39 we read that Joseph had been taken down to Egypt [Genesis 39:1]. Past tense. Joseph, in Egypt.

You know how he got there. You know the story. That he was his father’s favourite. Read it in Genesis 37: Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other children, because Joseph was born to him in his old age. [And] one day Jacob gave him a special gift – a brightly colored coat [Genesis 37:3]. Not only that, Joseph was a tattle- tale: he told his father some of the bad things his half-brothers were doing [Genesis 37:2]. And then there were the dreams that he had – and told his brothers about – that implied that he was superior to them. No wonder they – as almost every translation has it – hated him.

The brothers were working out in the fields one day. Jacob – their father – sent Joseph to them; when they saw him coming they decided to get rid of him. Kill him and tell Jacob that wild animal had torn him apart. Brother Reuben talked them out of it. They just grabbed him and threw him into a pit; eventually they sold him to passing traders; before they went home they dipped his fancy coat in blood and told the wild animal story to Jacob anyway.

The coat. I wasn’t going to say much about the coat itself but it lends to these thoughts from Kim Hunt:

Once upon a time [she says], people used to shop in preparation for two different seasons: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter – basically cold weather or warm.

There are now 52 “micro-seasons” in which new fashions are released.

That’s a new season every single week of the year.

Fast-fashion stores [we hear a lot about fast-food but not much about fast-fashion] – Fast-fashion stores like Forever21 and H&M get shipments of new clothing and styles every day.

That means that by the time you wear the clothes you just purchased, it’s already on its way out of style.

And that’s the point because they want you coming back.

The average number of times a person wears an article of clothing is five times [finally something I’m “above average” in]. You wear the item five times before it’s (essentially) designed to fall apart. The low costs of factory production labor and poor quality model allows stores to produce at a high volume, stay in front of trends and keep a demand on cheap, unsustainable clothing.

The cost of this model, to our planet and to the people exploited to work in factories for fast fashion companies across the world, is significant.

Then she says – and she is right to say – that we as Christians should be horrified. Are we? Are we horrified with all that is going on in our world? Are we standing up to . . . and for?

Did you know that Fashion is the second largest polluter in the world, right behind Big Oil. That Our fashion carbon footprint is immense. Our carbon foot print is immense. Are we doing anything about it? Or only if it affects us directly?

I know that this is old news (it’s a week old) but it is still being talked about a bit:

Dr. Seuss Enterprises recently announced that it would no longer be publishing six Dr. Seuss books that were recently deemed racially insensitive. Very quickly those same books started selling for hundreds of dollars as some began to see them as the relics of a pre- fascist era. Dr. Seuss, many believe, is only the latest victim of cancel culture.

People are speaking out against censorship and against cancel culture. About a book. And about a cartoon: Pepé le Peu. It’s just a cartoon, they say. It’s something from the past, they say. We’re going too far as a society, they say.

Two things. First, a cartoon from the past or not, Pepé le Peu is a stalker for whom no means no means nothing. You’re standing up for that? And second, before we get all up-in-arms about something that was part of culture in the past, let’s do something about something that is part of culture today.

Let’s do something about human trafficking. Let’s do something about slave labour. Let’s do something about sweatshops. Let’s not turn a blind eye to these things. As we talked about last summer, let’s not just think that it is part of how the world operates and let it go. If you need to, stop buying from retailers who use cheap labour so they can increase profits. Let’s not say well, that’s the way things are, not much I can do and keep on as we are. Do something!

I don’t want to get caught up in that today. Though justice is a major theme in the Bible and should be our theme as well as we live our lives. It’s something that we need to think about. Anyway,

Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought [Joseph] from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there [Genesis 39:1].

And some people might think that’s karma for you! From the favourite to a slave. From the pinnacle to pit. He got what he deserved for rubbing his brothers noses in it.

I don’t believe in karma. I don’t believe that the world has a plan and that it is going to bite you back if you do anything wrong. I do believe that what you do affects others and that what others do affects you. Karma? No. Life? Yes.

Makes me think of Dr. Seuss again, believe it or not. Of one of his “allowable” books: Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo. I won’t read it here. I’ll point it out. Actions cause reactions cause reactions. That’s what happened with Joseph. Not karma. Reactions. Which worked out, as you know if you’ve read the whole of Genesis. That’s for another time.

The Lord was with Joseph [our story continues], and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. [Genesis 39:2-5]

He found favour. He was favoured by his father. He was unfavoured by brothers. He found favour with Potiphar. He worked hard and was blessed, and the blessing extended. He was given an opportunity and he took it. Some do. They see an opportunity and they grasp it. Some don’t. They see an opportunity but think that it isn’t the right opportunity and let it go by. And miss the blessing.

Maybe we need to hear Paul’s words more often. He writes don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work. [Colossians 3:32b-24, THE MESSAGE]

Joseph wasn’t sullen. He had reason to be. But he wasn’t. Far from home. Far from family. Far from a life of ease. Even though he was favoured, he was still a slave. Let’s not forget that. A slave.

But he was a respected slave. [Potiphar] left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate [Genesis 39:6].

Joseph was trusted. He had earned the trust. He could be counted on. His yes was yes and his no was no. He could see what needed to be done and he did it. No wonder he was favoured.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority [Genesis 39:2-4].

He was known by his life. By his consistency. By his integrity. You will be you are known by your life. By your consistency. By your integrity.

Joseph was not only a hard worker and a trusted worker – traits that are important to some people – Joseph was handsome in form and appearance [Genesis 39:6b] – traits that are important to other people. He was young. He was virile. And that got him . . . noticed:

it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” [Genesis 39:7]

We don’t know much about Mrs. Potiphar. I’m not even going to begin to speculate why she would suggest such a thing. Whether she was a bored lonely woman or . . . sorry, I said I wasn’t going to speculate. Whether this was a pattern of behaviour or if . . . sorry, did it again.

This we know: one day she cast longing eyes on Joseph . . . began making eyes at Joseph . . . became infatuated with Joseph . . . took notice of Joseph [depending on what translation you read] and invited him to her bed.

But he refused. Wouldn’t do it. Told her “Look, my master [your husband!] doesn’t give a second thought to anything that goes on here – he’s put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you. You’re his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?” [Genesis 39:8-9, MESSAGE]

Too bad that David, that man after God’s own heart, didn’t take that sentiment for his own. Violating someone’s trust and sinning against God. But David’s relationship with Bathsheba is another story.

Potiphar trusted Joseph. Period. Joseph had earned that trust and Joseph kept that trust. He lived a certain way and everyone that saw him (well, maybe everyone but his wife) knew he would not waver.

He refused. He wasn’t going to do it. No way no how.

He refused . . . So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her [Genesis 39:8, 10].

Maybe it started as a simple flirt. A little tease. But day after day after day she came up to him. With the look. With the touch. With the invitation.

We know about temptation. It happens. Satan directs his darts at us. To distract us from God. something else attracts us. That’s what happened with Eve in the garden:

The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die [if you eat that fruit]. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”

When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything! – she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate [Genesis 3:5-6].

Eyes off God. Eyes on self. No . . . not in the vocabulary.

James reminds us that each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed [THE MESSAGE translates this The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust] – each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death [James 1:14-15].

Eyes off God. Eyes on self. No . . . not in the vocabulary. But Joseph kept his eyes on God and his eyes off himself (or off her).

Sometimes the Bible is a bit cryptic. Jesus was. Like when He said “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

But He was speaking of the temple of His body [John 2:19-21]. Cryptic.

Sometimes the Bible is very clear. Like these words from Paul (and do we really need to hear them? Isn’t it obvious?). And it doesn’t matter what translation you use. The King James Version says Abstain from all appearance of evil. The New King James Version says Abstain from every form of evil. The New International Version says reject every kind of evil. THE MESSAGE says Throw out anything tainted with evil. Run . . . run . . . run from sin . . . from the very appearance of anything that is evil! Don’t leave yourself in a position to fall!

Joseph did: as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her [Genesis 39:8, 10].

He stood up to her. He stood up for himself. He stood up for God. He stood up for what is right. Do you? Does people know your stands and your standards? Are they consistent?

Here’s our call: you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light [1 Peter 2:9]. We have been called out of darkness into light. Sometimes that light means that we have to say something about and against the culture that we live in. Sometimes that light means that we have to take a stand – and not be ashamed of that stand – and let that stand be known. It’s saying “yes” to the things that count . . . to the ways of God.

It’s . . . interesting . . . that many of the things that our church – your church – has taught and stood for over the years have been proven to be good things to stand for. We have encouraged people not to smoke. And culture caught up to us and realized the harm of tobacco. We have encouraged people not to drink. And culture is catching up to us and realizing the deadly effects of alcohol. We have stood against the loosening of morals regarding pornography. And culture is catching up to us as people see its pervasive influence in the lives of men and women young and old and on families, so much so that #CancelPorn is trending on TikTok.

We need to stay ahead of the culture around us, not fall behind, and when we are ahead we need to show that we are leading for not acting against. Saying yes to what is important – things that are true, and noble, and just, and pure, and lovely, and of good report, and virtuous and praiseworthy. Our ideas of holiness do hold value today. Stand strong! Say something!

Times change. Society’s norms change. Sometimes for the good. Many times for the not-so-good. And sometimes people are embarrassed for what they thought or stood for or how they acted in the past and although it is difficult, are admitting to mistakes and errors and . . . and ridiculous actions.

For example, in a Washington Post article Jessica Goldstein writes about the new Britney Spears documentary and about the misogynistic media machine of the early 2000s. At that time the media spent a lot of time discussing Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore and Britney Spears and openly objectified them as sex objects. Some who wrote are embarrassed about what they said now. Goldstein says the attitudes of artists and readers have evolved. We’d like to think so, anyway.

Times change. Society’s norms change. Our standards shouldn’t. Because our standards are based on love – are based on God’s love. We reflect His love. We reflect His heart. So we do what is right because it is right, not because the society around us tells us what is right or what is wrong or what is acceptable and what is not. We need to stand firm, like Joseph who refused to do something that he thought was wrong.

But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside [Genesis 39:11]. Oh oh. You can run from temptation all you want . . . one day it just might find you. It waits. It lurks. You remember that when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from [Jesus] until an opportune time (or as THE MESSAGE puts it, The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity) [Luke 4:13]. Temptation is waiting for you. It waited for Joseph.

One day she caught him [Genesis 39:12]. It was an opportune time for her. No one was around to protect him. It was just the two of them. Alone. she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.”

What to do what to do what to do? Some people yield to temptation. Some people give right in to temptation. Joseph ran as fast as he could from the temptation. he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.” [Genesis 39:14-15]

She could have left it. Left it alone. Shrugged her shoulders and laughed. And tried to find someone else. Or shook her head and said what was I thinking, anyway?

But her pride was hurt, I think. He had made a fool of her. And he was going to pay the price for it.

Some people will respect you for taking a stand – and for living up to it. I’ve had people in my life look at me when I’ve said or done something and say really? . . . and when I replied really that was the end of it. I’ve had people not respect me for taking a stand and try to make me . . . for lack of a better word, fall.

I was travelling with a couple of friends from one city to another. It was a long drive and we decided to stop for a bite along the way. I ordered my meal with a Coke then went to wash my hands. When I returned my meal was there, my Coke was there, and we began to eat. I took a sip of my Coke. It was . . . off. They’d put something in it. So it sat there for the rest of the meal. As we were leaving, one of the guys I was with turned to the other and said see, I told you he’d notice. I guess they wanted to trick me into drinking. I saw that as a definite lack of respect. Some people are like that.

Some people are just nasty. [Potiphar’s wife] kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. [Genesis 39:16-20]

Which surprises me. Joseph had done so well that he had been made overseer of [the] house, and all that [Potiphar] had he put under [Joseph’s] authority. Joseph was trusted with everything . . . and then this. I get that Potiphar would want to believe his wife, just like we want to believe those who have come forward with #metoo concerns, and like we don’t want to immediately dismiss Meghan Markle’s concerns and complaints. But . . . what is it? trust but verify comes into play a bit too.

And what about Joseph? First the pit, then the prison. For doing nothing! For doing what is right! It just wasn’t fair. Was the Man in Black (second Princess Bride reference) right when he said Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something to Princess Buttercup? We don’t like to think so. But life is hard. It’s what we do in the difficulties that show us who we are . . . and how much we trust and rely on God.

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. [Genesis 39:16-23]

We’ll talk more about Joseph’s prison chronicles next week. But just looking at him today reminds us that life is a roller coaster (hopefully not a soap opera). We can be up one minute and down the next; down one minute and up the next, and who knows what’s going to happen at the next turn. What matters is how we live in that moment. Do we yell and scream and complain that God isn’t protecting us and doing what we want Him to do when we want Him to do it as we expect Him to do it when we are in trouble – often caused by our own actions and attitudes – or do we hold on to God and wait for Him in our situations? Something to think about as we think about Joseph.