last week, we saw that Joseph’s brothers sold him into the hands of a caravan of Ishmaelites traveling  to Egypt. Like so many accounts in the Bible, Joseph is sold in one verse and in the next verse, he is immediately there! I long to know more of the details to get the full picture, so let’s do some thinking. 

Keep in mind that we are talking about a journey of over 150 miles as the crow flies. While the traders may be riding camels, horses, or donkeys, I imagine the slaves are walking—walking over the stony hills of southern Israel and through the hot, sandy deserts of the wadi before they finally reach the lush, fertile plains where the Pharaoh resides.

Joseph had endured the humiliation and bitterness of his angry brothers. Now, what is he thinking and feeling  in this next phase of his nightmare? We can picture our prized son looking dusty and dirty as he drags himself along the final trek of the desert headed to his unknown future.

At last he stands disheveled at the slave block. He experiences new smells and sights and a strange language. A wealthy-looking man approaches Joseph, pacing around him as he examines the boy. Perhaps Joseph feels anticipation or fear or humiliation or all three at the sight of this important-looking man.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potipher, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. Gen. 39:1

So, we’re given a name and the high position of Joseph’s master—Potiphar, captain of the guard. Evidently the captain found  potential in the young slave he purchased in spite of his weather-beaten appearance.

We don’t know if Joseph starts this new venture with Potiphar by washing down the horses, planting gardens, or tending animals, but at some point he makes it to the house.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Gen. 39:2

Don’t miss the phrase, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.” Father Jacob may have had his faults, but we can assume that he did teach Joseph about the “One-God” because even Potiphar notices there is something different about Joseph.

When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Gen. 39:3-4

Does Potiphar see Joseph praying faithfully? Is there a distinction in Joseph’s character that Potiphar did not see in his other servants? He does notice that everything Joseph touches seems to prosper. As Potiphar watches this progress, he decides to promote Joseph.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. Gen. 39:5

We don’t know how long it took from the time Joseph was brought in as a slave until he came to this amazing position in Potiphar’s house, but  no doubt it has been a long, gradual process. Joseph has learned the new language, discovered the expectations of the household, and developed a knack at organizing things and people, both in the house and in the field.

Look how God has brought Joseph from the pit to this place of honor and prestige. The Lord does that in our lives as well. Sometimes we look at ourselves and the miserable way things have turned out, only to find Him changing our lives completely, beyond our imagining.

Well, that’s the good news! But Joseph has more lessons to learn before he can become Egypt’s leader. Next week—the bad news.

On a personal note, welcome to all our new subscribers. Our blog family has grown to 103, last count!

~ Joyce ~