375 lines
27 KiB
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375 lines
27 KiB
XML
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<div2 id="Gen.xl" n="xl" next="Gen.xli" prev="Gen.xxxix" progress="25.62%" title="Chapter XXXIX">
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<pb id="Gen.xl-Page_220" n="220"/>
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<h2 id="Gen.xl-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
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<h3 id="Gen.xl-p0.2">CHAP. XXXIX.</h3>
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<p class="intro" id="Gen.xl-p1">At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph.
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We have him here, I. A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house
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(<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.1" parsed="|Gen|39|1|0|0" passage="Ge 39:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), and yet there
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greatly honoured and favoured, 1. By the providence of God, which
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made him, in effect, a master, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.2-Gen.39.6" parsed="|Gen|39|2|39|6" passage="Ge 39:2-6">ver.
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2-6</scripRef>. 2. By the grace of God, which made him more than a
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conqueror over a strong temptation to uncleanness, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.7-Gen.39.12" parsed="|Gen|39|7|39|12" passage="Ge 39:7-12">ver. 7-12</scripRef>. II. We have him here a
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sufferer, falsely accused (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.13-Gen.39.18" parsed="|Gen|39|13|39|18" passage="Ge 39:13-18">ver.
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13-18</scripRef>), imprisoned (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.19-Gen.39.20" parsed="|Gen|39|19|39|20" passage="Ge 39:19,20">ver.
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19, 20</scripRef>), and yet his imprisonment made both honourable
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and comfortable by the tokens of God's special presence with him,
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<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.21-Gen.39.23" parsed="|Gen|39|21|39|23" passage="Ge 39:21-23">ver. 21-23</scripRef>. And herein
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Joseph was a type of Christ, "who took upon him the form of a
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servant," and yet then did that which made it evident that "God was
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with him," who was tempted by Satan, but overcame the temptation,
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who was falsely accused and bound, and yet had all things committed
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to his hand.</p>
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<scripCom id="Gen.xl-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39" parsed="|Gen|39|0|0|0" passage="Ge 39" type="Commentary"/>
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<scripCom id="Gen.xl-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.1-Gen.39.6" parsed="|Gen|39|1|39|6" passage="Ge 39:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.39.1-Gen.39.6">
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<h4 id="Gen.xl-p1.9">The History of Joseph. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1721.)</h4>
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<p class="passage" id="Gen.xl-p2">1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and
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Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian,
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bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him
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down thither. 2 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p2.1">Lord</span>
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was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the
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house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that
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the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p2.2">Lord</span> <i>was</i> with him, and
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that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p2.3">Lord</span> made all that he did
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to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his
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sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house,
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and all <i>that</i> he had he put into his hand. 5 And it
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came to pass from the time <i>that</i> he had made him overseer in
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his house, and over all that he had, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p2.4">Lord</span> blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's
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sake; and the blessing of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p2.5">Lord</span>
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was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6
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And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought
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he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was <i>a</i>
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goodly <i>person,</i> and well favoured.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p3">Here is, I. Joseph bought (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.1" parsed="|Gen|39|1|0|0" passage="Ge 39:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and he that bought him,
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whatever he gave for him, had a good bargain of him; it was better
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than the merchandise of silver. The Jews have a proverb, "If the
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world did but know the worth of good men, they would hedge them
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about with pearls." He was sold to an officer of Pharaoh, with whom
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he might get acquainted with public persons and public business,
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and so be fitted for the preferment for which he was designed.
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Note, 1. What
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<pb id="Gen.xl-Page_221" n="221"/>
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God intends men for he will be
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sure, some way or other, to qualify them for. 2. Providence is to
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be acknowledged in the disposal even of poor servants and in their
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settlements, and therein may perhaps be working towards something
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great and important.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p4">II. Joseph blessed, wonderfully blessed,
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even in the house of his servitude.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p5">1. God prospered him, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.2-Gen.39.3" parsed="|Gen|39|2|39|3" passage="Ge 39:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2, 3</scripRef>. Perhaps the affairs of
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Potiphar's family had remarkably gone backward before; but, upon
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Joseph's coming into it, a discernible turn was given to them, and
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the face and posture of them altered on a sudden. Though, at first,
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we may suppose that his hand was put to the meanest services, even
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in those appeared his ingenuity and industry; a particular blessing
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of Heaven attended him, which, as he rose in his employment, became
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more and more discernible. Note, (1.) Those that have wisdom and
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grace have that which cannot be taken away from them, whatever else
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they are robbed of. Joseph's brethren had stripped him of his coat
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of many colours, but they could not strip him of his virtue and
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prudence. (2.) Those that can separate us from all our friends, yet
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cannot deprive us of the gracious presence of our God. When Joseph
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had none of all his relations with him, he had his God with him,
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even in the house of the Egyptian. Joseph was separated from his
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brethren, but not from his God; banished from his father's house,
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but <i>the Lord was with him,</i> and this comforted him. (3.) It
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is God's presence with us that makes all we do prosperous. Those
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that would prosper must therefore make God their friend; and those
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that do prosper must therefore give God the praise.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p6">2. His master preferred him, by degrees
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made him steward of his household, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.4" parsed="|Gen|39|4|0|0" passage="Ge 39:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Note, (1.) Industry and honesty
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are the surest and safest way both of rising and thriving: <i>Seest
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thou a man</i> prudent, and faithful, and <i>diligent in his
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business? He shall stand before kings</i> at length, and not always
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<i>before mean men.</i> (2.) It is the wisdom of those that are in
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any sort of authority to countenance and employ those with whom it
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appears that the presence of God is, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.101.6" parsed="|Ps|101|6|0|0" passage="Ps 101:6">Ps. ci. 6</scripRef>. Potiphar knew what he did when he
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put all into the hands of Joseph; for he knew it would prosper
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better there than in his own hand. (3.) He that is faithful in a
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few things stand fair for being made ruler over many things,
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<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.25.21" parsed="|Matt|25|21|0|0" passage="Mt 25:21">Matt. xxv. 21</scripRef>. Christ goes
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by this rule with his servants. (4.) It is a great ease to a master
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to have those employed under him that are trusty. Potiphar was so
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well satisfied with Joseph's conduct that <i>he knew not aught he
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had, save the bread which he did eat,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.6" parsed="|Gen|39|6|0|0" passage="Ge 39:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. The servant had all the care and
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trouble of the estate; the master had only the enjoyment of it: an
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example not to be imitated by any master, unless he could be sure
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that he had one in all respects like Joseph for a servant.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p7">3. God favoured his master for his sake
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(<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.5" parsed="|Gen|39|5|0|0" passage="Ge 39:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>He blessed
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the Egyptian's house,</i> though he was an Egyptian, a stranger to
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the true God, <i>for Joseph's sake;</i> and he himself, like Laban,
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soon learned it by experience, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.30.27" parsed="|Gen|30|27|0|0" passage="Ge 30:27"><i>ch.</i> xxx. 27</scripRef>. Note, (1.) Good men are
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the blessings of the places where they live; even good servants may
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be so, though mean, and lightly esteemed. (2.) The prosperity of
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the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here
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was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant in
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it.</p>
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</div><scripCom id="Gen.xl-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.7-Gen.39.12" parsed="|Gen|39|7|39|12" passage="Ge 39:7-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.39.7-Gen.39.12">
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<p class="passage" id="Gen.xl-p8">7 And it came to pass after these things, that
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his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with
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me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife,
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Behold, my master wotteth not what <i>is</i> with me in the house,
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and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9
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<i>There is</i> none greater in this house than I; neither hath he
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kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou <i>art</i> his
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wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
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10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day,
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that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, <i>or</i> to be with
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her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that
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<i>Joseph</i> went into the house to do his business; and <i>there
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was</i> none of the men of the house there within. 12 And
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she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his
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garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p9">Here is, I. A most shameful instance of
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impudence and immodesty in Joseph's mistress, the shame and scandal
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of her sex, perfectly lost to all virtue and honour, and not to be
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mentioned, nor thought of, without the utmost indignation. It was
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well that she was an Egyptian; for we must have shared in the
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confusion if such folly had been found in Israel. Observe,</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p10">I. Her sin began in the eye: She <i>cast
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her eyes upon Joseph</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.7" parsed="|Gen|39|7|0|0" passage="Ge 39:7"><i>v.</i>
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7</scripRef>), who <i>was a goodly person, and well-favoured,</i>
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<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.6" parsed="|Gen|39|6|0|0" passage="Ge 39:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Note, (1.)
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Remarkable beauty, either of men or women, often proves a dangerous
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snare both to themselves and others, which forbids pride in it and
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commands constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends
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it; favour is deceitful—deceiving. (2.) We have great need to make
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a covenant with our eyes (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.1" parsed="|Job|31|1|0|0" passage="Job 31:1">Job xxxi.
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1</scripRef>), lest the eye infect the heart. Joseph's mistress had
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a husband that ought to have been to her for a covering of the eyes
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from all others, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.20.16" parsed="|Gen|20|16|0|0" passage="Ge 20:16"><i>ch.</i> xx.
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16</scripRef>.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p11">2. She was daring and shameless in the
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<pb id="Gen.xl-Page_222" n="222"/>
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sin. With an impudent face, and a harlot's
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forehead, she said, <i>Lie with me,</i> having already, by her
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wanton looks and unchaste desires, committed adultery with him in
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her heart. Note, Where the unclean spirit gets possession and
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dominion in a soul, it is as with the possessed of the devils
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(<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.7.27 Bible:Luke.7.29" parsed="|Luke|7|27|0|0;|Luke|7|29|0|0" passage="Lu 7:27,29">Luke viii. 27, 29</scripRef>), the
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clothes of modesty are thrown off and the bands and fetters of
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shame are broken in pieces. When lust has got head, it will stick
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at nothing, blush at nothing; decency, and reputation, and
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conscience, are all sacrificed to that Baal-peor. 3. She was urgent
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and violent in the temptation. Often she had been denied with the
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strongest reasons, and yet as often renewed her vile solicitations.
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She <i>spoke to him day by day,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.10" parsed="|Gen|39|10|0|0" passage="Ge 39:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Now this was, (1.) Great
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wickedness in her, and showed her heart fully set to do evil. (2.)
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A great temptation to Joseph. The hand of Satan, no doubt, was in
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it, who, when he found he could not overcome him with troubles and
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the frowns of the world (for in them he still held fast his
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integrity), assaulted him with soft and charming pleasures, which
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have ruined more than the former, and have slain their
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ten-thousands.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p12">II. Here is a most illustrious instance of
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virtue and resolved chastity in Joseph, who, by the grace of God,
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was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and, all things
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considered, his escape was, for aught I know, as great an instance
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of the divine power as the deliverance of the three children out of
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the fiery furnace.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p13">1. The temptation he was assaulted with was
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very strong. Never was a more violent onset made upon the fort of
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chastity than this recorded here. (1.) The sin he was tempted to
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was uncleanness, which considering his youth, his beauty, his
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single state, and his plentiful living at the table of a ruler, was
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a sin which, one would think, might most easily beset him and
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betray him. (2.) The tempter was his mistress, a person of quality,
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whom it was his place to obey and his interest to oblige, whose
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favour would contribute more than any thing to his preferment, and
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by whose means he might arrive at the highest honours of the court.
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On the other hand, it was at his utmost peril if he slighted her,
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and made her his enemy. (3.) Opportunity makes a thief, makes an
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adulterer, and that favoured the temptation. The tempter was in the
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house with him; his business led him to be, without any suspicion,
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where she was; none of the family were within (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.11" parsed="|Gen|39|11|0|0" passage="Ge 39:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); there appeared no danger of
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its being ever discovered, or, if it should be suspected, his
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mistress would protect him. (4.) To all this was added importunity,
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frequent constant importunity, to such a degree that, at last, she
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laid violent hands on him.</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p14">2. His resistance of the temptation was
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very brave, and the victory truly honourable. The almighty grace of
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God enabled him to overcome this assault of the enemy,</p>
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<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p15">(1.) By strength of reason; and wherever
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right reason may be heard, religion no doubt will carry the day. He
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argues from the respect he owed both to God and his master,
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<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.8-Gen.39.9" parsed="|Gen|39|8|39|9" passage="Ge 39:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>. [1.] He
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would not wrong his master, nor do such an irreparable injury to
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his honour. He considers, and urges, how kind his master had been
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to him, what a confidence he had reposed in him, in how many
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instances he had befriended him, for which he abhorred the thought
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of making such an ungrateful return. Note, We are bound in honour,
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as well as justice and gratitude, not in any thing to injure those
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that have a good opinion of us and place a trust in us, how
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secretly soever it may be done. See how he argues (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.9" parsed="|Gen|39|9|0|0" passage="Ge 39:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>There is none
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greater in this house than I,</i> therefore I will not do it."
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Note, Those that are great, instead of being proud of their
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greatness, should use it as an argument against sin. "Is none
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greater than I? Then I will scorn to do a wicked thing; it is below
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me to serve a base lust; I will not disparage myself so much." [2.]
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He would not offend his God. This is the chief argument with which
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he strengthens his aversion to the sin. <i>How can I do this?</i>
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not only, How shall I? or, How dare I? but, <i>How can I? Id
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possumus, quod jure possumus—We can do that which we can do
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lawfully.</i> It is good to shut out sin with the strongest bar,
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even that of an impossibility. He that is born of God cannot sin,
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<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:1John.3.9" parsed="|1John|3|9|0|0" passage="1Jo 3:9">1 John iii. 9</scripRef>. Three
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arguments Joseph urges upon himself. <i>First,</i> He considers who
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he was that was tempted. "<i>I;</i> others may perhaps take their
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liberty, but <i>I</i> cannot. <i>I</i> that am an Israelite in
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covenant with God, that profess religion, and relation to him: it
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is next to impossible for me to do so." <i>Secondly,</i> What the
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sin was to which he was tempted: <i>This great wickedness.</i>
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Others might look upon it as a small matter, a peccadillo, a trick
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of youth; but Joseph had another idea of it. In general, when at
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any time we are tempted to sin, we must consider the great
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wickedness there is in it, let sin appear sin (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.7.13" parsed="|Rom|7|13|0|0" passage="Ro 7:13">Rom. vii. 13</scripRef>), call it by its own name, and
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never go about to lessen it. Particularly let the sin of
|
|||
|
uncleanness always be looked upon as great wickedness, as an
|
|||
|
exceedingly sinful sin, that wars against the soul as much as any
|
|||
|
other. <i>Thirdly,</i> Against whom he was tempted to
|
|||
|
sin—<i>against God;</i> not only, "How shall I do it, and sin
|
|||
|
against my master, my mistress, myself, my own body and soul; but
|
|||
|
against God?" Note, Gracious souls look upon this as the worst
|
|||
|
thing in sin that it is against God, against his nature and his
|
|||
|
dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God do
|
|||
|
for this reason hate sin.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p16">(2.) By stedfastness of resolution. The
|
|||
|
grace of God enabled him to overcome the temptation by avoiding the
|
|||
|
tempter. [1.] He <i>hearkened not to her,</i> so much as to be with
|
|||
|
her, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.10" parsed="|Gen|39|10|0|0" passage="Ge 39:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Note,
|
|||
|
Those that would be
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<pb id="Gen.xl-Page_223" n="223"/>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
kept from harm must keep
|
|||
|
themselves out of harm's way. <i>Avoid it, pass not by it.</i> Nay,
|
|||
|
[2.] When she laid hold of him, he <i>left his garment in her
|
|||
|
hand,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.12" parsed="|Gen|39|12|0|0" passage="Ge 39:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. He
|
|||
|
would not stay so much as to parley with the temptation, but flew
|
|||
|
out from it with the utmost abhorrence; he left his garment, as one
|
|||
|
escaping for his life. Note, It is better to lose a good coat than
|
|||
|
a good conscience.</p>
|
|||
|
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xl-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.13-Gen.39.18" parsed="|Gen|39|13|39|18" passage="Ge 39:13-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.39.13-Gen.39.18">
|
|||
|
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xl-p17">13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had
|
|||
|
left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 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: 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.
|
|||
|
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came
|
|||
|
home. 17 And she spake unto him according to these words,
|
|||
|
saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came
|
|||
|
in unto me to mock me: 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted
|
|||
|
up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled
|
|||
|
out.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p18">Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to
|
|||
|
make him a criminal, now endeavours to represent him as one; so to
|
|||
|
be revenged on him for his virtue. Now was her love turned into the
|
|||
|
utmost rage and malice, and she pretends she cannot endure the
|
|||
|
sight of him whom awhile ago she could not endure out of her sight.
|
|||
|
Chaste and holy love will continue, though slighted; but sinful
|
|||
|
love, like Amnon's to Tamar, is easily changed into sinful hatred.
|
|||
|
1. She accused him to his fellow servants (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.13-Gen.39.15" parsed="|Gen|39|13|39|15" passage="Ge 39:13-15"><i>v.</i> 13-15</scripRef>) and gave him a bad name
|
|||
|
among them. Probably they envied him his interest in their master's
|
|||
|
favour, and his authority in the house; and perhaps found
|
|||
|
themselves aggrieved sometimes by his fidelity, which prevented
|
|||
|
their purloining; and therefore they were glad to hear any thing
|
|||
|
that might tend to his disgrace, and, if there was room for it,
|
|||
|
incensed their mistress yet more against him. Observe, When she
|
|||
|
speaks of her husband, she does not call him her husband, or her
|
|||
|
lord, but only <i>he;</i> for she had forgotten the covenant of her
|
|||
|
God, that was between them. Thus the adulteress (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.7.19" parsed="|Prov|7|19|0|0" passage="Pr 7:19">Prov. vii. 19</scripRef>) calls her husband <i>the good
|
|||
|
man.</i> Note, Innocence itself cannot secure a man's reputation.
|
|||
|
Not every one that keeps a good conscience can keep a good name. 2.
|
|||
|
She accused him to his master, who had power in his hand to punish
|
|||
|
him, which his fellow servants had not, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.17-Gen.39.18" parsed="|Gen|39|17|39|18" passage="Ge 39:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>. Observe, (1.) What an
|
|||
|
improbable story she tells, producing his garment as an evidence
|
|||
|
that he had offered violence to her, which was a plain indication
|
|||
|
that she had offered violence to him. Note, Those that have broken
|
|||
|
the bonds of modesty will never be held by the bonds of truth. No
|
|||
|
marvel that she who had impudence enough to say, <i>Lie with
|
|||
|
me,</i> had front enough to say, "He would have lien with me." Had
|
|||
|
the lie been told to conceal her own crime it would have been bad
|
|||
|
enough, yet, in some degree, excusable; but it was told to be
|
|||
|
revenged upon his virtue, a most malicious lie. And yet, (2.) She
|
|||
|
manages it so as to incense her husband against him, reflecting
|
|||
|
upon him for bringing this Hebrew servant among them, perhaps at
|
|||
|
first against her mind, because he was a Hebrew. Note, It is no new
|
|||
|
thing for the best of men to be falsely accused of the worst of
|
|||
|
crimes by those who themselves are the worst of criminals. As this
|
|||
|
matter was represented, one would have thought chaste Joseph a very
|
|||
|
bad man and his wanton mistress a virtuous woman; it is well that
|
|||
|
there is a day of discovery coming, in which all shall appear in
|
|||
|
their true characters. This was not the first time that Joseph's
|
|||
|
coat was made use of as a false witness concerning him; his father
|
|||
|
had been deceived by it before, now his master.</p>
|
|||
|
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xl-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.19-Gen.39.23" parsed="|Gen|39|19|39|23" passage="Ge 39:19-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.39.19-Gen.39.23">
|
|||
|
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xl-p19">19 And it came to pass, when his master heard
|
|||
|
the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this
|
|||
|
manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20
|
|||
|
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place
|
|||
|
where the king's prisoners <i>were</i> bound: and he was there in
|
|||
|
the prison. 21 But the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p19.1">Lord</span>
|
|||
|
was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the
|
|||
|
sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the
|
|||
|
prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that
|
|||
|
<i>were</i> in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was
|
|||
|
the doer <i>of it.</i> 23 The keeper of the prison looked
|
|||
|
not to any thing <i>that was</i> under his hand; because the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p19.2">Lord</span> was with him, and <i>that</i> which
|
|||
|
he did, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xl-p19.3">Lord</span> made <i>it</i> to
|
|||
|
prosper.</p>
|
|||
|
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xl-p20">Here is, 1. Joseph wronged by his master.
|
|||
|
He believed the accusation, and either Joseph durst not make his
|
|||
|
defence by telling the truth, as it would reflect too much upon his
|
|||
|
mistress, or his master would not hear it, or would not believe it,
|
|||
|
and there is no remedy, he is condemned to perpetual imprisonment,
|
|||
|
<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.19-Gen.39.20" parsed="|Gen|39|19|39|20" passage="Ge 39:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19, 20</scripRef>. God
|
|||
|
restrained his wrath, else he had put him to death; and that wrath
|
|||
|
which
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<pb id="Gen.xl-Page_224" n="224"/>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
imprisoned him God made to turn to his
|
|||
|
praise, in order to which Providence so disposed that he should be
|
|||
|
shut up among the king's prisoners, the state-prisoners. Potiphar,
|
|||
|
it is likely, chose that prison because it was the worst; for there
|
|||
|
the iron entered into the soul (<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.18" parsed="|Ps|105|18|0|0" passage="Ps 105:18">Ps.
|
|||
|
cv. 18</scripRef>), but God designed to pave the way to his
|
|||
|
enlargement. He was committed to the king's prison, that he might
|
|||
|
thence be preferred to the king's person. Note, Many an action of
|
|||
|
false imprisonment will, in the great day, be found to lie against
|
|||
|
the enemies and persecutors of God's people. Our Lord Jesus, like
|
|||
|
Joseph here, was bound, and numbered with the transgressors. 2.
|
|||
|
Joseph owned and righted by his God, who is, and will be, the just
|
|||
|
and powerful patron of oppressed innocence. Joseph was at a
|
|||
|
distance from all his friends and relations, had not them with him
|
|||
|
to comfort him, or to minister to him, or to mediate for him; but
|
|||
|
<i>the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.21" parsed="|Gen|39|21|0|0" passage="Ge 39:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Note, (1.) God despises
|
|||
|
not his prisoners, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.33" parsed="|Ps|69|33|0|0" passage="Ps 69:33">Ps. lxix.
|
|||
|
33</scripRef>. No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence
|
|||
|
from his people; for he has promised that he will never leave them.
|
|||
|
(2.) Those that have a good conscience in a prison have a good God
|
|||
|
there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for the divine favour,
|
|||
|
wherever we are. Joseph is not long a prisoner before he becomes a
|
|||
|
little ruler even in the prison, which is to be attributed, under
|
|||
|
God, [1.] To the keeper's favour. God <i>gave him favour in the
|
|||
|
sight of the keeper of the prison.</i> Note, God can raise up
|
|||
|
friends for his people even where they little expect to find them,
|
|||
|
and can <i>make them to be pitied</i> even of those that carry them
|
|||
|
captive, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.106.46" parsed="|Ps|106|46|0|0" passage="Ps 106:46">Ps. cvi. 46</scripRef>. [2.]
|
|||
|
To Joseph's fitness for business. The keeper saw that God was with
|
|||
|
him, and that every thing prospered under his hand; and therefore
|
|||
|
entrusted him with the management of the affairs of the prison,
|
|||
|
<scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.39.22-Gen.39.23" parsed="|Gen|39|22|39|23" passage="Ge 39:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. Note,
|
|||
|
Wisdom and virtue will shine in the narrowest spheres. A good man
|
|||
|
will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds
|
|||
|
and banishment; for the Spirit of the Lord is not bound nor
|
|||
|
banished, witness St. Paul, <scripRef id="Gen.xl-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Phil.1.12-Phil.1.13" parsed="|Phil|1|12|1|13" passage="Php 1:12,13">Phil.
|
|||
|
i. 12, 13</scripRef>.</p>
|
|||
|
</div></div2>
|