us from all our friends, yet cannot deprive us of the gracious presence of our God. When Joseph had none of all his relations with him, he had his God with him, even in the house of the Egyptian. Joseph was separated from his brethren, but not from his God; banished from his father's house, but the Lord was with him, and that comforted him. (3.) It is God's presence with us that makes all we do prosperous. Those that would prosper, must therefore make God their friend; and those that do prosper must therefore give God the praise. 2. His master preferred him; by degrees made him steward of his household, v. 4. Note, (1.) Industry and honesty are the surest and safest way both of rising and thriving; Seest thou a man prudent, and faithful, and diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings at length, and not always before mean men. (2.) It is the wisdom of those that are in any sort of authority, to countenance and employ those with whom it appears that the presence of God is, Ps. 101. 6. Potiphar knew what he did, when he put all into the hand of Joseph; for he knew it would prosper better there than in his own hand. (3.) He that is faithful in a few things, stands fair for being made ruler over many things, Matt. 25. 21. Christ goes by this rule with his servants. (4.) It is a great ease to a master to have those employed under him, that are trusty; Potiphar was so well satisfied with Joseph's conduct, that he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat, v. 6. The servant had all the care and trouble of the estate, the master had only the enjoyment of it; an example not to be imitated by any master, unless he could be sure that he had one in all respects like Joseph, for a servant. 3. God favoured his master for his sake; (v. 5.) He blessed the Egyptian's house, though he was an Egyptian, a stranger to the true God, for Joseph's sake; and he himself, like Laban, soon learned it by experience, ch. 30. 17. Note, (1.) Good men are the blessings of the places where they live; even good servants may be so, though mean and lightly esteemed. (2.) The prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant in it.
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. 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; 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? 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. 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. 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.
Here is,
I. A most shameful instance of impudence and immodesty in Joseph's mistress, the shame and scandal of her sex, perfectly lost to all virtue and honour, and not to be mentioned or thought of, without the utmost indignation. It was well that she was an Egyptian; for we must have shared in the confusion, if such folly had been found in Israel. Observe, 1. Her sin began in the eye; she cast her eyes upon Joseph, (v. 7.) who was a goodly person, and well-favoured, v. 6. Note, (1.) Remarkable beauty, either of men or women, often proves a dangerous snare both to themselves and others; which forbids pride in it, and commands constant watchfulness against temptation that attends it; favour is deceitful, that is deceiving. (2.) We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, (Job 31. 1.) lest the eye infect the heart. Joseph's mistress had a husband that ought to have been to her for a covering of the eyes from all others, ch. 20. 16. 2. She was daring and shameless in the sin; with an impudent face, and a harlot's forehead, she said, Lie with me; having already, by her wanton looks and unchaste desires, committed adultery with him in her heart. Note, Where the unclean spirit gets possession and dominion in a soul, it is as with the possessed of the devils, (Luke 8. 27, 29.) the clothes of modesty are thrown off, and the bands and fetters of shame are broken in pieces. When lust has got head, it will stick at nothing, blush at nothing; decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed to that Baal-peor. 3. She was urgent and violent in the temptation; often she had been denied with the strongest reasons, and yet as often renewed her vile solicitations. She spake to him day by day, v. 10. Now this was, (1.) Great wickedness in her, and showed her heart fully set to do evil. (2.) A great temptation to Joseph. The hand of Satan, no doubt, was in it, who, when he found he could not overcome him with troubles and the frowns of the world, (for in them he still held fast his integrity,) assaulted him with soft and charming pleasures, which have ruined more than the former, and have slain their ten thousands.
II. Here is a most illustrious instance of virtue and resolved chastity in Joseph, who, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and all things considered, his escape was, for aught I know, as great an instance of the divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace.
1. The temptation he was assaulted with, was very strong; never was a more violent onset made upon the fort of chastity than this recorded here. (1.) The sin he was tempted to was uncleanness, which, considering his youth, his beauty, his single state, and his plentiful living at the table of a ruler, was a sin which, one would think, might most easily beset him, and betray him. (2.) The tempter was his mistress, a person of quality, whom it was his place to obey, and his interest to oblige, whose favour would contribute more than any thing to his preferment, and by whose means he might arrive at the highest honours of the court. On the other hand, it was at his utmost peril, if he slighted her, and made her his enemy. (3.) Opportunity makes a thief, makes an adulterer; and that favoured the temptation. The tempter was in the house with him; his business led him to be, without any suspicion, where she was: none of the family were within, (v. 11.) there appeared no danger of its being ever discovered, or, if it should be suspected, his mistress would protect him. (4.) To all this was added importunity, frequent constant importunity, to such a degree, that, at last she laid violent hands on him.
2. His resistance of the temptation was very brave, and the victory truly honourable. The almighty grace of God enabled him to overcome this assault of the enemy.
