So Joseph became a slave in the household of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer, and there was nothing he could do to change his circumstances. A slave had no rights. By law, the law of Egypt, a slave belonged to his owner. A slave could be bought and sold. Potiphar had bought him so he now belonged to Potiphar. Potiphar had the legal power of life and death over his slaves. There was no law to protect a slave from an owner flogging him or abusing him.
Joseph was greatly distressed. He fretted for his father. How sorrowful he must be! He longed to be back home with his father and brothers. He belonged to his Father Israel. He had lived under the freedom of the ten commandments which protected every man, woman and child from slavery. Joseph’s brothers had done an evil thing by selling Joseph to the slave traders for Joseph was not a slave. Joseph knew and loved God, so why had God allowed his brothers to sell him? It was a difficult question to answer, yet he did not stop trusting God for he knew that God was holy and good and would not forget him.
So Joseph did what he had no choice to refuse and did it well. He obeyed Potiphar and did whatever Potiphar told him to do. Potiphar was impressed with Joseph. He had never had a Hebrew slave before but he discovered that Joseph did everything well. Moreover, Joseph was intelligent and had a knowledge of God. It soon became clear to Potiphar that Joseph was honest, faithful and skilled in the management of property and money. This greatly pleased him for he had no one to leave in charge of his household when he was called abroad to serve the king. He increased Joseph’s responsibilities until he knew exactly what was required to run an Egyptian officer’s household and then promoted him over all the other servants to take charge of them and his household. This was a comfort to Joseph for he had shown himself to be a faithful and knowledgeable person.
In all this God was with Joseph. He had been sold to Potiphar as a slave but God had made him head of Potiphar’s household. Although he suffered greatly Joseph showed that he was faithful to God and trusted God and trusted God to help him.
What will happen to Joseph? Will God help him? Why had God allowed him to become a slave? In the next episode we shall see what further trials tested Joseph’s faith in God.
Joseph was greatly distressed. He fretted for his father. How sorrowful he must be! He longed to be back home with his father and brothers. He belonged to his Father Israel. He had lived under the freedom of the ten commandments which protected every man, woman and child from slavery. Joseph’s brothers had done an evil thing by selling Joseph to the slave traders for Joseph was not a slave. Joseph knew and loved God, so why had God allowed his brothers to sell him? It was a difficult question to answer, yet he did not stop trusting God for he knew that God was holy and good and would not forget him.
So Joseph did what he had no choice to refuse and did it well. He obeyed Potiphar and did whatever Potiphar told him to do. Potiphar was impressed with Joseph. He had never had a Hebrew slave before but he discovered that Joseph did everything well. Moreover, Joseph was intelligent and had a knowledge of God. It soon became clear to Potiphar that Joseph was honest, faithful and skilled in the management of property and money. This greatly pleased him for he had no one to leave in charge of his household when he was called abroad to serve the king. He increased Joseph’s responsibilities until he knew exactly what was required to run an Egyptian officer’s household and then promoted him over all the other servants to take charge of them and his household. This was a comfort to Joseph for he had shown himself to be a faithful and knowledgeable person.
In all this God was with Joseph. He had been sold to Potiphar as a slave but God had made him head of Potiphar’s household. Although he suffered greatly Joseph showed that he was faithful to God and trusted God and trusted God to help him.
What will happen to Joseph? Will God help him? Why had God allowed him to become a slave? In the next episode we shall see what further trials tested Joseph’s faith in God.