1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: And it came to pass after these things that his 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: lie with me Genesis thirty nine seven. Dear Lord, as 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: I work diligently in my life to accomplish my goals 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: and dreams, I thank you Lord that, because I place 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: you first, like Joseph, everything I touch you cause to prosper. 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: When I am thrown into the darkness of life because 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: of my integrity. I thank you that even in the 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: prison of my despair, your favor still follows me. I 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: thank you that promotion follows me in every season of 11 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: my life. I thank you that on mountain tops and 12 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: in valley moments, your light shines through me and causes 13 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: the right people to look in my direction with uncommon favor. 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: Thank You that no matter who tries to rise up 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: against me, your hand never departs from my life. Therefore, 16 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: I will keep my heart pure and know that even 17 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: in the roughest times of your plans for me, my family, 18 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: and my business, they'll prevail in Jesus name. Amen, thank 19 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: you for praying with us today. Continue your time with 20 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: God by listening to today's Bible story brought to you 21 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot com from Palace to prison. 22 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: Before this story, we learned about Judah and Tamar and 23 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: God's faithfulness over family dysfunction. Before that, Joseph was sold 24 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: into slavery by his brothers. Their hatred and jealousy exiled 25 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Joseph to a life of labor, and Toya Israel thought 26 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: Joseph was dead and grieved deeply. Now we will learn 27 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: about how Joseph, despite being a slave in Egypt for Potipher, 28 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: was a man of integrity and favored by the lord, 29 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: but was accused of wrongdoing by Potiphar's wife and ended 30 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: up in prison. Inspired by the Book of Genesis, Hello, 31 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 32 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: of a Year podcast. Previously, we saw how Joseph's brothers 33 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: sold him into slavery and that he was sent to Egypt. 34 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: We also heard of how Judah, the brother of Joseph, 35 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: sought to build a kingdom apart from his own family, 36 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: one that crumbled before his very eyes. Today you will 37 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: hear a very different story. Joseph will be elevated from 38 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: slave to a position of great authority. More importantly, though, Joseph, 39 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: despite being removed from his father's home and is strange 40 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: in a land far away. Would lean on God for 41 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: his strength. He will grow in maturity and integrity and 42 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: determine to always do what is right in the sight 43 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: of God. The future will look bright for Joseph, but 44 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: his integrity will be tested. As you listen, pay attention 45 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: to how Joseph responds to temptation. It is no mistake 46 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: this story immediately follows that of Jacob and Tamar, because 47 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: the two men could not be more different in their actions. 48 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: So less listen now to Joseph's story. Now a slave 49 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: in Egypt, Joseph worked diligently in the house of Potiphar, 50 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, even 51 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: in what seemed to be the worst of circumstances. The 52 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: favor of God was with Joseph. Every task Joseph put 53 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: his hand to succeeded, and Joseph worked with an excellence 54 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: that could not be ignored. His master observed Joseph's success 55 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: and kept him close. Because of it, Joseph found favor 56 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: with Potipha and became his closest servant. He was charged 57 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: with overseeing Potiphar's house and all Partiphr owned was under 58 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: his care. God blessed his work, and the Egyptians thrived 59 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: for Joseph's sake, from the households to the fields. Potipha 60 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: rejoiced in the labor and successes of his valued servant 61 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: and friend. Soon all he had was Joseph's to care 62 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: for all except the food he ate and the wife 63 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: he loved. Joseph grew up to be a handsome and 64 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: well built man. His labor and the sun had made 65 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,679 Speaker 1: him ten and muscular, and he was a pleasant sight 66 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: to all the women in Potiphar's household, including his wife. 67 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,799 Speaker 1: Her eyes lingered as she watched Joseph perform his tasks. Salaciously. 68 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: She would lounge close to wherever Joseph worked. Her eyes 69 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: locked unto his, and she slowly approached him. Sensual, She 70 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: pressed her body against his and said, lie with me, Joseph. 71 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: Joseph immediately refused. Because of me, My master doesn't have 72 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: to worry about anything, he said fearfully. He has put 73 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 1: everything under my care. No one in this house has 74 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 1: more authority than I, and he has not kept anything 75 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: from me, except for you, because you are his wife. 76 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: He pushed her away gently, trying to diffuse the situation. 77 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: How could I do that wickedness against him and God? 78 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: After saying this, Joseph left, but Potiphar's wife would not relent. 79 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: Day after day she spoke sensually to him, beckoning him 80 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: into her bedroom. Yet Joseph remained upright, refusing every gesture politely. 81 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: One day, as the heart Egyptian son was setting, Joseph 82 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: entered into the house to finish up his work. He 83 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: came in to discover all the men of the house 84 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: were gone. Turning the corner, he bumped into Pontiffer's wife. 85 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: She was waiting for him. She smiled, grabbed him by 86 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: his garment, turned her lips close to Joseph's ear, and whispered, 87 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: lie with me. This time Joseph could not speak. He 88 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: turned his body towards the door, with her still grabbing 89 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: onto his garment. It slid off of him as she pulled, 90 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: but he did not turn back to get in. Instead, 91 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: he ran. He ran down the hall and out of 92 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: the house, knowing full well he must get far away 93 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: from her lest he stumbles. Embarrassed and teeming with anger, 94 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: she looked down to see Joseph's garments still in her hands. Immediately, 95 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: she screamed for the guards help. She shouted. The guards 96 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: came to attention. See this Hebrew marks us. He came 97 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,559 Speaker 1: to lie with me, and I cried out for help. 98 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: As soon as he heard my screams, he left his 99 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: garment and fled. She continued to lie and stories about 100 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: Joseph until Partipha returned home. See how your servant has 101 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: treated me, Potipha's wife said, holding up his garment. Joseph's 102 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: master writhed with anger, Like a wild fire fueled by 103 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: a warm wind, Potiphar stormed out to find Joseph. Unable 104 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: to explain himself, Joseph once again found himself under a 105 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: fury of fists. Once again Joseph found himself shackled by 106 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: people he cared for, And once again Joseph was thrown 107 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: into the darkness. He was put in the prison where 108 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: the king's servants were confined. There he sat in the cold, 109 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: wondering why this was happening to him again. Yet God's 110 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: steadfast love met Joseph in the worst of circumstances. Favor 111 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: followed Joseph even in the dark depths of an Egyptian 112 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: prison cell. Joseph became admired by the keeper of the prison, 113 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: and Joseph began serving him. Soon Joseph became in charge 114 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: of all the prisoners who were there with him. As 115 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: it was before, whatever Joseph put his hand to was blessed. 116 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: Whatever needed to be done, he leaped at the opportunity. 117 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything 118 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: that was in his charge, because the Lord was with him, 119 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: and whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. Joseph 120 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,679 Speaker 1: is a bright young man, an excellent man. A great 121 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: spirit was in him, and with hard work he soon 122 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: proves himself trustworthy to his master Potipher, a man in 123 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: Egypt of great influence and power. When we live with 124 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: integrity and when God blesses the work of our hands, 125 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: the outside world can help but notice that there is 126 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: something different about us. That is what we see happening 127 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: in the life of Joseph. He was a man with 128 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: an excellent spirit. But not all attention is good attention. 129 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: Some will see your success and either be attracted to 130 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: you for unright just reasons, or they'll set their sights 131 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: on you to take you down. In Joseph's case, he 132 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: experiences the unwelcome attention of a very lustful woman, Potipher's wife. 133 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: She presents him and offer many young men would not 134 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: have turned down. In fact, the world would tell someone 135 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: to jump at the chance for a conquest. But Joseph 136 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 1: was different. He knew his master trusted him, and he 137 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: would not sacrifice his integrity and break that trust for 138 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: momentary pleasures. More importantly, much more importantly, Joseph would not 139 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: dishonor God in this way. The woman, however, would not relent, 140 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: and day after day she threw herself at Joseph, and 141 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: day after day he refused the temptation. How many times 142 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: are we able to resist temptation the first time, the second, 143 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: maybe the third, but then give in. That's why we 144 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: are told to flee, to run from temptation, because it 145 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: wears down, it can beat you down and defeat you. 146 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: And so that's what Joseph did. He ran away. When 147 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: Potiphar's wife finally corners him in the palace alone, he 148 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: doesn't offer kind excuses or polite refusals. He runs. His 149 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: garment falls to the ground as he runs away, and 150 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: the scorned woman decides that since she can't have him, 151 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: she will make him pay. She accuses Joseph of assault 152 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: and unable to defend himself, Joseph, who did the right thing, 153 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: is thrown into prison. From one pit to another, Joseph 154 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: is once again in chains. He's in a pit, he's 155 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: in a prison, and he is powerless. But he is 156 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: not alone. He is not abandoned. For even there in prison, 157 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: God shows his favor on Joseph and is with him. 158 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: Soon Joseph becomes leader over all the other prisoners. Even 159 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: in this moment, God is preparing Joseph with the skills 160 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: that will one day help him serve well in the 161 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: land of Egypt. But for now, Joseph must look to God, 162 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 1: even when he cannot see the future, and lean on 163 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: him and trust him with all his heart. And that 164 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: is exactly what he does. Dear Lord, help us to 165 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: follow Joseph's beautiful example of integrity and run away from temptation, 166 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: resist the devil, and that we would honor you with 167 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: all of our actions. We know there might be a 168 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: high cost of this, but we also know that you 169 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: are faithful to sustain us and never leave us. Thank 170 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: you for your enduring love and kindness in Jesus name, Amen, 171 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 172 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey 173 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 174 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 175 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 176 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: someone's life. And if you want more resources on how 177 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: to tap into God's power for successful Christian living, be 178 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless This 179 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: episode is sponsored by Medasher, an innovative healthcare solution for 180 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.