(Gen. 39, 40)
THE point from which we begin today to trace the eventful history of Joseph is from the tents of his father, Jacob. Sent by his father on an errand of love to his brethren, he in this respect forms a striking type of the Lord Jesus, Who, as Son of God, could speak of Himself as dwelling in the bosom of the Father, Jet Who came from that Father’s House; from that Father’s Heart, as “Son of Man to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
Joseph, though despised, rejected, hated and sold into slavery by his brethren, did not, as we may gather from several passages in the chapters that form the subject of our Bible talk this month, lose confidence in God (though known to Him in a totally different way from that in which He has been pleased in grace to reveal Himself to us).
Purpose of heart, too, was certainly not lacking in his character: this enabled him to do the right, even in the presence of strong temptation to a contrary course. There is, we think, little, if any, room to doubt that the household of Potiphar, like that of other Egyptian nobles and officers of rank, was a large one, and as the trusted and confidential servant (slave) of his master, he most likely gave ample proof of the ability and talent for organization which in after years so fitted him to be the Governor of Egypt. But the day was yet far distant when the message, “Ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt” (45:13), was to gladden the heart of the sorrowing Jacob, and in the interval Joseph had to learn many a needed lesson of patience, meekness, and humility.