Jacob had twelve sons who later are known as the "12 tribes of Israel. It was noted in the scriptures that Jacob favored Joseph. Jacob made Joseph a 'coat of many colors.' That coat was a reminder to the other boys that their father loved Joseph more.
This inflamed the brothers and they hated Joseph for it. When Joseph was 17 years old, Jacob sent him out to check on his brothers. The brothers saw him coming from afar off and plotted how to kill him. Rueben talked the other brothers into not killing him. Joseph was cast into a pit then sold to a company of Ishmaelites (Midianites).
The brothers took Joseph's coat, ripped it, and put goats blood on it. They told their father that Joseph was killed by an evil beast who had devoured him.
Then Joseph was taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, who was the officer of Pharaohs and captain of the guard.
Joseph was a good and honorable man and soon he became ruler and overseer of Potiphar's house.
Genesis 30:2-4 - "And the Lord was with Joseph...and his master was with him, and that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand...and Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand."
THEN - Potiphar's wife decided she wanted Joseph. She asks him to sleep with her. Being the honorable man that he was he refused and ran away. When he refused, she falsely accused him of attempted rape.
Potiphar believed his wife and sent Joseph to prison.
Joseph stayed honorable. He was a good and righteous man. In prison, Joseph found favor with the guards and soon was placed in charge of the other prisoners. In prison, he correctly interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh's servants. Two years later, when Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. the butler remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream while in prison.
Pharaoh brought Joseph out of prison and had him interpret his dream. Pharaoh recognized again that he was a man of God and Joseph served as second in command to Pharaoh and ended up providing a way to save the people of Egypt and his own family during a future famine.
There are many lessons we can learn from the story of Joseph and Potiphar.
1- God is with us at all times and no matter what our life situation is. BUT we must keep him in our lives and allow God to be in our lives. God was with Joseph when he was a slave, then a prisoner, and later a national leader. Wherever Joseph was, God was at work in his life in ways Joseph could not have understood at the time.
2- Heavenly Father wants us to live pure lives no matter what the cost. Joseph was high in command and had a good life in Potiphar's home. Joseph would not lower his standards in order to stay in that position. Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife. That cost him his job and he was thrown into prison. But Joseph did not turn his back on God. God honored Joseph's faithfulness.
The story teaches us that it is important that we honor and obey God's commandments. Heavenly Father has asked us to stay morally clean. We will be blessed if we obey our Heavenly Father.
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