From Bad to Worse
Obedience isn’t Always Convenient- Genesis 39
When life feels like it's spiraling out of control, it's easy to lose hope and become frustrated. Joseph in Genesis 39 wrestled with these same emotions as his life seemed to be crashing down around him. Yet through his story, we discover powerful truths about following God even when it's difficult.
Three Essential Reminders When Life Gets Hard:
Before considering Joseph's life, remember these three foundational truths:
No matter where you are or how you feel, Jesus loves you
Jesus gave His life to redeem you from sin
Jesus is preparing a place for you personally in Heaven
These truths sustained Joseph through his darkest moments, and they can sustain us too.
What Does Joseph's Story Teach Us About Obedience?
The main lesson from Joseph's life is clear: obedience to God isn't about convenience. It would have been much easier for Joseph to compromise his faith as a slave in Egypt. It wasn't convenient to refuse worshiping his master's gods or to maintain his integrity when tempted.
When Jesus said, "pick up your cross and follow me," He wasn't just saying life would be challenging. He was telling us that following Him requires sacrifice. Obedience to God is rarely the convenient choice, but it's always the right one.
How Did Joseph End Up in Egypt?
In Genesis 37, Joseph's brothers despised him because of his dreams and the special robe his father gave him. Their jealousy led them to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Chapter 38 focuses on his brother Judah's sinful choices, and then chapter 39 returns to Joseph's story in Egypt.
How Did God Bless Joseph Even in Slavery?
Genesis 39:2-6 reveals that "the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man." Despite being a slave, Joseph worked with integrity and excellence. His master Potiphar noticed that everything Joseph touched succeeded, so he put Joseph in charge of his entire household.
This teaches us an important lesson: Joseph didn't just say he was working for God's glory—he actually did it. Even as a slave doing the worst possible jobs, Joseph worked hard and glorified God through his work.
How Should Christians Handle Temptation?
Joseph's integrity was tested when Potiphar's wife repeatedly tried to seduce him. His response reveals four principles for handling temptation:
He recognized the sin for what it was: "How could I do this immense evil and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9)
He maintained his integrity consistently, not just once but "day after day" (v. 10)
He didn't rationalize or make excuses (v. 9-10)
When directly confronted, he literally ran away from the temptation (v. 12)
Joseph didn't have a Bible, a church, or Christian community, yet he still followed God faithfully. His example challenges us to stop making excuses for our own struggles with temptation.
What Happens When We Do the Right Thing But Still Suffer?
Despite Joseph's integrity, Potiphar's wife falsely accused him of attempted rape. Potiphar believed her lie and threw Joseph into prison. Once again, Joseph suffered not because of his own sin but because of someone else's.
This harsh reality reminds us that doing the right thing doesn't guarantee immediate rewards. Sometimes obedience leads to suffering. Joseph went from being his father's favorite son to being bound in chains in an Egyptian prison pit.
How Did Joseph Respond to Unjust Suffering?
Genesis 39:21-23 reveals Joseph's response: he continued to work hard and honor God even in prison. And once again, "the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him." God's provision doesn't mean everything is always comfortable, but it does mean we're never alone.
Joseph's life doesn't call us to passive faith but to actively live out our faith in Jesus—to be obedient when it's inconvenient and to live differently than those around us.
How Can We Run From Sin Like Joseph Did?
Joseph's example teaches us four principles for fleeing from sin:
Run with the Spirit - Live by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25) rather than the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)
Don't run alone - Stay connected to Christian community (Hebrews 12:1)
Run for a new mission - Fight sin because you want to follow God, not just to be better (Acts 20:24)
Run with your eyes on the prize - Focus on eternity with Christ (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
When temptation comes, we need to "go nuclear" like Joseph did—taking drastic action to avoid sin rather than flirting with it.
Where Can We Find Comfort When Life Is Hard?
When we're hurting like Joseph was, we need to run to true comfort—which is found only in Jesus. Psalm 34:15 reminds us: "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help."
Psalm 42 gives us a four-step process for finding comfort in God:
Focus on God first
Acknowledge that you're not okay
Speak truth to yourself from God's Word
Respond to discomfort by praising God anyway
Joseph did not have Psalm 42 to reference, but he practiced these same principles. He focused on God while hurting, acknowledged his pain, reminded himself of God's presence, and continued to serve faithfully despite his circumstances.
Life Application:
This week, commit to obedience even when it's inconvenient. When temptation comes, don't just back away slowly—run from it like Joseph did. And when life gets hard, run to God as your true comfort.
Ask yourself:
In what areas of my life am I choosing convenience over obedience?
How can I "go nuclear" with the temptations I'm currently facing?
Am I working at everything I do with all my heart to glorify God?
When I'm struggling, do I run to God first or to other sources of comfort?
Remember, Joseph couldn't see God's bigger plan while he was suffering in prison. But God was working all things together for good. The same is true in your life. God's provision will be better than you could ever anticipate—not necessarily with material wealth, but by meeting all your needs at the perfect time to bring Him glory.