Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXXIX At this chapter we return to the story of Joseph. We have him here, A servant, a slave in Potiphar's house, ver. 1. and yet there greatly honoured and favoured, By the providence of God, which made him in effect a master, ver. 2 - 6. By the grace of God, which made him more than conqueror over a strong temptation, ver. 7 - 12. We have him a sufferer, falsely accused, ver. 13 - 18. Imprisoned, ver. 19, 20. And yet his imprisonment made both honourable and comfortable by the tokens of God's special presence with him, ver. 21 - 23. The Jews have a proverb, If the world did but know the worth of good men, they would hedge them about with pearls. Joseph was sold to an officer of Pharaoh, with whom he might get acquainted with public persons, and public business, and so be fitted for the preferment he was afterwards designed for. What God intends men for, he will be sure, some way or other, to qualify them for. Those that can separate us from all our friends, cannot deprive us of the gracious presence of our God. When Joseph had none of his relations with him, he had his God with him, even in the house of the Egyptian: Joseph was banished from his father's house, but the Lord was with him. It is God's presence with us that makes all we do prosperous. Those that would prosper, must therefore make God their friend; and those that do prosper, must therefore give God the praise. He knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat - The servant had all the care and trouble of the estate, the master had only the enjoyment of it; an example not to be imitated by any master, unless he could be sure that he had one like Joseph for a servant. How can I sin against God - Not only how shall I do it and sin against my master, my mistress, myself, my own body and soul, but against God - Gracious souls look upon this as the worst thing in sin, that it is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. They that love God, for this reason hate sin. He hearkened not to her, so much as to be with her.