Genesis 39

2. To fear God is when we have such a holy awe of God upon our hearts that we dare not sin (Psalm 4:4): Stand in awe and sin not. The wicked sin and fear not; the godly fear and sin not (Genesis 39:9): How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Bid me sin, bid me…

Now, what way does he take? First Joseph is thrown into the pit, then sold into Egypt, then after that put in prison (Genesis 39:20), and by his imprisonment God made way for his advancement. For God to save in an ordinary way, wisdom would not be so much taken notice of; but wh…

Resp. 1. By having a reverential awe of God upon us (Leviticus 25:17). You shall fear your God: This reverential fear of God is when we dare do nothing that he has forbidden in his Word (Genesis 39:9). How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

The fear of God pulled him back. How should I do this great wickedness and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9). St. Bernard calls holy fear Ianitor Animae, the door-keeper of the soul.

He that would keep himself free from infection, will not come near an infected house, if you would be sober avoid drunken company. Joseph when he was enticed by his mistress shunned the occasion, the text says, he would not be with her (Genesis 39:10). If you would not be ensnar…

Laban confesses that he perceived that the Lord had blessed him for Jacob's sake, Genesis 30:27. And Potiphar saw that Joseph was a blessing in his house: For, the Lord made all that he did to prosper, Genesis 39:2-3. While Lot was in Sodom, the Angel could not destroy it. Genes…

At Abraham's request had there been but 10 righteous men in Sodom; all had been spared for their sakes, (Genesis 18:32). When Joseph dwelt in Egypt, all Potiphar's house, and all in it (though he were a heathen man) were blessed for Joseph's sake: (Genesis 39:5). When Lot was de…

7. The Lord takes on him to turn men's free will in mercy or judgment, as pleases him: (Proverbs 3) My son, forget not my law, so shall you find favor (verse 4) with God and man. The Lord gave Joseph favor in the eyes of Potiphar, (Genesis 39:21). God brought Daniel in favor and…

Saltmarsh, when he wills the sinner as a sinner, a parricide, a man-slayer, a slave to his lusts, to believe and apply Christ as his Redeemer without any sense of sin or humiliation at all, and then says the man's blessedness is more to have the curse of sin, than the corruption…

And if they do, he can tell how to make them feel the smart of playing such prodigals, but when God has blotted all our sins out of his sight, that there is no more mention of sin between God and our souls, that the heart of a Christian will be marvelously careful and solicitous…

Gazing on the fruit with delight, her heart was ensnared. We read of Potiphar's wife she cast her eyes on Joseph (Genesis 39:7). Achan (Joshua 7:21): When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels w…

3. It must not be for a while but continued; not only to stand out against the first assault, but a long siege. What Satan cannot gain by argument, he seeks to gain by importunity; but resist him steadfast in the faith: as his instrument spoke to Joseph, day by day (Genesis 39:1…

The third part of peace is prosperity and good success: whatever the righteous man does, it prospers. And all things prospered in the house of Potiphar, when Joseph was his steward, because he feared God (Genesis 39:1-2). To proceed, Paul sets downe the causes of grace and peace…

All those which were in the ship with Saint Paul, to the number of 276 persons, were given him of God, and saved from shipwreck; that so the power which he showed in his servant, might be the more evident (Acts 27:32). The Lord blessed the house of Potiphar, and made him to pros…

Satan speaks very good divinity here, You have blessed: it is from the Lord. It is said of Joseph (Genesis 39:23) that whatever he did the Lord made it to prosper. We may do much, we may set our hands to do many things, but we cannot prosper anything.

The force of the reason may be three ways considered, 1. As it imports a difficulty in the thing, how shall I do it? O it's difficult! 2. As it imports an averseness to it, in herself: It stands against her heart, as a seeming unreasonable thing, as (Genesis 39) How shall I do t…

Certainly those will be the best servants to us who are faithful servants to God; or if they should be less fit for your occasions, yet they will sufficiently earn their wages, though they only pray for you. It is said of Joseph (Genesis 39:5), when he was brought into Potiphar'…

First, that which is here literally and expressly forbidden, is that detestable and loathsome sin of adultery; which properly taken, is a sin committed between persons, the one, or both of them married to another. However even in the highest circumstances, it is a most heinous s…

(1) More inwardly; for it has its being and working in the same soul where grace dwells, yea, in the self same faculties, so that is not only sets one faculty against another, but the same faculty against itself, the understanding against the understanding, and the will against…

Walk in the fear of God all the day long, and in the sense of his Omniscient eye, that is ever upon you. This kept Joseph from this sin, Gen 39. 9. How can I do this wickedness, and sin agains[•] God?

In this sense is it used in that frequent expression, if I have found grace in your sight: that is, if I be freely and favorably accepted before you. So he gives grace, (that is, favor) to the humble (James 4:6; Genesis 39:21; chapter 41:37; Acts 7:10; 1 Samuel 2:26; 2 Kings 25:…

So it was in the case of Joseph: Christ knew that Joseph's great trial would lie in the temptation to lewdness on the hand of his mistress, and he kept his heart in a steady frame against that sin. His answer without the least deliberation argues this, Genesis 39:9. In other thi…

Them in every particular he may direct for matter and manner, and take a strict account of them for expenses laid out, or other things done: because what they do is wholly and only for another. To his wife (who is a joint parent of his children, and governor of his house, to who…

This fear will draw servants on, cheerfully to perform all duty: the more it abounds, the more desire and endeavor there will be to please, and to give good contentment (and this is a point commanded to servants, to please well in all things (Titus 2:9)): indeed it will glad the…

3. God will have such respect to those servants which fear his name, as for their sakes to bless their master's house. Thus was Potiphar's house blessed for Joseph's sake (Genesis 39:5). 2. Make some trial of their fitness to that calling, work and service to which you will put…

The heart is corrupted by objects that we take in by the senses, as it corrupted Eve, dealt with her first by the sense; the forbidden fruit was full in her way, then the Devil sets upon her. 2. He tempts by the persuasion of instruments, who are the Devil's spokesmen: thus was…

How may we know it? 1. The Fear of God will make a man fear sin, Genesis 39:9. How can I do this Great wickedness and sin against God; indeed sin is the only Formidable thing; this is the Gorgons Head, that affrights; it is the Evil of Evils. 'Tis the Poison the Old Serpent has…

I write to you little children, because you have known the Father, etc. And see (Genesis 39:9). It will be a great comfort to you when you die, that your great work is over.

This resistance sometimes is more strong, then the temptation is overcome. How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39). Sometimes it is more weak, and then sin carries it, though against the will of a holy man (Romans 7:15, 18).

The Devil knows that is the next way to work upon the heart? So Potiphar's wife, (Genesis 39:7) and it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, lie with me. There the mischief began, she pleased herself with looking on the…

As the beasts are contained in their subjection and obedience to man by the fear that is upon them (Genesis 7:2), "The dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, that they shall not hurt you;" so the fear of God is upon us (Exodus 20:20), "God is come to prove you, tha…

Look, as the fear of man is a bridle upon the beasts to keep them from hurting man (Genesis 9:2): The fear and dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth; so when the fear of God is rooted in our hearts, we are kept from disobeying and dishonoring God. Joseph is an inst…

The words are plain and obvious; only the phrase of making a mock, may seem subject to some ambiguity, and various acceptations; and indeed the Scripture uses it in diverse senses. Sometimes it signifies an abusing of others, by violent and lewd actions: so we read that the Hebr…

We shall find that the best way to please all, or to displease any with least danger, is to please him, who is all in all. Though therefore any should think it strange, that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, and speak evil of you (1 Peter 4:4), answer them as Jos…

Others avoid sins that would bring disgrace, etc. but for pleasant, fashionable, and profitable sins, they can easily embrace such. But godly men dare not sin, though all these concur; take an instance in Joseph, who when he was courted into pleasure, etc. yet even then, says he…

And hence it makes watchful to [illegible] prevent the evil. So Joseph (Genesis 39:10-11), he would not lie by her, nor be with her, avoided her company that would withdraw his communion from the Lord. It makes a man speedy to avoid the [illegible], he [illegible] the place, lef…

Fourth characteristic: a sincere heart dares not act against his conscience in the least. He is most courageous yet most fearful of sin (Proverbs 28:1; Genesis 39:9). He dares not get an estate by sinful means or rise upon the ruins of another.

It is an old sin (Genesis 3:6): And when the woman saw the tree that it was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes — she did eat. Mortified Joseph saw sin engraved on pleasure (Genesis 39:9): How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10. There mu…

1 By the way we walk in; it is a private retired way, wherein only some few holy ones walk: therefore it is called a Path-way, to distinguish it from the common road, Proverbs 12. 28. In the path-way thereof is no death. 2 If we walk with God, then we walk in the fear of God, Ge…

How afraid are we of that meat which we know will bring the Gout or Stone, or will make our Ague return. Sin is aguish meat which will put conscience into a shaking fit, and shall we not be afraid to touch this forbidden fruit? Genesis 39:9. How can I do this great wickedness, a…

Faithful: I escaped the slough that I perceive you fell into, and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, that had like to have done me mischief. Christian: It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escap…

Samuel, said he, be like Samuel the prophet, a man of faith and prayer (Psalm 99:6). Joseph, said he, be like Joseph in Potiphar's house, chaste, and one that flees from temptation (Genesis 39). And James, be like James the just, and like James the brother of our Lord (Acts 1:13…

4, Though all be present, Truth, Power, Sincerity; yet if he that makes the Promise should Forget, this were a ground of staggering. Pharaoh's Butler, without doubt, made large Promises to Joseph, and probably spoke the Truth according to his present Intention: afterwards standi…

Secondly, as the fear of God, so the love of God, is a principle of restraint from sin in the soul that is upright. This kept Joseph from sin (Genesis 39:9): 'How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God!' He speaks as a man that feels himself bound back from sin by t…

So all Christ's followers did; they are tempted, but grace puts a power of tenderness on them. Joseph tempted, says (Genesis 39:9), How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God. David is reproached by Shimei, but he dares not avenge himself.

5. When Jeremiah lays unlawful bands on himself, to speak no more in the Name of the Lord; there is a spirit of Prophecy lying on him, he is not Lord of his own choice (Jeremiah 20:9). But his word was in my heart, as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forb…

For you read of the motions of sin by the law (Romans 7:5): in our carnal estate, many sinful motions we had, to stir us up to do wickedly, because the law of God restrained us; meaning the law did stir us up to more earnestness after it, by how much the more it restrained our l…

And then secondly, it does wisely apply them to ourselves, as most necessary every way for us to do; thus faith looks at God's commandments as great things, the observing and keeping of them, as bringing more profit than gold; so by consequence the transgression of the commandme…