HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-23.-Joseph in tlie house of Potiphar. I. PURCHASED AS A SLAVE. 1. A sad lot. Worse even thnn being kidnapped by strangers, Joseph had been first sold by his brethren; carried into Egypt, he had there been exposed for sale in a slave- market; and now, as if he had been a beast of burden or a captive taken in war, he had .been a second time purchased for money. Few fortunes are more touchingly sorrowful or more deeply humiliating than this which was now measured out to Jacob's youthful son. 2. A common lot. Happily in our land, nnd indeed wherever the gospel prevails, it is not a spectacle that can now be beheld-that of men traffick- ing in each other's flesh. But in those days the horrors of the auction block were not unfrequent sightR, and Joseph, in being sold and bought like goods and chattels, was only experiencing a fate which had been undergone by mo.ny previous to his times, and has by myriads been suffered since. 3. An appointed lot. As everything on earth is, so was Joseph'e sad and sorrowful estate assigned him by Heaven; and the recognition of thi-s doubtless it wns by Joseph that prevented him from mur- muring, and apparently inspired him with a cheerful confidence, even in the darkest times. II. EMPLOYED AS A sEnVANT. 1. Eminently prospero11,11. (1) The extent of thi~ prosperity. All that he iid prospered. Everything he put his hand to o.ppenred to thrive. Success seemed to wait upon him like his shadow. It is seldom such n measure of good fortune is meted out to any of God's people on the earth, or even of the devil's children. For the first they would probably be spoiled by such indulg- ence, while for the second they mostly fail in the conditions that are needfnl for such distinction. (2) The means of this prosperity. That Joseph was attentive, diligent, and conscientious in the performance of his household duties, ns well us faithful nnd devoted to the interests of his master, may be reasonably inferred, since success seldom waits upon tho negligent, the idfo, or the unprincipled. (3) Tho 44.8 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [CH. XXXIX. 1-6,
source of this prosperity. The historian is careful to note tho.t the true mainspring of Joseph's, as of e,ery other person's, prosperity was the Divine blessing on his labours. "The Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand." 2. GreaUy re• ,oarded. Joseph was-(1) Noticed by his master. It is a pleasure to true nnd faithful servants when those they serve regard their ,vork with favourable obscrvntion. (2) Accepted by his master. It says a g·reat deal for Potiphar that he treated Joseph kindly, even though it was largely on account of his excellent qualities ns a servant. (3) Promoted by his master. From being humble valet to the great man's person, he was exalted to the high position of steward or comptroller of the great man's house. (4) Trusted by his master. Everything connected with the management of Potiphar's establishment, in his mansion and on his farm, was unreservedly com- mitted to the care of Joseph. Potiphar troubled himself about nothing "save the bread which he did eat." Ill. BLESSED AS A MAN. 1. He enjoyed Divine companionship in his sad captivity. " The Lord was with him ; " a compensation rich enough to be set against the miseries of bondage and exile, as God's people, when similarly situated, have not un- frequently experienced (cf. Acts xvi. 25; 2 Tim. iv. 17). 2. He obtained Divine assistance in his arduous duties. When the circumstances of Joseph's lot might have induced despondency, indifference, inaction, carelessness, and inattention, Divine grace so upheld and cheered him that he was able to go about his duties with alacrity and cheerfulness, so that everything he turned his hand to succeeded. 3. Ho received Dimne favour in the eyes of his master. For Joseph himself to have ~ecretly known that God approved of his person and behaviour would have been nn ample consolation to his sad heart; but to obtain tbe good-will of Heaven so conspi- cuously that even his heathen master could not avoid observing it was surely n sig-nal honour. 4. He attracted Divine blessing towards his fellow-men. "The Lord hlessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake." Here was a. clear experience by Joseph of the truth of the .A.brahamic blessing (eh. xii. 2, 3). In this also Joseph was an eminent type of Christ. Lessons :-1. Patience under suffering. 2. Contentment with one's lot. 3. Fidelity in service. 4. The secret of prosperity. 5. The obligations of masters towards serv- a'.1ts. 6. The value of religion to a workman. 7. The profit of a pious servant. Vers. 1-23.-Sunsliine and shadow. I. THE BRIGHTENING SKY. The advance- ment of Joseph in the house of Potiphar. 1. To Joseph's sense it was a lightening in his bondage. 2. To Joseph's faith it was the smiling of Jehovah's face. 3 To Joseph's hope it V'as the dawning of a better day. II. THE THREATENING CLOl'D. The temptation of Joseph by his mistress. Here was-1, An assault upon his virtue, which, unless it were overcome, would deprive l1im of Jel1ovah's favour, and consequently put an end to any prospect he might have of deliverance; and, 2. An attack upon his safety, which, however it resulted, whether in Lis defeat or his victory, would likely terminate his enjoyment of his master's fa,·our, if not altogether cost him his life. III. THE FALLING DARKNESS. The accusation of Joseph by his mistress. 1. Tbouo-h untrue, it was almost certain to be believed. 2. If believed, it would certai~Iy involve him in punishment. 3. If deemed deserving of punishment, he would almost certainly be put to death. IV. TnE: STARLIGIIT NIGHT. The history of Joseph in the prison. 1. He hod not been executed, but only imprisoned. 2. God was with him in the dungeon, ns he hud been in the palace. 3. If the favour of his master had been lost, the confidence of liis keeper had been gained. 4. Misfort_une might seem to be always_ lying in wait for him, but, on the other hand, prosperity appeared to be ever followrng close upon his heels. HOMILIES DY VA RIO US AUTHORS. Ch. xxxix.-T/ie ?-igldeous rr.wa. Again the word of the Lord tries Joseph, but not so much now as the word of prophecy, but ns 1he word of command, the doctrine of righteousncsa. "The Egyptian's houeo is blessed for Joe<'ph's snke.' 1 CH. XXXIX. 7-23.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 449