How many parents can say that they had children who were obedient? Most would remember times of rebellion or times their children were compliant, but compliance is not obedience. True obedience must be done the first time we are told. There must be an attitude of obedience. The old scenario of “I’m standing on the outside as instructed, but sitting on the inside” is not an obedient attitude. There must also be a desire to please that compels us to do exactly what we are told. When we tell our children to clean their rooms, things should be put where they belong, not shoved under the bed or thrown in the closet so it is out of sight. Joseph was characterized as an obedient son to his father and also to God. When we train our children to accept nothing less than obedience, we are making it easier for them to obey God as adults.
In Genesis 37:13, we see Joseph’s immediate obedience to his father. “And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.” His response “Here am I” indicates a readiness to obey.
In Genesis 37:14, Jacob gives him instructions to go find out how his brothers are doing and return home with a report on their well-being. “And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.” When he arrives at the designated place, they are nowhere to be found. He could have gone home and told his father they were not there, but because he wanted to show complete obedience, he continued looking for them until another man saw him and told him he had heard them say they were going to Dothan. Joseph continues his journey until he finds them.
Genesis 37:15-17 “And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren and found them in Dothan.”
When his brothers saw him coming, they made a plan to get rid of him. The jealousy of his brothers caused them to sell him into slavery, but where he was or who he was with did not change his obedience to God. He continued to exhibit His obedience to God by acting wisely in Potiphar’s house. In Genesis 39:1-3, Potiphar saw that God was with him and brought him into his household to rule over it. God was using Joseph as a testimony in a pagan land. He must have spoken about his God, and probably had been seen praying to Him. Whatever Joseph did, they knew that his God was different. He honored God with a life of obedience, and God honored him.
Genesis 39:1-3 “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw 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 him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”
Joseph remained faithful to God throughout his time in Egypt. When Potiphar’s wife seeks to tempt Joseph to lie with her, he would not. Finally, one day, she thinks her plan will gain her an opportunity that no young man could resist. In verses 7-9, Potiphar’s wife told him to come in and lie with her. Joseph refused. He tells her in verse 8 that his master has no concern for what goes on in his house because Joseph has proven he is an honorable man. He respected his boss and would not lie with her, but the main reason is that in verse 9, he could not sin against God. It was not because he thought he would get caught, it was because he was honorable and sought to please his earthly master and his heavenly one. He loved God.
Genesis 39:7-9 “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Did her desires change? No, they did not. In verses 10 -12, she makes a plan to tempt Joseph more. She had sent all the servants away, and Joseph was there with her by himself. He would not give in and lie with her, so she grabbed him by his outer garment and pulled him to herself. He pulled away, leaving his garment, and fled. He did what we each have to do sometimes in our Christian lives when we face temptations: he ran away from them. He was following the commands of II Timothy 2:22, long before God gave these words to Paul, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Genesis 39:10-12 “And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.”
Joseph obeyed even when it cost him comfort and financially. She lied to Potiphar, and Joseph was thrown into prison. Yet, he never changed; he obeyed God before the prisoners, and even they went to him for advice. Joseph had made up his mind to obey God, and nothing would change his love for God, which governed his obedience to God. Oh, that we would have that much love of God, and we would not allow our circumstances to change our feelings.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
