Genesis 39:3–4

We are given the explanation of all that happened — "The Lord was with Joseph." Because that was true, everything he did prospered. Even what looked like disaster turned out to be only a stepping-stone to something much better. Verses 3 and 4 make us notice the striking way Joseph's "hand" is spoken of in the story. Because the Lord was with him, He "caused all that he did to succeed in his hands." So Joseph found favour with his master, who put all that he had into Joseph's hand. This was only natural. Potiphar did not know the reason for it, but he found he had made a first-rate bargain when he bought the young Semitic boy. Here was a slave with real skill, joined to honesty and uprightness that came from the fear of God.

His witness was the witness of his life, not of his lips. Potiphar was struck by what he "saw", not by what he heard... If Joseph had always complained about his hard lot, or talked up the great future ahead of him, he would have been no witness for the Lord in Potiphar's house. The Egyptian cared nothing about his past, and even if Joseph had spelled out his future, the Egyptian would have understood nothing of it. But Joseph's daily life of wholehearted attention to his work was something Potiphar could see and value... To see a Christian servant living a quiet, steady, uncomplaining life, faithfully doing his daily work, is a true witness for the Lord, and something a master who is not a believer can appreciate.

In the Egyptian's house he saw a new field of duty. He looked to Jehovah, so that by serving Him he might serve his master best... He had been saved from a cruel death that seemed about to fall on him. So he bowed under God's hand, and set himself to do carefully and honestly whatever lay before him each day, to please the Master above. That is why he prospered and became master of the situation. Potiphar had never had such a slave, and neither had anyone else. There was no self-seeking in him, and no working only while the master watched... A force for good was at work here, with clear results of blessing, and even the sharp eye of a man who did not know God could not miss them.

But Jehovah was with Joseph in the prison, just as much as in Potiphar's house. Verse 2 says He was with Joseph. Verse 21 says He was with Joseph, "and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison"... It mattered little where he was, since Jehovah was with him. What a difference it makes when God is with us — and God in that special, known relationship, which the name "Jehovah" carries here as everywhere.

Divine blessing marked Joseph's whole career. Yet notice that Scripture mentions it here, when he was a slave and unknown — and mentions it not once but three times. With the Lord Jesus it was during His lowly service in this narrow world that His mission and work looked like failure. It was just then that He had to say, in the words of the prophet, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God" (Isa. 49:4). But Jehovah had just said, "You are My servant... in whom I will be glorified."

The Lord was not only with Joseph, but He was for Joseph, disposing the heart of the master in favour of His servant.

In the Egyptian's house he saw a new field of duty. He looked to Jehovah, so that by serving Him he might best serve his master… Potiphar had never had such a slave, and neither had anyone else. Joseph never sought himself, and he never worked only to be seen. He put not just his heart into his work, but his faith. That gave his work a new character and power, and a shrewd master who had met plenty of human dishonesty and incompetence valued it all the more.

Verses 3 and 4 lead us to notice the striking way the story mentions Joseph's "hand." Because the Lord was with him, He "made all that he did to prosper in his hand." So Joseph found favour with his master, and "all that he had he put into his hand." No wonder. Potiphar did not know the reason for it, but he found he had made a first-rate bargain when he bought the young Semitic boy. Joseph showed real skill along with God-fearing honesty and integrity.

The wording of that blessing is striking, given the way Joseph's hands keep appearing in his story. Here the secret source of Joseph's skill comes to light. Upon the hands of Joseph rested the hands of the mighty God.

If Joseph had spent his time complaining about his hard lot, or talking up his great future, he would have been no witness for the Lord in Potiphar's house. The Egyptian cared nothing about Joseph's past. Even if someone had set his future before him, he would have understood none of it. But Potiphar could see and value Joseph's daily life of wholehearted attention to his duties. It is no different today… A Christian servant who lives a quiet, steady, uncomplaining life and does his daily duties faithfully is a true witness for the Lord, and his master can value that even without sharing his faith.

Potiphar gives Joseph the highest place in his household, and at once Potiphar is blessed. A little later the jailer makes Joseph supreme in the prison, and blessing follows. So in the day of his universal rule, all submit to him and all are blessed… As far as we yield ourselves, our lives and our all to the supremacy of Christ, we too shall be blessed.

To know that you stand in the unclouded favour of God is a privilege beyond words. Next to it, the favour of rulers on earth is weak and changeable, though men of the world fight hard for it. Joseph "found grace" in Potiphar's sight, and he soon lost it through no fault of his own (Gen. 39:4).