Genesis 39: Overcoming setbacks

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

I'm reading the Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

It's interesting that the YLT calls Potiphar a "eunuch" whereas the NRSV an "officer." Apparently the original Hebrew word had two different meanings. "Eunuch" makes sense as a reason Potiphar's wife required sexual attention, except that eunuchs wouldn't have been married in the first place. I'm assuming that "officer" is contextually more accurate.

If, as I've been saying throughout these writings, that "the LORD" is a place in our consciousness, then it appears that Joseph had a high degree of that consciousness, and seemed to prosper with grace and ease. In the last chapter it's shown that he was pre-eminent among the brothers, although the second-youngest. When he's sold to Egypt as a slave, he quickly rises to manage all of Potiphar's household and affairs. And when he's imprisoned, the chief jailer puts him in charge.

In other words, when Joseph has setbacks - enslavement and imprisonment are pretty big setbacks - he quickly rebounds.

From the dreams he described in Chapter 37, it appears he has the confidence to go through life with the full knowledge that he's always the one in charge. He isn't enslaved by enslavement, he isn't imprisoned by imprisonment. He isn't even seduced by the temptations of the flesh.

Joseph doesn't seem to live in fear and make grievous mistakes like his forebears Abraham and Isaac. He isn't pushed around and fearful like his father Jacob.

Joseph's faith is constant. He doesn't let himself be the victim of circumstance. He faith is in the God that resides in is own consciousness, and wasn't letting his external circumstances determine his state of being.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

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