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From Eternity Past
Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the
king’s guard. For ten years he was here exposed to temptations in the
midst of idolatry, surrounded by all the pomp of royalty, the wealth and
culture of the most highly civilized nation then in existence. Yet Joseph
preserved his fidelity to God. The sights and sounds of vice were all
about him, but he was as one who saw and heard not. His thoughts
were not permitted to linger upon forbidden subjects. The desire to
gain the favor of the Egyptians could not cause him to conceal his
principles. He made no effort to hide the fact that he was a worshiper
of Jehovah.
“And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man...
. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord
made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” Potiphar’s confidence in
Joseph increased daily, and he finally promoted him to be his steward,
with full control over all his possessions. “And he left all that he had
in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which
he did eat.”
Joseph’s industry, care, and energy were crowned with the divine
blessing; even his idolatrous master accepted this as the secret of his
prosperity. God was glorified in the faithfulness of His servant. It was
His purpose that the believer in God should appear in marked contrast
to the worshipers of idols. Thus the light of heavenly grace might
shine forth amid the darkness of heathenism.
The chief captain came to regard Joseph as a son rather than a slave.
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The youth was brought in contact with men of rank and learning, and he
acquired a knowledge of science, languages, and affairs—an education
needful to the future prime minister of Egypt.
The Almost Overmastering Temptation
But Joseph’s master’s wife endeavored to entice the young man to
transgress the law of God. He had remained untainted by the corruption
teeming in that heathen land; but this temptation, so sudden, so strong,
so seductive—how should it be met?
Joseph knew well the consequence of resistance. On the one
hand were concealment, favor, and rewards; on the other, disgrace,
imprisonment, perhaps death. His whole future life depended upon