February 20, 2022 | Mike Avato
Passage: Genesis 39:1-23
Jesus lives for the glory of His Father! Here we are told Joseph lived for the same reason. This is why he said in Genesis 39:9, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Joseph was utterly concerned with sinning against God! Offending (to sin against) the Father is diminishing His glory! We are His people and image bearers of His glory. When we do "great wickedness" we "sin against God." Isn't it a great relief to know that Christ achieved and retains the glory of the Father in our place. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21).
So you see this narrative goes way beyond just being a prohibition against sexual sin. It is an historical narrative that shows us how God required Joseph's total obedience before elevating him to preeminence in Egypt and ultimately as savior of his people. God brings Joseph low before elevating him. This points us to Jesus, the greater Son of Jacob, who lowered himself too, in order to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).