From the Beginning: A Devotional Commentary on Genesis (XVI)

In Genesis 39 we find the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt. It's interesting to me how, as one of God’s chosen ones, Joseph’s very presence among the Egyptians (despite the fact that they were his oppressors) resulted in blessing for the Egyptians. In 39:5 it says the Lord blessed Potiphar *because* of Joseph; in verse 6 it says Potiphar lived with not a care in the world after he put Joseph in charge. You actually see this all over the Old Testament, once you start looking for it: the very presence of God’s Chosen People translates (or should translate) into blessing for the surrounding nations. Don’t believe me, read Genesis 12:3, or Jeremiah 29:7. It’s there in the New Testament, too (anyone want some salt to go with that earth?) Anyways, I think there’s supposed to be Josephesque (Josephish? Josephene?) pattern to Christian ministry. Because in both the real and the metaphorical sense, we, too, are people in exile, citizens of heaven sojourning in a land not our home. And the question is: does our exile here result, like Joseph’s did, in blessing for our neighbours (and to turn the crank one more twist, what if those neighbours were our oppressors, as Jospeh’s were his?).