The key to Joseph’s victory was his godly character, and the basis for that character was his recognition that he belonged to God and served Him (39:9). “The Lord was with Joseph” is often repeated (39:2, 3, 21, 23).
约瑟得胜的秘诀是他的虔诚，因为他明白自己属于神，是事奉神的。注意“主与约瑟同在” 这句话不断地在经文中重复（39:2，3，21，23）。
The Lord is with us as we work, and we should do our work as unto Him (Eph. 6:5–8). He is with us when we are tempted and will show us the way to escape (1 Cor. 10:13). We must keep away from temptation (Rom. 13:14); and if it gets too close, we must run away (2 Tim. 2:22). It is better to flee and lose your garment than fall and lose your character.
当我们工作时，主与我们同在，而我们当向侍奉主一样工作（弗6:5-8）。当我们受试探时，祂仍然与我们同在，并为我们指出出路（林前10:13）。是的，我们必须远离试探（罗13:14）；如果试探太靠近，我们必须逃（提前2:22）。赶紧逃离，丢下衣服，总比失去人格强。
God is with us as we wait. Joseph spent two difficult years working in the prison, but he held to his faith and did what he could to serve others. The experience helped to “put iron into his soul” (Ps. 105:17–22). If the Lord controls us, it makes little difference who commands us.
等待时，神也与我们同在。约瑟在狱中艰辛工作两年，但他持守自己的信仰，并竭尽所能服事他人。这经历坚固了他的信心（诗105:17-22）。如果掌管我们的是主，那么谁命令我们就无分别了。
The fact that Joseph could interpret the dreams of the baker and butler indicates that he understood the meaning of his own dreams. He knew that one day his eleven brothers would have to bow before him. What an encouragement that was to his faith!
约瑟能够解释膳长和管家的梦，就表示约瑟也能解自己所作的梦。他知道自己的十一位兄弟终有一日将在他面前低头。他的信心必因此受到极大的鼓励，因为祂知道神的旨意！
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- Joseph had suffered in a pit because of the hatred of his brothers, but now he would face an even greater danger because of the lust of a woman. Potiphar’s wife seduced him and Joseph fled. There are times when fleeing could be a mark of cowardice (Ps. 11:1–2; Neh. 6:11), but there are also times when fleeing is evidence of courage and integrity. Joseph was wise enough to follow the same advice Paul gave to Timothy, “Flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Tim. 2:22). Lord, we want to flee from the evil desires of youth. So help us, Lord.
约瑟较早前因为兄弟的嫉妒而掉入坑里，但现在却因一个女人的情欲陷入更大的危机。波 提 乏的妻子勾引约瑟，而他逃跑了。有时候，逃跑是懦弱的表现（诗11:1-2；尼6:11），但它也可以是人的勇气与正直的凭据。约瑟有智慧，像保罗给提摩太的劝告一样“逃避少年的私欲”（提后2:22）。主啊，我们要逃避少年的私欲。请帮助我们。
- For the second time in his life, Joseph lost a garment (Gen. 39:12; 37:23ff); but as the Puritan preacher said, “Joseph lost his coat but he kept his character.” Self-control is an important factor in building character and preparing us for leadership. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Prov. 25:28). Joseph exercised self-control, but Samson used his body to gratify his own pleasures; and Joseph ended up ruling on a throne, while Samson ended his life buried in a pile of rubble (Jud. 16:23–31). Dear Lord, help us to learn self control in every aspect of our life so we are able to resist temptation when it comes.
约瑟在他的生命中第二次失去衣裳（创39:12;参见37:23）；但就如清教徒所说的：“约瑟失去了衣裳，但保全了自己的品格。”节制是塑造品格的要素，也预备一人当领导。“人不制伏自己的心，好像毁坏的城邑没有墙垣”（箴25:28）。约瑟操练节制，最终成为埃及的宰相；参孙则放纵情欲，导致他死在一堆瓦砾中（士16:23-31）。亲爱的主，请帮助我们在生命里的各个方面学习节制，叫试探来临时能抵挡它。
- When he was at home in Hebron, Joseph’s brothers considered him to be a trouble-maker, but in Egypt, he was a source of blessing because God was with him. God promised Abraham that his descendants would bring blessing to other nations (12:1–3), and Joseph not only fulfilled that promise in Egypt, he also saved the Israel and his own family from famine. Dear Lord, help us to be blessing to the people around us especially our family.
当约瑟在希伯伦时，约瑟的哥哥认为他是一个挑拨是非的人，但在埃及时，他却成为了祝福的来源，因为神与他同在。神应许亚伯拉罕，他的后裔将带来其他国家祝福（12:1-3），约瑟在埃及不仅实现了这一承诺，他还从饥荒中拯救了以色列和自己的家庭。亲爱的主，请帮助我们成为我们周围的人的祝福，尤其是我们的家人。
