Just as Judah had left his personal seal and staff with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen 38), so Joseph now leaves his cloak with Potiphar’s wife. But how different Joseph is to his brother! Just as when his brothers stripped his cloak off him and threw him into a pit, so now, Joseph is an innocent victim. Judah’s divesture signalled his guilt; Joseph’s his obedience.

When Joseph’s brothers had earlier stripped him and left him at the mercy of slave traders (Gen 37), they acted out of jealousy and malice. Joseph had done them no harm. Yet, despite his innocence, his descent into the pit was followed by a further descent into slavery. But through it all, he trusted in the Lord, who was “with Joseph” (39:2), who brought him out of slavery to a position of prominence in charge of Potiphar’s household.

Being stripped of his cloak again, this time by Potiphar’s wife, was such a cruel reversal. Again he descended, this time into prison (39:20). And again, far from indicating the Lord’s absence, the Lord was “with Joseph” (39:21, 23).

Such a costly obedience, but so worth it! Joseph didn’t know how the Lord would demonstrate his faithfulness, neither after his first divesture, nor his second. Yet he obeyed, and the Lord was near. He would not leave or forsake Joseph. And Joseph would not leave the path of obedience.

What a wretched family Abraham birthed! But Joseph is different. He appears as a light in the darkness, a beacon of blessing and hope. Not since Abraham have we encountered someone who feared God like him; someone willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.

Joseph had to wait patiently, day by day trusting the God of his fathers, until finally his suffering led to kingly glory; a glory he used not for his own sake, but for a dying world.

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