We are still in chapter 39 of Genesis with our word for today used eight times in our chapter. בְּיָדֽוֹ which is the root word יָד “hand” with the prefix בְּ which is the preposition “in” so literally “in hand” or “in control”. The root is used 1529 times in the Old Testament. It is used literally for one’s hand. Genesis 8:9 He reached out his יָדוֹ֙ hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. We also see it used of God giving success over one’s enemies in battle. Exodus 23:31 I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your בְּיֶדְכֶ֗ם hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. We see it used to express God having the power to discipline his people when they sin against him. Jeremiah 20:5 I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the בְּיַ֣ד hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. It is also used to describe God’s power to rescue. Exodus 7:4-5 Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my יָדִ֖י hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my יָדִ֖י hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them. Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's יַד hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. Ezra 8:31 The וְיַד hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
Our word is used when appointing someone to a position of power. Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his יָדָ֖יו hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. This is how it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 39:3-4, 6, 8, 12-13, 22-23 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his בְּיָדֽוֹhands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in בְּיָדֽוֹcharge of all that he had… So he left all that he had in Joseph's בְּיַד charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate… But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my בְּיָדָ֔הּ charge… she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her בְּיָדָ֑הּhand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her בְּיָדָ֑הּhand and had fled out of the house…The keeper of the prison put Joseph in בְּיַדcharge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's בְּיָד֔וֹ charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. This connection of the hand and appointing leaders is carried into the New Testament. As Moses laid hands on Joshua to appoint him as the next leader we see this same concept with church leadership. Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. I’ll close with the same encouragement Paul gave to Timothy reminding him of when he was appointed to serve as a leader in the church. 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
