We are rolling into chapter 39 of Genesis with our word for today is actually a phrase. יְהוָה֙ אֶת YHHW with. This phrase is used 54 times in the Old Testament. The other way to say this is with the phrase is יְהוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ We will look at that later when we get to Isaiah and Immanuel. For today we will stick with our phrase יְהוָה֙ אֶת We looked at our word יְהוָה֙ a long time ago way back in Genesis chapter two. יהוה is used 6,826 times in the Hebrew Bible our Old Testament. The phrase of LORD God is used 10 times in chapter two. The Bible translates LORD with all caps instead of just YHWH God because they are honoring the tradition of not speaking God’s name out loud after several hundred years had passed the Masoretes inserted vowel points into the Hebrew words. Since no one knew what vowels to put into the word, so they used the vowels for the Hebrew word Lord. The first time it is used it is in relation to people Adam was the Gardner that the LORD God personally created to work the land. We see this throughout the chapter as the LORD God creates Eve and relates to them both as their relational intimate personal God. It is not just the all-powerful creator the ever-existing eternal God. Think about how many times God uses the word אֱלֹהִים God 2,597 and how many times he uses the word יהוה YHWH 6,826 this will tell you the emphasis he is trying to make to us. Now the reason I’m going into all of this is because of how Joseph was probably feeling in our chapter today. If you remember the last time we saw Joseph his brothers were planning on killing him but instead decided to sell him into slavery. So Joseph is in need of the relational God about now in his life. Genesis 39:1-3 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. Theיְהוָה֙ אֶת Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the יְהוָה֙ אֶת Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
Throughout the Bible God calls himself the relational God who is with us. He was with Moses and the people Numbers 14:9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the וַֽיהוָ֥ה אִתָּ֖נוּ Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. He was also with Joshua. Joshua 6:27 So the יְהוָ֖ה אֶת Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. Joshua 14:12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the יְהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. He was also with Jeremiah. Jeremiah 20:11 But the וַֽיהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
And the great news is that our relational God is with us today as well. I will close with Jesus teaching on Holy Spirit which is the best way for God to be with us. John 14:15-21 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
