John Calvin Commentary Genesis 39:3

"And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand." — Genesis 39:3 (ASV)

And his master saw. Here, what was recently alluded to appears more clearly: the grace of God shone forth in Joseph in no common or usual manner, since it became so evident even to a man who was a pagan and, in this respect, spiritually blind.

How much more shameful, then, is our ingratitude if we do not attribute all our prosperous events to God as their author. For Scripture often teaches us that nothing originating from human beings—whether counsels, labors, or any means they can devise—will benefit them, unless God gives His blessing.

And since Potiphar, on this account, developed such great regard for Joseph that he set him over his house, we therefore gather that pagans may be so affected by religion as to be compelled to give glory to God. However, his ingratitude reveals itself again when he despises the God whose gifts he values so highly in the person of Joseph.

He ought at least to have inquired who that God was, so that he might conform himself to the worship due to Him. But he considers it enough, since he thinks it will be for his private advantage, to acknowledge that Joseph was divinely guided, so that he might use his labor with greater profit.

The LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. This was a wonderful way God worked, that the entire blessing by which the Lord was pleased to show His fatherly love toward Joseph should turn to the benefit of the Egyptians. For since Joseph neither sowed nor reaped for himself, he was not at all enriched by his labor.

But this is how it came about that a proud man, who otherwise might have abused him as a vile and contemptible slave, treated him humanely and generously. And the Lord often soothes the wicked with such favors, lest, when they have suffered any injury, they turn the fury of their indignation against the godly.

Here we see how abundantly God's grace is poured out on the faithful, since a portion of His kindness flows from them even to the reprobate. We are also taught what an advantage it is to offer hospitality to God's elect children, or to associate with those whom divine favor thus accompanies, so that it may spread its fragrance to those near them.

But since it would not greatly benefit us to be saturated with those temporal benefits from God which suffocate and ruin the reprobate, we ought to focus all our desires on this one point: that God may be favorable to us. Far better was it for Joseph that Potiphar’s wealth increased for his sake than it was for Potiphar to make great gain through Joseph.