In the end, however, the situation ended badly for Joseph: And again, Joseph is an important servant, but he isa slave without much clout. Then she called Potiphar and, by implication, blamed him. Scholar's Corner: The fate of Potiphar's wife - Deseret News Next week well see another twist in Gods incredible plan for Joseph. My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. 7 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Israel was tempted in the wilderness. How is your integrity? Daniel was suddenly the Bible's most eligible bachelor, and he got a fictional wife in Of Fire and Lions. - Genesis 39:1-2. She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, Have sex with me! But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside, No matter, who we are or where were from, we will encounter temptations. Canaan. But he refused, saying to his masters wife, Look, my master does not give any thought to his household with me here, and everything that he owns he has put into my care. God was with Joseph when he was the only believer in Egypt, and He will be with you wherever you go. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). If Joseph had been cheating in business matters, such as stealing money from Potiphar or lying about certain things under his care, it would have been a lot easier to have an affair with Mrs. Potiphar. Verse 10 in the NIV says, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Whenever Joseph saw Mrs. Potiphar, he simply went the other direction. Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. When things were bad, God moved in a special way in his life, even if Joseph was unaware of it. 5 Guzik, D. (2013). But God was with Joseph in everything he did. Say: The most important man in Egypt was Pharaoh. God is with you. The Big Lie Joseph on a daily basis was around Potiphar's wife as he did his business, and he paid no attention to her in any adulterous way. Log in. For some, this reality might not mean much, but the more we get to know God and his grace, the more sinning against him will deter us. Joseph had lost his masters respect and he was forced to become lower than a slave - he became a PRISONER. A person cannot stop God from fulfilling His plans. grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; He must have been terrified to be around so many people who were so different from him and who didnt know anything about his God. Sometimes, God sends us places so that people who do not know Him will be able to see God through us. (2) Also, if Joseph were bitter, instead of experiencing Gods blessings as he did, he would have experienced Gods discipline. However, though Joseph was good looking, Potiphars wife didnt notice him until he was exalted. This was preparing him to lead all of Egypt. He was exalted in Potiphars house, and even after he became a prisoner, he was exalted again. For example, he may offer you a scientific explanation for something that is against the Bible, or he may lead you to believe that you can run your own life without God. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. All rights reserved. If he failed in any way, Potiphar might put him in prison or even worse, execute him. Because God had a plan! 35-2: Does the church today hold false beliefs about God as Jacob did in his time? Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. 1. p. 392, ed. Instead of being bitter and upset, Joseph submitted to God and trusted him in the midst of his trial. The story of Potiphar's wife . The Lord is our God. This is repeated four times in verses 4 to 6 for emphasis. We must remember that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). My son, do not scorn the Lords discipline or give up when he corrects you. Joseph says in Genesis 39:9: No one is greater in this house than I am. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. In the same way, Joseph had complete control over everything in Potiphars household - except for one thing, Potiphars wife. So when he [i.e., her husband] saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of your [i.e., women's] plan. Gods grace gives you strength, peace, and even joy, in any situation (Romans 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:9). So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Islam is a stub. Genesis - NIV Application Commentary by John Walton. I dont see a happy, older woman. 1 Corinthians 10:13, written for early Christians centuries after the account of Potiphars wife and Joseph, states that we are not tempted beyond what God decides we can handle. They sold Joseph to a very important Egyptian man. [3] Simultaneously, however, she abuses her position of power as the slave master's wife to coerce Joseph into sex, and to punish him for refusal. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. - Genesis 39:21 a NLT Props: A mousetrap, cheese Background/Review Genesis 39: Joseph and Potiphar's Wife - Bible Study - BibleWise If they were weaker, willing to flee, they would be more successful. One of the best ways to do this is by giving thanks in all circumstances (including bad ones) for this is Gods will for our lives (1 Thess 5:18; cf. Marriage was not about love and monogamy. It would seem that his judgment should have been swift and brutal if, indeed, Joseph had sexually assaulted her. Joseph refused Potiphar's wife even after multiple advances, day after day. He owns many slaves. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. Why it is so easy to compartmentalizeto say something like being unfaithful in schoolwork or taxes wont affect my faithfulness in bigger things, like marriage? The Lord was with Joseph. The price could be loneliness, being made fun of, losing ones job, or even losing ones life. This is the very reason many people cant get free from sin; they simply dont see it as bad. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Application Question: In what ways have you seen people change negatively when they gain success or are put into authority positions? The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape was the death penalty. After Joseph rejected Potiphars wife, she didnt stop pursuing him. 40-1: Was Joseph really kept in a "prison"? Two credible sources, the Quran and Louis Ginzbergs study Legends of the Jews, name Potiphars wife Zuleika, which sounds like a wily woman. Joseph just needed to trust them. Application Question: Why is it important to practice integrity in little things to protect us from stumbling in bigger things? Either Potiphar was singularly lenient, or, as is perhaps more probable, he did not quite believe his wife's story, and thought it best to hush up a scandal. Main Point: The Lord is with those who trust Him, even in the most difficult times. She picked a moment when the servants were all out of the house. As he ran out, she held onto his coat. It implies that Joseph had shown himself trustworthy, and therefore, Potiphar didnt have to worry about anything. Her husband believes her. Before you know it, (Carefully, SNAP the trap.) It is good for us to think deeply about the potential consequencesconsidering how our sins affect ourselves, friends, family, other Christians, and non-believers. There is no other God except Me.. She knew that Joseph would have to come inside in order to do his work. Its normal. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? If Potiphar's daughter is now marrying Joseph, Potiphar will be forced to support him. During this trial, he was learning humility, as he was no longer Jacobs favored sonhe was now a slave. But he said no. Here is what we know about her life and what's been speculated about her personalities. 35-1: How ancient Israel's understanding of God's nature differs from modern believers, 34-4: Jacob fails to exercise proper authority in his home, 34-3: Simeon and Levi avenge the rape of Dinah, 34-2: King Hamor meets Jacob to make amends for his son's crime. God blessed him and Potiphar could tell a distinct difference between Joseph and all those around him. 36-6: Contradictions in Esau's genealogy? When the Persian king put Daniel in prison, he knew that Daniel was righteous and had been framed by the other administrators; however, he had to obey the law. [3] McKinlay (1995) noted that Potiphar's wife is treated as an object in his master's possession (Gen 39:89), and the reason Joseph refuses is not because he doesn't want to have sex with her, but because it would violate his master's trust and be a sin against the God Yahweh. He gave him favor with the prison warden. Remember, he is the father of lies (John 8:44). We also know that Potiphar was smart enough to recognize a good thing when he saw it. He defines Gods discipline as hardship. He doesnt even qualify whether the hardship is from the devil, humans, or God himself. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Gods grace can turn any situation around. Yahweh is only mentioned one other time in the rest of Genesis3, which shows how active God was in this part of Josephs life. So how could I do an evil thing like that? Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. This scenario doesnt seem likely if Potiphar believed his wifes accusations. Joseph flees from her advances, losing his cloak as he escapes her grip on him. 24. Who Was Potiphar in the Bible? - Learn Religions How is your integrity? Unfortunately, this sudden fall has happened to many others as well. She attempted to sleep with him many times, but Joseph continually refused. And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within, that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. Joseph was good looking. Does that suggest anything about what was going through Potiphar's mind as he threw Joseph in "the prison where the king's prisoners were confined" (v.20)? Application: You are young, but some of you have already faced very difficult situations. In Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale,Potiphor's wife is referred to in Chapter 46 of the Ardua Hall Holograph storyline as narrated by Aunt Lydia. We can discern this by two things: (1) If he were bitter about his family, bitter about being enslaved, and mad at God, it would have negatively affected his attitude while working, which would have kept him from being so quickly promoted. Their jealousy grew and grew until some of them wanted to kill Joseph. Even when things got much worse, the Lord was with him. In his classic work All the Women of the Bible, Herbert Lockyer lists twice that many nameless women (many of them are groups of women, such as Solomons 300 wives). Why did Jacob give Joseph a coat of many colors? What types of disciplines are necessary to protect someone in seasons of promotion and exaltation? Who was Potiphar's Wife in the Bible? - viralbeliever.com Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Joseph refuses, using a word that suggests the decision is difficult. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. He knew he was not only sinning against his master, but against God if he yielded to this temptation. Gods blessing over his child, Joseph, is an important reality that we must consider when being tempted. He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field. Actually, yes. A story about Zuleikha is told in Sefer haYashar, where she was mocked by other aristocratic Egyptian ladies, her circle of friends, for being infatuated with a Hebrew slave boy. Wives often were lonely, and some sought the love they lacked outside of the marriage. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?, When invited by Mrs. Potiphar into an adulterous relationship, Joseph called it a great evil and sin against God (v. 9b)? No doubt a no-nonsense type of man, Potiphar is also twice his wifes age. [3] Susan Tower Hollis (1989) demonstrated that the narrative of Potiphar's wife 'is in line with certain ancient folk-tales, where a 'woman makes vain overtures to a man and then accuses him of attempting to force her', with the man 'unjustly punished for his alleged attempt to seduce the woman.'[3]. 34. When you face temptation, abide in God. 2. The answer is actually quite logical. And thus We reward the doers of good. Q. The blessing is on everything Potiphar owns - his fields, his house, his possessions. Joseph lived his life differently than all the Egyptians. God wants you to believe Him - to TRUST HIM - and live! Ask: Who is the most powerful man in our country? The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Imagine how strange this was to Joseph. However, what we see is that God was with Joseph. Then you only have two choices. One day he went into the house to do his work when none of the household servants were there in the house. All rights reserved worldwide. The Bible does not state that Joseph even tried to defend himself by telling the truth. This is where many succumb to temptation. Related Topics: Children, Children's Curriculum, Jodi is part of the Childrens Ministry team at Grace Fellowship Church, outside of Atlanta. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. Paul understood that true peace could never be achieved without Gods grace. It would devastate my wife. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? In all these temptations, God was faithful to provide ways of escape, and he does the same for us. Why is this such an important discipline? They commonly harbor anger and bitterness for years after some traumatic event: They are angry at parents, the school system, government, or someone else who harmed them. Application: Just like Joseph, we live in a time and place where many of the people around us dont know the one true God. He was loyal to the people who had been kind to him. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Key Verse: But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love. Potiphar's Wife - BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING How My Definition of Success Has Changed - ibelieve.com Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. [] And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. 35-6: What the ancients believed happened after death, 35-5: Reuben sleeps with his father's concubine in a sly move to gain family power, 35-4: Unearthing God's prophetic statements to Jacob that can ONLY be understood in Hebrew, 35-3: Deborah's death symbolizes Israel's complete severance from Mesopotamia. He is still a slave and servant, though the highest-ranking slave in Potiphars household, entrusted with carrying for all of Potiphars possessions and business. Are you giving thanks or becoming bitter? Genesis (Ge 39:710). So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! (Romans 1:25 NLT). Genesis 39. First Thessalonians 5:22 says, Stay away from every form of evil. Christ taught that if our eye offends us, to pluck it out, if our hand offends us, to cut it off, and if our foot offends us, to do the same (Matt 5:29-30, Matt 18:8-9). So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God? Even though she continued to speak to Joseph day after day, he did not respond to her invitation to have sex with her. Related Topics: Christian Life, Temptation, Greg Brown earned his MA in religion and MA in teaching from Trinity International University, a MRE from Liberty University, and a PhD in theology from Louisiana Baptist University. In the very beginning, God created one wife (Eve) for one man (Adam). (3) Also, in Genesis 40:2-3, it appears that Joseph was imprisoned in a prison that was attached to Potiphars house. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. We will all experience temptation, the only question is, How will we respond to it?. Soon after these things, his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, Have sex with me. But he refused, saying to his masters wife, Look, my master does not give any thought to his household with me here, and everything that he owns he has put into my care. She may have gloated over Josephs arrest and limitless prison sentence. Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28). The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper ( Genesis 39:19-23 ). 2 Swindoll, Charles R. Joseph (p. 24). Oh, getting drunk and abusing your wife, thats not your fault! To congregations struggling with persecution, Peter said this: Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. But one of them has to be reconciliation and forgiveness.