Her lust overrules any fear of punishment or social stigma she might endure due to seducing Joseph. Potiphar's response was predictable. Adam and Eve could eat freely of every tree - except for one. They worshipped a sun god, a moon god, a frog goddess, a fish goddess, a cow goddess, a beautiful cat goddess, the god of thunder, and hundreds more! Application Question: When tempted, how often do you consider the consequences of sin? Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." God was with Joseph when he was the only believer in Egypt, and He will be with you wherever you go. Ask: Who was with Joseph? He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field. Potiphar's wife was not. But this wasnt true of Joseph. We are called to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (Jam 1:4). Unlike the previous narrative, where we learned from the failures of Josephs family (Gen 37), in this narrative, we learn from Josephs success in conquering temptation. Paul understood that true peace could never be achieved without Gods grace. Josephs personal integrity was impeccable in all areasnot just when it came to sexual purity. She grabbed hold of his coat, but he managed to get away from her. Remaining nameless might be something this devious woman desired! She was the wife of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard in the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. L15-4: How are believers to stay away from the UNCLEAN, yet show Gods love to the UNCLEAN? 10 Things We Know About Potiphar: Finally, while Joseph was imprisoned, God showed him great kindness. 34-1: Dinah, a daughter of Israel, is raped by a Canaanite! Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. We also know that Potiphar was smart enough to recognize a good thing when he saw it. Jacob was broken-hearted to lose his favorite son. It would devastate my wife. He was kind to him. Lets face it; there is enough food in my kitchen to keep that mouse fat and happy for his entire life. Whats the big deal?!. 2. He trusted Joseph and he no longer worried about running his home. In a fascinating novel on Potiphars wife by Mesu Andrews based on Genesis 39, the author depicts Potiphars wife as the daughter of a king and the wife of a prince. She mentions that Dr. Grove defended himself against attempted rape charges through the Potiphar vignette. As I went to search for some Advil, I stopped to ponder Potiphar's wife and Joseph. It was when Joseph was successful that he experienced greater temptations. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me, knoweth not what is in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand; he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. Do you think that this situation was out of Gods control? He has served over eighteen years in pastoral ministry, and currently serves as a chaplain and professor at Handong G More. They even treated their king, Pharaoh, as a god. And she spoke unto him according to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me. The Egyptians had a long list of gods. Are you willing to trust God even when things dont make sense, when compromise seems an easier path? Plus, my husband has many other women! My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. We all know how this works. He defines Gods discipline as hardship. He doesnt even qualify whether the hardship is from the devil, humans, or God himself. Satan spends his days and nights setting traps to distract people from the truth (1 Peter 5:8). Because God had a plan! As he ran out, she held onto his coat. In fact, its in those times that God pours out an extra measure of grace on you. You are his wife. We might skim over this Bible passage that we know so well. Deep down, we want things to be fair. It is very similar with Satan. You have a disease! Log in. Application Question: Why is it so important to flee temptation instead of trying to faithfully endure it? Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 464). So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Mrs. Potiphar quickly went from humiliation to rageleading her to frame Joseph. From what I have seen among a few commentaries, there seems to be a concensus among Ramba"n, Ibn Ezra and some others that Potiphar did not believe his wife, completely. Potiphar's Wife - BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING Here in a cold prison, God continued to use Joseph. He didn't have Joseph killed. And thus We reward the doers of good. Also, it would be easier for him to stand when other major temptations would come while he oversaw matters in Egypt. You will be like God. Similarly, Satan says, Getting drunk will be lots of fun, and it wont hurt anybody! He says, Sex outside of marriage will only make you closer to your mate. Living with your girlfriend only makes sense. The Bible says, They traded the truth about God for a lie. Why Did Jesus Give Believers the Beatitudes? Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews has much to say about Joseph's journey, including what happened to Potiphar and his wife after Joseph was imprisoned. Potiphar's Wife - Women In The Scriptures Perhaps Mesu Andrews novel, Potiphars Wife,gives her a brighter future than I have predicted. Spurgeon said this: When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. First Corinthians 10:13 implies that we all will experience temptation and, at the same time, be provided a way of escape. Potiphars wife was not faithful to her husband or perhaps her pagan gods. If we are going to conquer temptation, we must especially guard ourselves in times of promotion or success. Are you willing to trust what God says about your trialsthat he is using them for good? It says, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. If we dont hate it, then it will linger in our lives. He knew he was not only sinning against his master, but against God if he yielded to this temptation. Who was Potiphar's Wife in the Bible? - viralbeliever.com You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Potiphar and His Wife - Bible Study - BibleWise In the same way, Joseph had complete control over everything in Potiphars household - except for one thing, Potiphars wife. Oh, getting drunk and abusing your wife, thats not your fault! 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. Also, Hebrews 12:5b-7 and 11 says. 40-2: The importance of dreams in ancient Egypt. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! What price do you have to pay in order to maintain holiness and conquer temptation? Genesis 39 - Believe His Prophets | Revival & Reformation He was humble. Potipher's Wife Is Not Joseph's Master. No doubt a no-nonsense type of man, Potiphar is also twice his wifes age. The Hebrew word for "official" is the same that is used for eunuch. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Homosexuality is not an abomination like Scripture says. 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. It is meant to develop righteousness in us and give us more peace, regardless of our circumstances. So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. 27. On the other hand, she 'cast her eyes' upon Joseph and pursued him - planning in her heart to seduce him. Joseph just needed to trust them. The judgment of Potiphar's wife was a story not found in the Bible, of course, and some contradictory traditions arose around it among ancient Christian commentators. When he did, she sprung her trap. The man who ran the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. She said Yosef was doing these things to me. Adam and Eve did not trust that Gods plan was best for them. The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape was the death penalty. [Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." After a while, Potiphars wife noticed Joseph. God is with you. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. The Quran narrates the wife of Azizs treatment of Yusuf as follows: And when he reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. But God was with Joseph in everything he did. Teacher: Show the mousetrap. Interpretation Question: Did Potiphar believe his wifes accusations? 32-2: As Jacob faced Esau, so too must we reconcile with our past, 32-1: Jacob meets angels on his departure from and to the Promised Land, 31-5: Jacob and Laban enter into a peace treaty with each other, 31-4: Ideas of ritual impurity were prevalent 500 years before Moses, 31-3: God can and does speak to unbelievers, 31-2: The importance of the family gods in Mesopotamian tradition, 31-1: As Jacob separated from Laban, so must we separate from certain people in our lives, 1S4-9: Minus Gods Presence, The Ark Was Nothing But An Elaborate And Pricey Wooden Box, 1S4-3: The Danger Of Not Cutting Out Ungodly People & Things From Our Lives. From the time he puts him in charge, the Lord blesses the household. Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. We have a longing for justice, because we are created in the image of a perfectly just God (Deuteronomy 32:4). Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity: How Did the Apostle Paul Die?Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation?Who Was Deborah in the Bible?Who Was Moses in the Bible? Verse 7. She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. The Lord was with Joseph. It says, We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife from the Book of Jasher Even though Joseph had to suffer a cost for being holybeing put in prisonGod was with him in the prison and blessed him. All rights reserved. 3. So the man who was running the prison was pleased with Joseph. [] And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. Joseph and Potiphar: The Named, the Neutered, and the Neutralized An Egyptian named Potiphar had bought him from the Ishmaelite traders who had taken him there. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you? The answer is actually quite logical. He gave him favor with the prison warden. My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. If they were weaker, willing to flee, they would be more successful. She attempted to sleep with him many times, but Joseph continually refused. In the very beginning, God created one wife (Eve) for one man (Adam). When Joseph was imprisoned based on Mrs. Potiphars accusations, apparently, it was more like Daniel being thrown in the lions den (Daniel 6). Then you only have two choices. Jesus knows what it feels like to be attacked from the outside by Satan. The LORD was with Joseph. He was faithful with littlePotiphar's housetherefore, it was easier to stand when tempted by his wife. Did they have children? Now he was in a land where people believed in thousands of gods. He was learning administrative skills, as he led all of Potiphars household. Potiphars wife makes a go of seducing this handsome young servant but is unsuccessful in leading Joseph astray. So how could I do an evil thing like that? It seems quite likely that Potiphar did not believe his wife. No matter where Joseph ends up, he flourishes personally and carries out Gods plan. Before you know it, (Carefully, SNAP the trap.) 40-4: How was Joseph able to remain so strong in his faith? Canaan. 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. [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. Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king's guard, in whose service he remained for ten years. 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. Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. After Joseph rejected Potiphars wife, she didnt stop pursuing him. Thank God, He sees people differently from how we see people. What God does not bless is Potiphars wifes pursuit of Joseph, even though she is much higher in social status than Joseph. Wives often were lonely, and some sought the love they lacked outside of the marriage. - Genesis 39:3-6a. 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. What Can Galileo Teach Us about Science and Faith? And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. Application: Just like Joseph, we live in a time and place where many of the people around us dont know the one true God. Potiphars wife stands out, however, as perhaps the evilest nameless woman in the Bible. Joseph, ignore this. The blessing is on everything Potiphar owns - his fields, his house, his possessions. He followed God in everything he did (Genesis 39:8-9). The only way to tell the truth apart from Satans lies is to know Gods word. Thomas Nelson. Your email address will not be published. Actually, yes. God blessed him and Potiphar could tell a distinct difference between Joseph and all those around him. One day, Joseph went to the house to take care of his duties. 5 Guzik, D. (2013). In all these temptations, God was faithful to provide ways of escape, and he does the same for us. Thinking of its consequences will help us stand against temptation. The president. - And it came to pass after these things, - Joseph had by this time been nearly ten years in Potiphar's house (vide Genesis 41:46) - that his master s wife cast her eyes (lasciviously) upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. It probably means something like "brilliant beauty or lovely." Joseph is also described as "handsome and good-looking," and one day she asks him to go to bed with her. His integrity was preparing him for further exaltationto be second in command over Egypt. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish historian, once wrote, Adversity is hard on a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.4 Promotion and success open doors to more temptation: The more successful people become, the less they have others looking over their shoulders; the more freedoms and perks they receive, the more temptation they experience to abuse their power. -Genesis 39:19 So we're told that Potiphar's wife fell in lust with Joseph. And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 7 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Joseph and Potiphar's Wife - Thimble-full of Theology 6 Guzik, D. (2013). When she saw that he had left his outer garment in her hand and had run outside, she called for her household servants and said to them, See, my husband brought in a Hebrew man to us to humiliate us. The Holy Spirit guides us and gives us the power to make the right moral decisions and honor God. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. Joseph ran awayleaving his outer garment in her hand. This is a discipline that we must always practice whenever we are tempted: we must seriously consider the consequences. Application Question: In what ways have you seen people change negatively when they gain success or are put into authority positions? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? This scenario doesnt seem likely if Potiphar believed his wifes accusations. So . He tried to have sex with me, but I screamed loudly. Gods plan for Joseph continues during Josephs prison stay. Jewish commentators also see some good motives in her actions. Yet Potiphars wife cannot ruin Josephs life because God is with him. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. And a witness from her family testified, "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars. "There are several important morals to the story of Joseph, and many types for our day. When they dont know the true God, they make up their own idea of what God must be. All rights reserved worldwide. Gods grace made Joseph want to obey God. Its Satans goal to rob God of the worship that God deserves, because Satan is so jealous of God. Say: Here is a mouse trap. Genesis (Ge 39:710). Thats what Israel didcausing them to miss Gods blessing in their trial and instead experience his wrath. 2. Conquering Temptation (Genesis 39) | Bible.org 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. Joseph lived in Potiphar's house. But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful." (1) When it says, he became furious (v. 19), it does not say that he became furious at Joseph. Genesis 39 Overview, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife Thankfully, they didnt kill him. Joseph was faithful to God and resisted temptation. God was enabling him to be strong and wise. Potiphar's wife, though unnamed, played a significant role in Joseph's journey from favored son to powerful leader in Egypt. [citation needed], Muslim scriptural commentators (Mufassirun) have regarded Zuleikha as a sinner and villainess with the exceptions of the great Muslim mystic poets Rumi, Hafiz and Jami. He saw that the Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did. If he had . Potiphar's wife and her interactions with Joseph provide one of the most dramatic stories in the early Old Testament. 2 Swindoll, Charles R. Joseph (p. 24). 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. So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. Essentially, he taught that we need to be drastic in order to be holy. How could I sin against God?" She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, Have sex with me! But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Ask: Who is the most powerful man in our country? (Genesis 50:20). The Lord is our God. This is a reason many people fall when temptation comes. It is meant to mature us for our calling, as James said, and thats exactly what God was doing with Joseph. As a young woman, Potiphars wife rules the isle of Crete, the largest Greek island, with her mother while her father is out at sea. 35-2: Does the church today hold false beliefs about God as Jacob did in his time? According to the Book of Genesis, she falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape after he rejected her sexual advances, resulting in his imprisonment. Potiphar withheld nothing from Joseph, except his wife. All rights reserved worldwide. Big Question: What principles can we learn about conquering temptation from Josephs responses to various temptations in this narrative? Joseph says in Genesis 39:9: No one is greater in this house than I am. 40-1: Was Joseph really kept in a "prison"? What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Its meant to be celebrated! He does not have any thoughts of committing adultery with her. Who Is Potiphar? - Mesu Andrews 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. When a person goes through trials, he or she can be tempted to become bitter, to turn away from God and others. Hand Me Another Brick (p. 98). 9. The writer of Hebrews warns against scorning or becoming upset at Gods discipline. Therefore, Potiphar was Pharaohs chief executioner.2 In all likelihood, he had a very decorated military resume and was a rough, no-nonsense guy. Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Soon after these things, his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, Have sex with me.. Say: Joseph didnt know anyone in this new country. This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Judaism is a stub. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Zuleikha then reminded her friends that she had to see Joseph every day. Marriage was not about love and monogamy. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. Islamic history presents contradicting details, which is common when searching for such ancient historical data, and it all reads a little like a soap opera. The narrator said, Soon after these things (v. 7). Say: Joseph went from being the favorite son to becoming a SLAVE! Potiphars wifes frustration with seducing Joseph lights up her anger. Who were the priests of On? From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptians household for Josephs sake. What should we do when we cant avoid it entirely? Satan even tried to tempt Jesus to step outside of Gods perfect will (Matthew 4:1-11). Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the NET Bible copyright 1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. A slave, a Hebrew slave no less, had attempted to violate his wife. While Andrews novel is a work of fiction, Potiphars wife was very likely a neglected, lonely, and unhappy trophy wife. This is repeated four times in verses 4 to 6 for emphasis. Husbands, especially if they were wealthy, commonly had concubines or mistresses. If you eat of the tree, you wont die. Say: As far as we know, Joseph was probably the only believer in the entire nation of Egypt! 4 Swindoll, Charles (1998-12-03). The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets - Ellen G. White But he said no. Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28). Everything that Joseph did prospered. 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). 63 And whilst they were smiting him, Joseph called out with a loud . She may have gloated over Josephs arrest and limitless prison sentence. Genesis 39 - Commentary by Rev. John Schultz Its terrible calamity had transformed him from a petted child to a man, thoughtful, courageous, and self-possessed.