Joseph flees from her advances, losing his cloak as he escapes her grip on him. What types of disciplines are necessary to protect someone in seasons of promotion and exaltation? Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there." "The captain of the guard" supposedly means that Potiphar was Pharaoh's chief executioners. So . In order to cover up for herself, accused of trying to commit . 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). 2 Swindoll, Charles R. Joseph (p. 24). [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. Her lust overrules any fear of punishment or social stigma she might endure due to seducing Joseph. What God does with people and how people react is unpredictable, though. Genesis (Ge 39:710). For other uses, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potiphar%27s_wife&oldid=1143418407, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 16:09. In Genesis she is given no name, but in later medieval Jewish sources and Islamic tradition, she is identified as Zuleikha (/zulek/ zoo-LAY-kah; Hebrew: ; Arabic: , romanized:zulay). It wasnt long before sin came knocking at Josephs door. We also know that Potiphar was smart enough to recognize a good thing when he saw it. Joseph's reasons for not sleeping with Potiphar's wife are found in Genesis 39:8-9. [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]. 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? Yet Potiphars wife cannot ruin Josephs life because God is with him. Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? - Genesis 39:1-2. So the man who was running the prison was pleased with Joseph. 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. So Potiphar was pleased with Joseph. (2) The consequence for adultery would normally be execution. 27-4: Who are the descendants of Esau today? This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Islam is a stub. Joseph lived his life differently than all the Egyptians. 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? Without doubt, Joseph was aware that scorning Potiphars wife could have hazardous consequences. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. When Potiphars wife asked Joseph to sleep with her, he refused and gave two reasons for doing so: First, he talked about how his master trusted him and favored him, and second, he indicated that it would be a sin against God. Application Question: In what ways does the world and Satan aim to make sin more acceptable and less heinous? Even though Joseph had to suffer a cost for being holybeing put in prisonGod was with him in the prison and blessed him. When things were bad, God moved in a special way in his life, even if Joseph was unaware of it. 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.. This is the very reason many people cant get free from sin; they simply dont see it as bad. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison. Remember that you are NEVER alone! It says, Pharaoh was enraged with his two officials, the cupbearer and the baker, so he imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard in the same facility where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard was probably still Potiphar. Application Question: What are some common costs of maintaining our integrity and conquering temptation? What should we do when we cant avoid it entirely? Deep down, we want things to be fair. Boldly ask for the grace to say NO to sin. Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. Rightly, Joseph knew that being a boyfriend to another mans wife was a sin against God. He put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners. It is good for us to think deeply about the potential consequencesconsidering how our sins affect ourselves, friends, family, other Christians, and non-believers. How could I sin against God?" Potiphars wife knows the ancient Egyptian punishment for a woman committing adultery was to have her nose cut off. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Hand Me Another Brick (p. 98). He was afraid of Potiphar and wanted to stay pure before God. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?. - Genesis 39:20b-23. We must do whatever it takes to be holy. We have Gods written Word! Similarly, to not punish Joseph would have been an extreme loss of face for Potiphar and, obviously, would have further hurt his relationship with his wife. 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)? It can apply to the laughter of Abraham and Sarah at the thought of having a child at their age, a silent laughter of disbelief (17:17; 18:12-15); to the . Some believers are just too strong to conquer temptation. She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. Jacob was broken-hearted to lose his favorite son. 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. All rights reserved. Its terrible calamity had transformed him from a petted child to a man, thoughtful, courageous, and self-possessed. 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. 32. First Corinthians 10:13 implies that we all will experience temptation and, at the same time, be provided a way of escape. 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. She goes by the moniker Potiphars wife, but she does not act like a godly wife, whose virtues are praised in Proverbs 31. When a person goes through trials, he or she can be tempted to become bitter, to turn away from God and others. We may not have clear, predictive dreams from God, but we do have a clearer word than Joseph had. Say: The most important man in Egypt was Pharaoh. Potiphar's wife, though unnamed, played a significant role in Joseph's journey from favored son to powerful leader in Egypt. The Hebrew would try to hurt them as well. The Lord was with Joseph. This is the very reason many people fall into temptation. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allh! Thank God, He sees people differently from how we see people. He has served over eighteen years in pastoral ministry, and currently serves as a chaplain and professor at Handong G More. Men and women can overcome the temptation to be unfaithful to their partner and God. (Rashi) Where was Potiphar when his wife was talking to him? When he did, she sprung her trap. How is your integrity? We are not to entertain sin through the radio or TVdeclaring how strong we are and how it doesnt affect us. All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added. Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28). She lies to her husband, and when he throws Joseph in prison, she probably imagines it will be the end of Josephs life. This was preparing him to lead all of Egypt. How has God called you to at times pay a price for following God? Potiphars wife may have been attractive, but her interactions with Joseph were not lovely. Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king's guard, in whose service he remained for ten years. Potiphar's Wife KNOWN AS THE "NO-NAME WIFE" OF A BODY GUARD Genesis 39 IMAGINE: Being the rich Egyptian wife of the highest official to Pharaoh; but even so, choosing to set your sites on the well-built and handsome new household slave, only to have this Hebrew foreigner reject your advances. He was exalted in Potiphars house, and even after he became a prisoner, he was exalted again. Do you think that this situation was out of Gods control? She was the wife of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard in the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. Do you stand out as different among the ungodly? 1S2-38: Only About Fifty Percent Of The New Testament Is God-Breathed. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.' Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. But one of them has to be reconciliation and forgiveness. This description suggests that Potiphar held a high-ranking position within the Egyptian court, as he was responsible for the safety of Pharaoh and his household. But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful." May be reproduced for personal, nonprofit, and non-commercial uses only. Now he was in a land where people believed in thousands of gods. 4 Swindoll, Charles (1998-12-03). It is very similar with Satan. By Gods grace, Joseph did not become bitter, holding onto his anger as his brothers had done. Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? (Genesis 50:20). How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' But he said no. Application Question: What are some other principles that will help us conquer temptation? 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. Unfortunately, this sudden fall has happened to many others as well. - Genesis 39:8-9. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Daniel was suddenly the Bible's most eligible bachelor, and he got a fictional wife in Of Fire and Lions. Potiphars wife stands out, however, as perhaps the evilest nameless woman in the Bible. Say: Josephs brothers held on to their anger and bitterness. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. Application Question: Why is it important to practice integrity in little things to protect us from stumbling in bigger things? There is no other God except Me.. It would seem that his judgment should have been swift and brutal if, indeed, Joseph had sexually assaulted her. QUESTION 5: Did Potiphar truly believe his wife's accusation of Joseph? 1 Guzik, D. (2013). I imagine she rolled away from her husbands side, estranged from him by her deception. Israel was tempted in the wilderness. Who were the priests of On? So I need to distract it. Potipher's Wife Is Not Joseph's Master. What does this story tell us about the character of Joseph? Everything that Joseph did prospered. Say: Joseph had grown up in the land that God had promised to his great-grandfather, Abraham. Potiphar's wife is never named in the biblical passagemerely referred to as , "wife of his [Joseph's] master" (vv. By complaining instead of praising God, they are really saying that they dont trust God, that he is not in control, or that he doesnt know what he is doing. Because Joseph submitted to God in the test and trusted Gods promises to him, he received Gods blessing. Say: Joseph wasnt alone because God was with Him. 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. He oversees other prisoners and interprets their dreams and the prophetic dream of the king of Egypt. For Rumi, Zuleikha's obsession with Joseph is a symptom and manifestation of the soul's great deep longing for God. Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 56:5), Photo Credit:Getty Images/BibleArtLibrary. Josephs personal integrity was impeccable in all areasnot just when it came to sexual purity. Say: God did NOT abandon Joseph! [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. Her actions, driven by uncontrolled desires and a need for control, led to Joseph's imprisonment and ultimately to the fulfillment of God's plan for his life. 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. It would devastate my wife. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. All rights reserved worldwide. When you face temptation, abide in God. So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. 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." When Joseph is taken by slave traders to Egypt, he is purchased by a high official in Pharaohs court named Potiphar. With success, comes more temptations, and therefore we must be even more disciplined if God allows those opportunities. 23. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." Its OK to illegally downloadThe product shouldnt cost that much anyway! Its OK to cheat on taxesThe government is taking too much money as it is! When Christians do this, they are preparing themselves to be unfaithful in other areas of their lives. [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. His goal is to distract you from the only real source of life. She attempted to sexually assault Joseph who, as a slave, could never have truly consented. Do you realize your trials and temptations are just ways God is preparing you for more? E39-2: What was the purpose of the bells attached to the hem of the High Priest's robe? It can no longer get to the real food supply, and I can do whatever I want with the mouse. This is where many succumb to temptation. The man who ran the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. Indeed, you were of the sinful." 10 Things We Know About Potiphar: Yahweh is only mentioned one other time in the rest of Genesis3, which shows how active God was in this part of Josephs life. He was humble. 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)? Potiphar doesn't believe his wife's claim that Joseph tried to rape her. Your email address will not be published. So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. How his brothers resented the special treatment their bratty little brother received. The fact that he cast Joseph into a prison that he operated from home (40:3-4) indicates that he really didn't believe her tale. Say: Joseph didnt know anyone in this new country. Also, as well see later, Joseph needed to be put in prison in order to eventually interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and be exalted to second in command of Egypt (Gen 41). 1. p. 392, ed. His life was different; he was set apart from the ungodly. In the very beginning, God created one wife (Eve) for one man (Adam). Plus, my husband has many other women! The LORD was with Joseph. Sometimes, the evilness of sin is lowered by calling it a disease. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. If Potiphar and the status quo look upon his wife as a piece of good-looking livestock, the people in Egypt may not be dismayed at Josephs actions. She called all the servants togetherdeclaring that the Hebrew that Potiphar brought to them came to humiliate them (v. 14). When he heard me raise my voice and scream, he left his outer garment beside me and ran outside. So she laid his outer garment beside her until his master came home. 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. Joseph says in Genesis 39:9: No one is greater in this house than I am. Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 461). Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the NET Bible copyright 1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. 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. The Bible describes Joseph as strong and handsome. 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. We are called to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (Jam 1:4). 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. It implies that Joseph had shown himself trustworthy, and therefore, Potiphar didnt have to worry about anything. She said, that Hebrew slave you brought to us tried to humiliate me (v. 17). [] And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. Though the young womans royal father wants his daughter to marry the Egyptian pharaoh, she is given in marriage to the captain of the pharaohs bodyguard, chief executioner Potiphar. He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allh. 33. SNAP! One day, Joseph went to the house to take care of his duties. 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. Most importantly, like Joseph, we must remember that participating in sin hurts God deeply. If it means avoiding a certain person or group of people, so be it. Are you willing to trust God even when things dont make sense, when compromise seems an easier path? 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. He gave Joseph success in everything he did. Joseph just needed to trust them. He was kind to him. She used his coat to prove that he had been in the house. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon. Although we LOVE for teachers to read from their Bibles, and for children to read along in theirs, in this case, it is best to paraphrase her words, and not read directly from the scripture. - 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. Joseph, ignore this. Say: Here is a mouse trap. If one doesnt recognize how heinous something is, he or she wont desperately work to get rid of it. Thankfully, they didnt kill him. Because of this, Potiphar threw Joseph into prison. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 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. Its normal. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. Why is this such an important discipline? Therefore, in order to conquer temptation, we must trust God and what his Word says. 34-1: Dinah, a daughter of Israel, is raped by a Canaanite! They sold Joseph to a very important Egyptian man. But Joseph was not alone! Many fail to submit to God in the midst of their trials and temptations and instead succumb to them. Joseph was faithful to God and resisted temptation. Essentially, he taught that we need to be drastic in order to be holy. This is exactly how the world and Satan promote sin: It is not a great evil! According to the Book of Genesis, she falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape after he rejected her sexual advances, resulting in his imprisonment.
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