did potiphar believe his wife
But this wasnt true of Joseph. To fight this temptation, Joseph not only refused but also stopped being around her. Therefore, we should consider all hardship as under the sovereign hand of Godused to train us. The Lord was with Joseph. When a person goes through trials, he or she can be tempted to become bitter, to turn away from God and others. How has God called you to at times pay a price for following God? Sometimes, the evilness of sin is lowered by calling it a disease. The Lord was with Joseph. Potiphar trusted him, giving him charge over everything he owned. Then she called Potiphar and, by implication, blamed him. Say: Josephs brothers held on to their anger and bitterness. For Rumi, Zuleikha's obsession with Joseph is a symptom and manifestation of the soul's great deep longing for God. Getting angry is just self-expressionsharing whats on ones mind! Eight times Yahweh is mentioned in this chapter. Potiphars wifes frustration with seducing Joseph lights up her anger. 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. Say: God did NOT abandon Joseph! 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). Having Joseph around was wonderful for Potiphar. However, what we see is that God was with Joseph. What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. However, though Joseph was good looking, Potiphars wife didnt notice him until he was exalted. 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 . Also, it would be easier for him to stand when other major temptations would come while he oversaw matters in Egypt. Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. No doubt, she not only spoke but probably tried to tempt him by wearing revealing clothing and alluring perfume. Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife is also enamored with Joseph. We dont want to grieve Gods heart; we dont want to lose his favor and empowerment to serve others. Joseph had lost his masters respect and he was forced to become lower than a slave - he became a PRISONER. Then she made up a big lie about him (John 8:44). Application Question: When tempted, how often do you consider the consequences of sin? This is where many succumb to temptation. Many fail to submit to God in the midst of their trials and temptations and instead succumb to them. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon. King Solomon's Story in the BibleWho Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?Who Was the Prodigal Son? She grabbed hold of his coat, but he managed to get away from her. God blesses all of Josephs situationsfrom an empty well in Canaan to Potiphars lavish home with his bored, lustful wife to a dark prison cell. Remember, he is the father of lies (John 8:44). Everything that Joseph did prospered. This was preparing him to lead all of Egypt. You have a disease! Q. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. He didnt look at her or even listen to her. From that time on, the Lord blessed Potiphar's family and servants because of Joseph. According to the Quran, her name is Zuleika. How is your integrity? Even when things got much worse, the Lord was with him. From the time he puts him in charge, the Lord blesses the household. Eve had to trust God to not succumb to temptation, and its the same for us. 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? [citation needed] The story of Yusuf and Zulaikha is a popular one in Islamic literature. Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. She was the wife of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard in the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. We have a longing for justice, because we are created in the image of a perfectly just God (Deuteronomy 32:4). In this section of Josephs narrative, he experiences major temptations: He was tempted to be upset and bitter at his circumstance of being sold into slavery. During this trial, he was learning humility, as he was no longer Jacobs favored sonhe was now a slave. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.' And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. It is meant to mature us for our calling, as James said, and thats exactly what God was doing with Joseph. Imagine how strange this was to Joseph. When Joseph rejects Potiphars wife, she lies and accuses him of attempting to assault her sexually. Some members of my church might never return to church again. Joseph's master saw that the Lord was with him. 39-4: Five ways Joseph foreshadows Yeshua's life in Genesis 39, 39-3: Potiphar did NOT believe his wife's accusation about Joseph, 39-2: Joseph teaches us to be faithful regardless of circumstances, 39-1: The Pharaoh during Joseph's time was NOT an Egyptian, 38-5: One Hasidic Jew's take on the Tamar & Judah prostitution incident, 38-4: The difference between "Cultic Harlotry" and "Common Prostitution" in the Scriptures, 38-3: Levirate marriage has nothing to do with the Tribe of Levi, 38-1: The importance of Judah to the Messianic Line, 37-6: God used adversity in Joseph's life to prepare him for the future, 37-5: 15 ways Joseph's Life foreshadows Yeshua in Genesis 37, 37-3: The reasons Joseph was so hated by his brothers, 37-2: Divine Providence plays center stage in Joseph's life. When Joseph is taken by slave traders to Egypt, he is purchased by a high official in Pharaohs court named Potiphar. I imagine she rolled away from her husbands side, estranged from him by her deception. As we said, some people even believed he was a god. 5 Guzik, D. (2013). No matter where Joseph ends up, he flourishes personally and carries out Gods plan. If he failed in any way, Potiphar might put him in prison or even worse, execute him. So . Are you willing to trust what God says about your trialsthat he is using them for good? Say: Now Joseph was in a new land with different smells, different tastes, different people, a different language, and different gods. You can believe God and live, or you can believe Satan, and be caught in his trap. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Joseph was a handsome young man, and he eventually caught the attention of Potiphar's wife. The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape was the death penalty. God was enabling him to be strong and wise. He experienced sexual temptation from his masters wife, which is the major temptation in this narrative. 9. Potiphar's wife is never named in the biblical passagemerely referred to as , "wife of his [Joseph's] master" (vv. Are you submitting to Gods discipline? [citation needed], Scholars such as Meir Sternberg (1985) characterise the woman's repetitive behaviour towards Joseph as sexual assault. When the mouse would come out at night looking for food, it would smell the stinky cheese. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. 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. However, Christ says to be angry is morally equivalent to murder (Matt 5:21-22)! This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Judaism is a stub. He put Joseph in charge of his house. She attempted to sleep with him many times, but Joseph continually refused. Potiphar believes his high-pedigree wife and throws Joseph in prison. He was one of four men the Bible describes in this way, including Saul, David, and Absalom. Even if you are reading a version with friendlier wording, children who are following along in their Bibles will come across wording that is not age-appropriate. Men and women can overcome the temptation to be unfaithful to their partner and God. . Potiphar puts him in charge of his household and entrusts everything into his care. Thats what Israel didcausing them to miss Gods blessing in their trial and instead experience his wrath. Gods grace gives you strength, peace, and even joy, in any situation (Romans 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:9). Potiphar doesn't believe his wife's claim that Joseph tried to rape her. Gods grace gives you power when Satan tries to tempt you. He was here exposed to temptations of no ordinary character. What Makes Makoto Fujimura a Great Christian Artist? Do you believe that God would go all the way down to a dingy dungeon to be with Joseph? Israel was tempted in the wilderness. Solomon said this to his son about avoiding the temptation of adultery: Can a man hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes? Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. If not, you will eventually succumb to temptation and reap the consequences of it. Historical documents tell us that the bodyguards were Pharaohs executioners. The Bible says that there is only one true God. Thomas Nelson. Saul fell when success came, and so did David and Solomon. Justice is achieved as the commentators name, neuter, and then neutralize Potiphar, bringing the entire sordid . This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. All rights reserved. Having a wife was primarily for providing an heir and overseeing the household. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! After Joseph rejected Potiphars wife, she didnt stop pursuing him. God was in Canaan with Jacob and in Egypt with Joseph at the same time. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? Potiphar's wife accused him of raping her, so he did it to make his wife happy. As Joseph submitted to God in the trial, God was with him to bless and not to discipline. All rights reserved. It wasnt long before sin came knocking at Josephs door. Well need to be more disciplined with our time and money. Satan spends his days and nights setting traps to distract people from the truth (1 Peter 5:8). He or she hurts the workplace instead of making it more productive.) Well start to see how God used this terrible situation for good! The president. It would seem that his judgment should have been swift and brutal if, indeed, Joseph had sexually assaulted her. 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. Ask: Who was with Joseph? How could I sin against God?" There is circumstantial evidence within the text that Potiphar didnt completely believe his wife. - Genesis 39:21 a NLT Props: A mousetrap, cheese Background/Review She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, Have sex with me! But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside. He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allh. Joseph refused Potiphar's wife even after multiple advances, day after day. Egyptian women in the ancient world were especially known for immorality and loose morals (even married women).6 Mrs. Potiphar probably said, There is nothing wrong with this! He was learning administrative skills, as he led all of Potiphars household. The warden did not concern himself with anything that was in Josephs care because the Lord was with him and whatever he was doing the Lord was making successful. 27. Well need to be more transparent, as a means of protection. Say: Joseph didnt know anyone in this new country. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible. She goes by the moniker Potiphars wife, but she does not act like a godly wife, whose virtues are praised in Proverbs 31. She knew that Joseph would have to come inside in order to do his work. - Genesis 39:8-9. On the other hand, she 'cast her eyes' upon Joseph and pursued him - planning in her heart to seduce him. God is everywhere. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' God used this humbling circumstance as a boot campmeant to discipline and train Joseph. However, the account of Joseph and Potiphar changes when Potiphar's wife asked Joseph to sleep with her. Say: But, Here comes trouble. 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?. 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. In fact, its in those times that God pours out an extra measure of grace on you. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. 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. The transfer of Joseph from the house to the adjoining prison would be quietly managed, and then no more need be said about an ugly business. Some people make things with their own hands, such as a statue, and worship it (Isaiah 37:19). The blessing is on everything Potiphar owns - his fields, his house, his possessions. While Andrews novel is a work of fiction, Potiphars wife was very likely a neglected, lonely, and unhappy trophy wife. She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. When Joseph was imprisoned based on Mrs. Potiphars accusations, apparently, it was more like Daniel being thrown in the lions den (Daniel 6). The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. Boldly ask for the grace to say NO to sin. Potipher's Wife Is Not Joseph's Master. Instead, they sold him as a slave to some traders that were passing by. They took his colorful coat, dipped it in the blood of a goat, and gave it to their father. 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. How else can you tell if youre compatible for marriage? He made him his attendant. 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. He was humble. 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.
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