Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. Are you preparing to conquer temptation by having integrity in all things or preparing to succumb to future temptations by small compromises? Did Potiphar believe his wife? Who was Potiphar's Wife in the Bible? - viralbeliever.com Without doubt, Joseph was aware that scorning Potiphars wife could have hazardous consequences. 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. According to Genesis 39:1 (NKJV), Potiphar was "an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian.". 39-3: Potiphar did NOT believe his wife's accusation about Joseph So Potiphar told Joseph to take good care of everything he owned. Remaining nameless might be something this devious woman desired! Well need to be more transparent, as a means of protection. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Its the same lie Satan told Eve. He makes his lies sound really good. 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. Its the strong who are weak and the weak who are strong. What types of disciplines are necessary to protect someone in seasons of promotion and exaltation? Genesis 39. They trusted Satan when he accused God of holding back something good from them, so they took what was forbidden. Having Joseph around was wonderful for Potiphar. Joseph ran awayleaving his outer garment in her hand. Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. Hand Me Another Brick (p. 98). 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. [citation needed], Scholars such as Meir Sternberg (1985) characterise the woman's repetitive behaviour towards Joseph as sexual assault. Do you follow God in everything you do? We are called to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (Jam 1:4). She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. To give in to Potiphars wife would have ruined his relationships with Potiphar and God. . He was exalted in Potiphars house, and even after he became a prisoner, he was exalted again. 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! The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39 contains some obvious lessons about fidelity in the face of sexual temptation, and there are also some subtler points to be found about the loyal character of God. 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. These gifts of Joseph lead to his becoming governor of the land (Genesis 42:6) in Egypt and Gods leader of the Jewish people (Genesis 45:7-8). Then you only have two choices. Actually, yes. Potiphar's wife is never named in the biblical passagemerely referred to as , "wife of his [Joseph's] master" (vv. Rightly, Joseph knew that being a boyfriend to another mans wife was a sin against God. That's a pretty sobering story. Who was Potiphar's Wife in the Bible? - viralbeliever.com Genesis (Ge 39:710). Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? Gods perfect plan for marriage has always been one man and one woman together for their lifetime. 37-1: Why isn't Joseph considered a Patriarch? 7, 8), or , "his wife" (v. 19). Application Question: In what ways have you seen people change negatively when they gain success or are put into authority positions? As I went to search for some Advil, I stopped to ponder Potiphar's wife and Joseph. Its normal. In short, she has no purpose. Deuteronomy 6:4 says, Israel, listen to me. (Genesis 39:10) Potiphar's wife, however, was a determined seductress. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. If not, you will eventually succumb to temptation and reap the consequences of it. Some Bible translations (such as NIrV) are very explicit in the wording of her offer. Thinking of its consequences will help us stand against temptation. [Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." 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. This seems so unfair! Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. Potiphars wife knows the ancient Egyptian punishment for a woman committing adultery was to have her nose cut off. Justice is achieved as the commentators name, neuter, and then neutralize Potiphar, bringing the entire sordid . Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Potiphars wife stands out, however, as perhaps the evilest nameless woman in the Bible. Are you willing to trust what God says about your trialsthat he is using them for good? Used by permission. There is no one greater in this household than I am. Its OK to cheat on a testEverybody else is doing it! they say. 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. When Potiphar's wife accuses Joseph of laughing at or mocking her (39:14, 17), the verb she uses is one that appears ten times in Genesis but only twice elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. What can we learn from the account of Potiphars wife? Distracted by his handsomeness, all the ladies accidentally cut themselves with the knives, drawing blood. Say: When Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was sold to a man named Potiphar who was the captain of the guards at Pharaohs palace. The story of Potiphar's wife . They took his colorful coat, dipped it in the blood of a goat, and gave it to their father. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. To fight this temptation, Joseph not only refused but also stopped being around her. Joseph, Potiphar's Wife, and the Truth about False Allegations Say: Can you imagine worshipping the craft you made with your own hands? According to the Book of Genesis, she falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape after he rejected her sexual advances, resulting in his imprisonment. 34. God was in Canaan with Jacob and in Egypt with Joseph at the same time. The Quran narrates the wife of Azizs treatment of Yusuf as follows: And when he reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. [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]. Q. Say: Joseph didnt know anyone in this new country. How did the Egyptians fall into this trap? She said that Joseph came in to attack her, she screamed, and he ran away. Genesis 39: Hell Hath No Fury Like Mrs. Potiphar - ShegznStuff Potiphar's wife was not. Say: God did NOT abandon Joseph! Potiphar believes his high-pedigree wife and throws Joseph in prison. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you? Do you stand out as different among the ungodly? 3. This is a reason many people fall when temptation comes. In all these temptations, God was faithful to provide ways of escape, and he does the same for us. Thats what Israel didcausing them to miss Gods blessing in their trial and instead experience his wrath. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT) Even though Satan is powerful, God is immeasurably more powerful. So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. L15-4: How are believers to stay away from the UNCLEAN, yet show Gods love to the UNCLEAN? The story of Potiphar's wife has 3 parts: 1 We are in the household of a rich Egyptian man, Potiphar. He was here exposed to temptations of no ordinary character. Phil 4:6-7). Getting angry is just self-expressionsharing whats on ones mind! Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society / Used by permission of IBS-STL. 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. He was faithful with littlePotiphar's housetherefore, it was easier to stand when tempted by his wife. We might skim over this Bible passage that we know so well. Check out her blog atBetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website,www.elizabethdunning-wix.com. 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. 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. Joseph had lost his masters respect and he was forced to become lower than a slave - he became a PRISONER. Therefore, Potiphar was Pharaohs chief executioner.2 In all likelihood, he had a very decorated military resume and was a rough, no-nonsense guy. We must do whatever it takes to be holy. Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Main Point: The Lord is with those who trust Him, even in the most difficult times. 31. 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. If he failed in any way, Potiphar might put him in prison or even worse, execute him. Paul understood that true peace could never be achieved without Gods grace. 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. When Joseph rejects Potiphars wife, she lies and accuses him of attempting to assault her sexually. 25. Betty Dunn hopes her articles help you hold hands with God, a theme in her self-published memoirMedusa. He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field. However, what we see is that God was with Joseph. So how could I do an evil thing like that? Eve had to trust God to not succumb to temptation, and its the same for us. Potiphar's Wife - Women In The Scriptures JOSEPH and POTIPHAR'S WIFE: Joseph says NO to Adultery - Women In The Bible In this very difficult time, God poured out grace on Joseph that was like a big warm hug. All rights reserved. Joseph says in Genesis 39:9: No one is greater in this house than I am. [15] She is deemed an extension of her husband's property and is thus subservient to "the . 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. Q. So Potiphar was pleased with Joseph. 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. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Pet 5:6-7). Potiphars wife makes a go of seducing this handsome young servant but is unsuccessful in leading Joseph astray. God was enabling him to be strong and wise. Some dont want to get skipped over for promotion or shunned at their workplace, so they compromise with their peers. 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. Bible Rape Let's assume that Joseph was totally blameless, that a rejected woman, in her anger, accused him falsely, and he was consequently thrown into prison. God is with you. While they engaged in this task, Zuleikha had Joseph walk through the room. Jesus knows what it feels like to be attacked from the outside by Satan. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?. He refused to even be around her. Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 461). God is working all things for our good and to make us into his Sons image (Rom 8:28-29). He or she hurts the workplace instead of making it more productive.) How has God called you to at times pay a price for following God? Oh, getting drunk and abusing your wife, thats not your fault! But Joseph refused to spend any time with her. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?" In order to cover up for herself, accused of trying to commit . Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. What price do you have to pay in order to maintain holiness and conquer temptation? We dont want to grieve Gods heart; we dont want to lose his favor and empowerment to serve others. 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. 29. One day he went into the house to do his work when none of the household servants were there in the house. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. 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)? - 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. Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. The astrological calculations however were slightly off. The Hebrew word for "official" is the same that is used for eunuch. 39. From the Penthouse to the Prison (Genesis 39:1-23) E39-2: What was the purpose of the bells attached to the hem of the High Priest's robe? She was married to a rich man and had class and wealth on her side. Remember that Satans lies are nothing more than stinky cheese! 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? Verse 7. Are you submitting to Gods discipline? First Corinthians 10:13 implies that we all will experience temptation and, at the same time, be provided a way of escape. Similarly, if we are going to conquer temptation, we must intentionally and persistently avoid it as well. 1. p. 392, ed. In fact, its in those times that God pours out an extra measure of grace on you. In the very beginning, God created one wife (Eve) for one man (Adam). (Rashi) Where was Potiphar when his wife was talking to him? This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." Andrews speculates that Potiphar would rather have a new horse than a Minoanwife. Minoa was an ancient culture of Greece (and in the novel, Potiphars wifes original home, to which she longs to return).
John Barron Cruise Director Net Worth,
Food Truck Commissary Bay Area,
St Joseph Mercy Oakland Internal Medicine Residency,
Mastro's Downtown Los Angeles Opening Date,
Articles D