[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." There is no one greater in this household than I am. Application: You must be aware of Satans traps. Another principle about conquering temptation that we can discern is the need to practice integrity in all areas of life. To fight this temptation, Joseph not only refused but also stopped being around her. How commonly do we see successful pastors, athletes, businessmen, or government officials fall? 34-1: Dinah, a daughter of Israel, is raped by a Canaanite! Justice is achieved as the commentators name, neuter, and then neutralize Potiphar, bringing the entire sordid . 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). Here in a cold prison, God continued to use Joseph. Im a great-looking 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. - Genesis 39:20b-23. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. - 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. All of his life, Joseph had believed in only one God. Their father, Jacob, loved Joseph more than all the brothers, Jacob gave him a fancy coat, and Joseph dreamed that his brothers would bow down to him one day. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (2:11-12). During this trial, he was learning humility, as he was no longer Jacobs favored sonhe was now a slave. If we dont hate it, then it will linger in our lives. They sold Joseph to a very important Egyptian man. Joseph just needed to trust them. Finally, while Joseph was imprisoned, God showed him great kindness. [3] It could be argued that the woman is trying to assert herself as a person who makes her own choices instead of remaining an object owned by her husband, and invites Joseph to join her in this action which the narrative frames as a 'sin'. The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape was the death penalty. She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, Have sex with me! But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside. Potiphars wife appears to cut quite a figure in her important husbands life and the life of his steward, the Jewish peoples leader Joseph. 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. This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." Because of this, Potiphar threw Joseph into prison. After being wrongly imprisoned, it is very possible that he was tempted towards hopelessness and despair. (Nobody promotes a bitter, whiny, solemn person! And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Promiscuity is natural. Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. 27-4: Who are the descendants of Esau today? He saw that the Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Why is this such an important discipline? 7 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Jacob believed that a wild animal had killed Joseph. She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. But Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). All rights reserved worldwide. Genesis (Ge 39:710). She said, that Hebrew slave you brought to us tried to humiliate me (v. 17). "Zuleikha" redirects here. 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. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." While they engaged in this task, Zuleikha had Joseph walk through the room. How should Christians overcome this reprogramming? How did the Egyptians fall into this trap? Having Joseph around was wonderful for Potiphar. Potiphar's wife was not. Ultimately, all sin is against God. The Egyptians saw things that God made such as the sun, the moon, and animals, and believed that these amazing things must be gods. The Lord is the one and only God., In Deuteronomy 32:39, God declares, Look! He was here exposed to temptations of no ordinary character. When it reached a crescendo he fled youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). Genesis 39. QUESTION 5: Did Potiphar truly believe his wife's accusation of Joseph? Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28). It seems quite likely that Potiphar did not believe his wife. She mentions that Dr. Grove defended himself against attempted rape charges through the Potiphar vignette. 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. In a story found in the Quran and Ginzbergs book, Zuleika invites her aristocratic friends over to the palace to see her handsome Hebrew slave. The man who ran the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. 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. (For the sharpest Bible students only! 2 Swindoll, Charles R. Joseph (p. 24). 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. Say: Can you imagine worshipping the craft you made with your own hands? Q. Phil 4:6-7). According to the Book of Genesis, she falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape after he rejected her sexual advances, resulting in his imprisonment. Who was Potiphar's Wife in the Bible? - viralbeliever.com How they plotted to kill him but sold him to a passing caravan of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt. Unfortunately, this sudden fall has happened to many others as well. This narrative of Potiphars wife, her husband, and Joseph is more evidence that God can carry out His plan for us in any situation. All rights reserved. Joseph already has a strong character before Potiphars wife watches him working outside the palace through the gauze curtains of her jasmine-scented chambers. The Bible does not state that Joseph even tried to defend himself by telling the truth. He was faithful with littlePotiphars housetherefore, it was easier to stand when tempted by his wife. Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 461). 1 Cor 10:13, Jam 1:3-4, Heb 12:7)? 37-1: Why isn't Joseph considered a Patriarch? The story of Potiphar's wife . It wasnt long before sin came knocking at Josephs door. When Joseph rejects Potiphars wife, she lies and accuses him of attempting to assault her sexually. 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. The circumstantial evidence seems to point to the fact that Potiphar believed Joseph was righteousthough he had to punish him in some manner. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. And Pharaohs most important official chose Joseph to be his slave. 39. From the Penthouse to the Prison (Genesis 39:1-23) And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.' That would suppress who you really are! Application Question: What are some common costs of maintaining our integrity and conquering temptation? From the time he puts him in charge, the Lord blesses the household. We have a longing for justice, because we are created in the image of a perfectly just God (Deuteronomy 32:4). According to monumental evidence (Wilkinson's ' Ancient Egyptians,' vol. Gods grace made Joseph want to obey God. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.' 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. - Genesis 39:1-2. Main Point: The Lord is with those who trust Him, even in the most difficult times. 40-4: How was Joseph able to remain so strong in his faith? Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. Imagine how strange this was to Joseph. 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. No doubt, she not only spoke but probably tried to tempt him by wearing revealing clothing and alluring perfume. What Can Galileo Teach Us about Science and Faith? Essentially, temptation always says that taking part in it will satisfy us, and that the temptation is better than Gods will for us. She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. In the same way, Joseph had complete control over everything in Potiphars household - except for one thing, Potiphars wife. 29. 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. I imagine bags forming under her flashing eyes from sleep-challenged nights thinking over her actions with Joseph. 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. He tried to have sex with me, but I screamed loudly. Essentially, he taught that we need to be drastic in order to be holy. Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. 27. Potiphar's wife has no children and does not seem to love her husband. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. In short, she has no purpose. The Lord was with Joseph. The Bible does not report this. She lies to her husband, and when he throws Joseph in prison, she probably imagines it will be the end of Josephs life. Its terrible calamity had transformed him from a petted child to a man, thoughtful, courageous, and self-possessed. You are his wife. 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. 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. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking. He learned the Egyptian language and customs. Some believers are just too strong to conquer temptation. Indeed, He is my master, who has made good my residence. If it means avoiding a certain person or group of people, so be it. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 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). Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. Similarly, if we are going to conquer temptation, we must intentionally and persistently avoid it as well. Genesis (Ge 39:1). Application: Satan loves to tempt people with what God has forbidden. On the other hand, the future for Potiphars wife does not look promising. How is your integrity? By His grace, God gave Joseph the power to say NO to sin (Titus 2:11-12). She called all the servants togetherdeclaring that the Hebrew that Potiphar brought to them came to humiliate them (v. 14). Potiphar's wife stands out, however, as perhaps the evilest nameless woman in the Bible. 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. 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. Often Christians compartmentalize their life: certain deceptions are OK, and others are not. 2007BibleLessons4Kidz.com All rights reserved worldwide. Potiphar and His Wife - Bible Study - BibleWise The test that Joseph faced was very similar to the temptation that Adam and Eve faced in the Garden of Eden. This is the very reason many people fall into temptation. Do you follow God in everything you do? They trusted Satan when he accused God of holding back something good from them, so they took what was forbidden. He trusted Joseph and he no longer worried about running his home. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. She may have lied in other areas to protect her high position. The text says that Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything he owned. He didnt know how, but Joseph knew that God was going to exalt him, and his family would bow to him. Next week well see another twist in Gods incredible plan for Joseph. Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. 3 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Actually, yes. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. She knew that Joseph would have to come inside in order to do his work. We all know how this works. So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. 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. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). Josephs personal integrity was impeccable in all areasnot just when it came to sexual purity. 6 Guzik, D. (2013). Jodi has over 20 years experience teaching children in large and small group settings. Who were the priests of On? Potiphars wife stands out, however, as perhaps the evilest nameless woman in the Bible. 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. His entire life, he only worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The cost of sin is too much. Everyone and everything in Potiphars home was blessed because of Josephs God-centered life. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. When he refused, she falsely accused him of attempted rape. This is the very reason many people cant get free from sin; they simply dont see it as bad. She picked a moment when the servants were all out of the house. 40-1: Was Joseph really kept in a "prison"? Gods plans, though mysterious and unpredictable, are always good. Let it out! Its OK! This is one of the ways Satan makes evil attractivehe rebrands it, like a great businessman. 1. p. 392, ed. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! How he ended up a slave in the household of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officers. He was one of four men the Bible describes in this way, including Saul, David, and Absalom. Zuleikha then reminded her friends that she had to see Joseph every day. Even though Joseph had to suffer a cost for being holybeing put in prisonGod was with him in the prison and blessed him. This is what she said to him: That Hebrew slave you brought to us tried to humiliate me, but when I raised my voice and screamed, he left his outer garment and ran outside. When his master heard his wife say, This is the way your slave treated me, he became furious. His master observed that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he was doing successful. Genesis 39 - Believe His Prophets | Revival & Reformation For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Your email address will not be published. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. [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. God is with you. Do you stand out as different among the ungodly? When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.5. Say: Joseph went from being the favorite son to becoming a SLAVE! And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. I have chosen Sforno's translation, since it's one of the more concise ones. 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). Also, it would be easier for him to stand when other major temptations would come while he oversaw matters in Egypt. Distracted by his handsomeness, all the ladies accidentally cut themselves with the knives, drawing blood. What Can Christians Learn From John Donne? Potiphar puts him in charge of his household and entrusts everything into his care. Joseph refuses, using a word that suggests the decision is difficult. His life was different; he was set apart from the ungodly. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets - Ellen G. White When he did, she sprung her trap. You can even get angry at God! Husbands, especially if they were wealthy, commonly had concubines or mistresses. We must remember that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Oh, getting drunk and abusing your wife, thats not your fault! Instead of being bitter and upset, Joseph submitted to God and trusted him in the midst of his trial. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?" Getting angry is just self-expressionsharing whats on ones mind! The Bible makes it clear that there is only one God, so where do all of these other gods come from? 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. Joseph had previously foreseen God using the bad for good in his dreams (Gen 37:5-11) and he believed those dreams. He was the captain of the palace guard. The Hebrew would try to hurt them as well. 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. Canaan. Gods grace gives you strength, peace, and even joy, in any situation (Romans 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:9). Then she called Potiphar and, by implication, blamed him. Most importantly, like Joseph, we must remember that participating in sin hurts God deeply. He didnt look at her or even listen to her. Potiphars wife frames Joseph, saying he made improper advances toward her. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. 31. . Thinking of its consequences will help us stand against temptation. She was the wife of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard in the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. Verse 7. 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). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. Application Question: When tempted, how often do you consider the consequences of sin? The Egyptians had a long list of gods. "There are several important morals to the story of Joseph, and many types for our day. He gave him favor with the prison warden. "Now he doesn't have to worry about anything in the house. All rights reserved. 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. 28. Say: God blessed Joseph, and the blessings poured out over Potiphar, his family, and even his servants. This is, of course, Potiphar's household. Joseph, Potiphar's Wife, and the Truth about False Allegations Thank God, He sees people differently from how we see people. Did Potiphar believe his wife? Paul relied on Gods grace to bring him strength and contentment in the most trying of circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13). Gods grace can turn any situation around. Joseph ran awayleaving his outer garment in her hand. Key Verse: But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love. 35-2: Does the church today hold false beliefs about God as Jacob did in his time? She goes by the moniker Potiphars wife, but she does not act like a godly wife, whose virtues are praised in Proverbs 31. Potiphars wife may have been attractive, but her interactions with Joseph were not lovely. is potiphar and potiphera the same person (1) When it says, he became furious (v. 19), it does not say that he became furious at Joseph. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. Log in. (2) Also, if Joseph were bitter, instead of experiencing Gods blessings as he did, he would have experienced Gods discipline. Two credible sources, the Quran and Louis Ginzbergs study Legends of the Jews, name Potiphars wife Zuleika, which sounds like a wily woman. Kindle Edition. What can we learn from the account of Potiphar's wife? But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him His faithful love. 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. 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. How has God called you to at times pay a price for following God? 9. It would seem that his judgment should have been swift and brutal if, indeed, Joseph had sexually assaulted her. It can no longer get to the real food supply, and I can do whatever I want with the mouse. The Lord was with Joseph. Joseph clung to God and he was even blessed in prison! (Genesis 50:20). We call this omni-present. The price could be loneliness, being made fun of, losing ones job, or even losing ones life. 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. Now he was in a land where people believed in thousands of gods. If you eat of the tree, you wont die. Sometimes, God sends us places so that people who do not know Him will be able to see God through us. Joseph lived in Potiphar's house. There is nowhere you can go where God cannot go with you (Psalm 139:7-12). This is exactly how the world and Satan promote sin: It is not a great evil! The president. While Andrews novel is a work of fiction, Potiphars wife was very likely a neglected, lonely, and unhappy trophy wife. Hebrews 4:16 says, So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. Meanwhile, the traders who had bought Joseph traveled to Egypt. Their jealousy grew and grew until some of them wanted to kill Joseph. Sadly, the good vibes didn't last. Indeed, you were of the sinful." In what ways is God calling you to further employ strategic principles to overcome temptation in general or with a specific temptation? Not only was she declaring to the other slaves that Joseph was a threat, but she catered to their ethnic pride and fear of foreigners. And women in the city said, "The wife of al-Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love.

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