Imagine one of your relatives selling you into slavery. You wind up in Egypt, a foreign land and a culture you’ve never known. This happened to a Bible person named Joseph. His brothers didn’t like the God inspired dreams that Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, had about them. These dreams showed Joseph that he would be in a position of prominence one day and his brothers would bow down to him. Jealousy and rage overtook Joseph’s brothers every time they heard about his dreams. Rather than killing him, they devised a plan to get rid of him.
Joseph, a Hebrew was sold by his brothers to traveling merchants. His fate was definitely up in the air. By divine intervention Joseph was bought by Potiphar, a man with authority and connections to the Pharoah of Egypt. Joseph proved to be a loyal and faithful worker in Potiphar’s house. As Joseph proved his diligence, Potiphar rewarded him with greater duties to the point that he became the overseer of everything in Potiphar’s household. However, an unexpected problem surfaced. Potiphar’s wife found Joseph to be a very attractive and desirable young man.
She began to flirt with him and repeatedly tried to persuade him to have sex with her. This put Joseph in an awful situation. No doubt Joseph saw that Potiphar’s wife was a beautiful woman. But, he still refused her advances. He believed it to be a wicked action, a sin against God, and disrespect to Potiphar. His wife didn’t have the views of Joseph nor did she worship the same God. She was accustomed to getting everything she wanted. Now, she wanted Joseph.
One day when nobody was around she grabbed Joseph. His instincts to do the right thing compelled him to flee from her immediately. In his haste to get away from her clutching arms, Joseph wrangled himself free leaving behind his robe. Can you imagine the reaction of Potiphar’s wife? Probably, something like this,” Who does he think he is rejecting me? I am beaut-i-ful! Nobody denies me what I want, especially a little Hebrew slave! He’s going to regret the day he ever saw me!”
She then sat back and concocted a revengeful plan before Potiphar came home. Joseph was innocent. He didn’t do anything wrong. He just made one mistake. She called the attendants and told them that Joseph tried to seduce her while tearfully clutching his robe as evidence. This was the basis for her to weave a serious lie about him. Resentment consumed her heart and mind toward Joseph as she rehearsed the lies that she would tell Potiphar.
Later, Potiphar entered the room. She probably cried and feigned her arms dramatizing the horrid experience she just suffered. At first Potiphar would have been stunned by this news. Nevertheless, she continued to emphasize that she was subjected to such disgrace by this Hebrew slave. She would also stress to Potiphar that he brought Joseph into their home. All the time she was reporting her version of what happened the identifying robe of Joseph was draped close to her body while she lay on the bed. The climax was telling Potiphar that Joseph made love to her. Upon hearing these gut wrenching words Potiphar’s wrath kindled like a blazing fire. He took immediate action by calling his attendants to seize Joseph.
By divine intervention Joseph’s life was spared. The lie that Potiphar’s wife told was costly to Joseph. His status as a respected servant slave changed instantly. He went from responsibilities and favor in Potiphar’s household to being thrown into Pharaoh’s prison. Yet, God did not leave Joseph. How do we know this? The keeper of the prisoners was kind to Joseph. This action was a direct reflection of God’s favor and mercy. Here again, Joseph worked faithfully at his duties in prison and eventually the keeper allowed Joseph to run the prison. It seems that whether Joseph was in Potiphar’s house or in Pharoah’s prison, God showed him favor and mercy.
In Genesis Chapter 39 Joseph could have tried to please Potiphar’s wife and maybe he wouldn’t have gotten caught. But, his personal deep convictions to please God were far greater and therefore he ran to get away from trouble. If we are faithful to God’s way of living our lives trouble may come but He will make a way for us to bear it and bless us in the process. This chapter also shows that it might cost us something to do what is right to please God.
In the end, though, the price of obeying God is minimal. Joseph didn’t lose his integrity and self-respect. Joseph kept a good conscious and his relationship with God was undamaged. Later chapters in the Book of Genesis reveal that he didn’t remain in prison and his God inspired dreams became a reality. Therefore, fleeing from trouble proved to have wonderful benefits for Joseph. Today, we should remember that God will bless us now and eternally for living right!
