Joseph, ignore this. What Satan means for bad, God is going to use for your good (cf. 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. But Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. To fight this temptation, Joseph not only refused but also stopped being around her. funny ways to say home run grassroots elite basketball Menu . Used by permission. They were having relations. They even treated their king, Pharaoh, as a god. 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). Grabbing hold of his garment, she made her plea one last time: "Lie down with me!" Joseph acted . 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? Naturally Potiphar was angered beyond words. God is working all things for our good and to make us into his Sons image (Rom 8:28-29). He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. 5 Guzik, D. (2013). So when he [i.e., her husband] saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of your [i.e., women's] plan. QUESTION 5: Did Potiphar truly believe his wife's accusation of Joseph? When it reached a crescendo he fled youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). 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. Potiphars wife is one of 42 nameless women in the Bible, according to Lindsay Hardin Freeman in her book Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden. 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. She picked a moment when the servants were all out of the house. 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. He gave him favor with the prison warden. She grabbed hold of his coat, but he managed to get away from her. A former high school English teacher and editor, she works on writing projects from her home in West Michigan, where she enjoys woods, water, pets, and family. It is meant to develop righteousness in us and give us more peace, regardless of our circumstances. 35. Joseph's master saw that the Lord was with him. How do we know this? As he ran out, she held onto his coat. He gave Joseph success in everything he did. So . The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. Overseeing other prisoners and interpreting dreams leads to his further success as a leader of the Israelites. First Thessalonians 5:22 says, Stay away from every form of evil. Christ taught that if our eye offends us, to pluck it out, if our hand offends us, to cut it off, and if our foot offends us, to do the same (Matt 5:29-30, Matt 18:8-9). Ask: Who can tell me why they were so jealous? He was faithful with littlePotiphar's housetherefore, it was easier to stand when tempted by his wife. In Genesis 39, we read the Hallmark Channel-worthy story of Potiphars wife making an attempt to seduce Joseph. And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within, that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. You cant hold it in. 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). Remember that Satans lies are nothing more than stinky cheese! Interpretation Question: Did Potiphar believe his wifes accusations? Say: Joseph went from being the favorite son to becoming a SLAVE! 2007BibleLessons4Kidz.com All rights reserved worldwide. Similarly, if we are going to conquer temptation, we must intentionally and persistently avoid it as well. Are you willing to trust what God says about your trialsthat he is using them for good? The writer of Hebrews warns against scorning or becoming upset at Gods discipline. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. We may not have clear, predictive dreams from God, but we do have a clearer word than Joseph had. Potiphar's wife has no children and does not seem to love her husband. Many fail to submit to God in the midst of their trials and temptations and instead succumb to them. Just the opposite, Joseph was content with all that God had blessed him with. Its OK to cheat on a testEverybody else is doing it! they say. Mrs. Potiphar quickly went from humiliation to rageleading her to frame Joseph. (For the sharpest Bible students only! In what ways is God calling you to further employ strategic principles to overcome temptation in general or with a specific temptation? Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. 1 Guzik, D. (2013). He was humble. Thinking of its consequences will help us stand against temptation. Getting angry is just self-expressionsharing whats on ones mind! When things were bad, God moved in a special way in his life, even if Joseph was unaware of it. The Quran narrates the wife of Azizs treatment of Yusuf as follows: And when he reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. 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." Satan spends his days and nights setting traps to distract people from the truth (1 Peter 5:8). Eve had to trust God to not succumb to temptation, and its the same for us. Potiphar doesn't believe his wife's claim that Joseph tried to rape her. 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. Therefore, in order to conquer temptation, we must trust God and what his Word says. Essentially, he taught that we need to be drastic in order to be holy. It seems quite likely that Potiphar did not believe his wife. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. So how could I do an evil thing like that? Genesis (Ge 39:710). 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. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. Were creatures with needssleep, food, sex. The Bible does not report this. It was when Joseph was successful that he experienced greater temptations. Islamic history presents contradicting details, which is common when searching for such ancient historical data, and it all reads a little like a soap opera. Gods grace can turn any situation around. It is also clear that Joseph was overseeing all the prisoners under the warden (Gen 39:22), not just Pharaohs special prisoners. He oversees other prisoners and interprets their dreams and the prophetic dream of the king of Egypt. 7 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Potiphars wife knows the ancient Egyptian punishment for a woman committing adultery was to have her nose cut off. The narrator said, Soon after these things (v. 7). He has served over eighteen years in pastoral ministry, and currently serves as a chaplain and professor at Handong G More. 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). He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field. However, what we see is that God was with Joseph. Application: You must be aware of Satans traps. 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. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. Ask: How many of you made a craft today? This is the very reason many people cant get free from sin; they simply dont see it as bad. God was with Joseph when he was the only believer in Egypt, and He will be with you wherever you go. Others might turn away from Christ altogether. An Egyptian named Potiphar had bought him from the Ishmaelite traders who had taken him there. 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)? If you eat of the tree, you wont die. 27. How else can you tell if youre compatible for marriage? God was intimately involved in every detail of Josephs life. Are you submitting to Gods discipline? Potiphar believes his high-pedigree wife and throws Joseph in prison. Main Point: The Lord is with those who trust Him, even in the most difficult times. "Now he doesn't have to worry about anything in the house. One of these is the Hebrew Joseph, who had been placed in control of Potiphar's large estate and household. Potiphars wife could have learned a lesson from her encounter with Joseph and gained a name and a new character in her future. How has God used seemingly bad thingslike trials and temptationsfor your good? . Well need to be more disciplined with our time and money. Potiphars wife was not faithful to her husband or perhaps her pagan gods. Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? 40-5: Six ways Joseph's life foreshadows Yeshua in Genesis 40. What Can Galileo Teach Us about Science and Faith? E39-2: What was the purpose of the bells attached to the hem of the High Priest's robe? Deuteronomy 6:4 says, Israel, listen to me. Kindle Edition. This is the very reason many people fall into temptation. She may have lied in other areas to protect her high position. However, the account of Joseph and Potiphar changes when Potiphar's wife asked Joseph to sleep with her. Some believers are just too strong to conquer temptation. This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Judaism is a stub. 39-3: Potiphar did NOT believe his wife's accusation about Joseph By richoka 5 Comments When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. By His grace, God gave Joseph the power to say NO to sin (Titus 2:11-12). Joseph lived in Potiphar's house. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. Whats the big deal?!. If he had . The president. Application Question: In what ways have you seen people change negatively when they gain success or are put into authority positions? How his brothers resented the special treatment their bratty little brother received. [citation needed], Scholars such as Meir Sternberg (1985) characterise the woman's repetitive behaviour towards Joseph as sexual assault. The man who ran the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. Actually, yes. Historical documents tell us that the bodyguards were Pharaohs executioners. God is with you. When Joseph was imprisoned based on Mrs. Potiphars accusations, apparently, it was more like Daniel being thrown in the lions den (Daniel 6). But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful." The Bible (Genesis 39:5-20) narrates her treatment of Joseph, slave to her husband Potiphar: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save the bread which he did eat. Phil 4:6-7). Say: When we left our story, Joseph was in a heap of trouble. For this, he insists, it is true of any person's deep love for another. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper ( Genesis 39:19-23 ). How he ended up a slave in the household of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officers. It can no longer get to the real food supply, and I can do whatever I want with the mouse. This scenario doesnt seem likely if Potiphar believed his wifes accusations. Potiphar's wife, though unnamed, played a significant role in Joseph's journey from favored son to powerful leader in Egypt. 34. It says she spoke to him day after day (v. 10). 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. As a young woman, Potiphars wife rules the isle of Crete, the largest Greek island, with her mother while her father is out at sea.

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