Ge. 39: "Mrs. Potiphar, You're Trying to Seduce Me."

Joseph had to grow up in a hurry, and the story of him and Potiphar in chapter 39 is a pretty interesting one. Not only does it show that blessings come to those who trust in the God of Abraham, but it shows just how far God can take a person in spite of the situation they are facing.

What better example than Joseph?

He is sold by his brothers as property to the Midianite traders. I am sure that he brought good things to them before he was bought by Potiphar, the captain of the Pharaoh's guard. The LORD was with Joseph, and he prospered in Potiphar's home. Potiphar even recognized that it was the LORD that was the source of this prosperity. As Joseph cultivated this reputation of being an upstanding citizen, in spite of his being a slave, Potiphar put him in charge of everything in his household except for the food he ate. And why wouldn't he? With Joseph in charge, the LORD was in charge. Its a good life.

Joseph was a pretty studly guy, and Potiphar's wife knew it. She was pretty up-front with what she wanted with Joseph.

"Come to bed with me!"

I am assuming Potiphar's wife was a woman who was used to getting what she wanted, this coming from her place of privilege, marrying a high ranking official of the Pharaoh himself...who was essentially a god.

Joseph's response was essentially that he could not do such a wicked thing, considering the place of esteem in which Potiphar held him. Potiphar had given Joseph just about everything. Except his wife. Joseph had an amazing heart attitude in that he equated sinning against his master to sinning against God.

And this wasn't a one-time passing fancy with Pot's wife, it became an obsession. The Word says "day after day" she tried to seduce him. She didn't get the message.

Finally one day, he went into the house, and there was no one else around, except Mrs. Robins...uh...Potiphar. Solitude is often the cruelest test for one's integrity. She caught him by his cloak and demanded once more, as usual, "come to bed with me." But he left his cloak in her hand, and ran out of the house. He fled this sin. Flat-out refusal was not working. Joseph needed another approach, lest he give in, and that was to make his escape. To run away.

So Mrs. Potiphar is standing there in Joseph's dust...probably humiliated and angry. How could this slave boy not want to sleep with her...a trophy wife! Fa! So she calls all the servants, saying, "Look, this Hebrew boy has come to make sport of us. I screamed, and he left his cloak in my hand!"

And the servants probably looked at each other saying, under their breath, "I didn't hear a scream...you?...no...you?...uh uh...." They probably were accustomed to her behavior by then anyway, and I assume they probably knew the deal.

When Potiphar hears it, for some reason he believes his slutty wife over God's servant. Which is the way sometimes, right?

Anyway, Potiphar throws Joseph in prison. But God did not abandon him there. The warden recognized that the LORD was with this young man, and his reputation from Potiphar's household preceded him. So eventually, the warden gave Joseph charge over those held in the prison. So much so, that the warden didn't even give Joseph a second thought. Pretty amazing to have that kind of success from God.

I think what this passage tells me about God is that He will throw circumstances at you, or allow them to come to you, but still won't leave your side. And that's a blessing to me. It causes me not to fear adversity, because it will come, but God is never distant.