She was the wife of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard in the time of Jacob and his twelve sons. Promiscuity is natural. The Lord was with Joseph. Why did the most important official of the most important man in Egypt choose Joseph out of all the other slaves? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you? You can believe God and live, or you can believe Satan, and be caught in his trap. He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field. In short, she has no purpose. In the same way, Joseph had complete control over everything in Potiphars household - except for one thing, Potiphars wife. It was the place where the king's prisoners were kept. Even when things got much worse, the Lord was with him. You will be like God. Similarly, Satan says, Getting drunk will be lots of fun, and it wont hurt anybody! He says, Sex outside of marriage will only make you closer to your mate. Living with your girlfriend only makes sense. His name meant devoted to the sun, which demonstrated his pagan, religious background.1 He was captain of Pharaohs bodyguard, which was a prestigious position. Application Question: What are some other principles that will help us conquer temptation? Its Satans goal to rob God of the worship that God deserves, because Satan is so jealous of God. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. Ask: How many of you made a craft today? It is also clear that Joseph was overseeing all the prisoners under the warden (Gen 39:22), not just Pharaohs special prisoners. Say: Joseph wasnt alone because God was with Him. This description suggests that Potiphar held a high-ranking position within the Egyptian court, as he was responsible for the safety of Pharaoh and his household. 2 Swindoll, Charles R. Joseph (p. 24). She said Yosef was doing these things to me. Potiphars wife appears to cut quite a figure in her important husbands life and the life of his steward, the Jewish peoples leader Joseph. Knowing right from wrong may not stop us from acting sinfully. According to the Book of Genesis, she falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape after he rejected her sexual advances, resulting in his imprisonment. 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 text says that Potiphar put Joseph in charge of everything he owned. Remember, he is the father of lies (John 8:44). His big brothers were very jealous of him. Two credible sources, the Quran and Louis Ginzbergs study Legends of the Jews, name Potiphars wife Zuleika, which sounds like a wily woman. [1][2], Rashi comments that the wife of Potiphar saw through astrology that she would have children through Joseph. We might skim over this Bible passage that we know so well. He makes his lies sound really good. Check out her blog atBetty by Elizabeth Dunning and her website,www.elizabethdunning-wix.com. 40-3: Two similar dreams with two totally different outcomes! So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?. Thats what Israel didcausing them to miss Gods blessing in their trial and instead experience his wrath. Meanwhile, the traders who had bought Joseph traveled to Egypt. The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. Log in. This is a reason many people fall when temptation comes. 40-1: Was Joseph really kept in a "prison"? So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. 34-1: Dinah, a daughter of Israel, is raped by a Canaanite! Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik. If we dont hate it, then it will linger in our lives. What types of disciplines are necessary to protect someone in seasons of promotion and exaltation? 40-5: Six ways Joseph's life foreshadows Yeshua in Genesis 40. Christ was tempted, and well be tempted as well. This is the very reason many people fall into temptation. Potiphars wife frames Joseph, saying he made improper advances toward her. Her actions, driven by uncontrolled desires and a need for control, led to Joseph's imprisonment and ultimately to the fulfillment of God's plan for his life. 63 And whilst they were smiting him, Joseph called out with a loud . We are called to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (Jam 1:4). [citation needed] The story of Yusuf and Zulaikha is a popular one in Islamic literature. So he put Joseph in prison. Satans desire is that we worship anything or everything - except the one true God. (Rashi) Where was Potiphar when his wife was talking to him? No, bc he should've killed him and instead he sent him to jail. Your email address will not be published. Because of this, Potiphar threw Joseph into prison. She called all the servants togetherdeclaring that the Hebrew that Potiphar brought to them came to humiliate them (v. 14). Note to Teacher: The apostle Paul, who suffered greatly for the gospel, opened each of his epistles with the words, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. For Paul, Gods grace was inseparable from peace. I am One! All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added. Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-Azeez] should surely imprison him for a time. He or she hurts the workplace instead of making it more productive.) An Egyptian named Potiphar had bought him from the Ishmaelite traders who had taken him there. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. Having Joseph around was wonderful for Potiphar. This is, of course, Potiphar's household. The Holy Spirit guides us and gives us the power to make the right moral decisions and honor God. Perhaps Mesu Andrews novel, Potiphars Wife,gives her a brighter future than I have predicted. - Genesis 39:20b-23. Potiphars wife may have been attractive, but her interactions with Joseph were not lovely. The circumstantial evidence seems to point to the fact that Potiphar believed Joseph was righteousthough he had to punish him in some manner. She goes by the moniker Potiphars wife, but she does not act like a godly wife, whose virtues are praised in Proverbs 31. So Potiphar was pleased with Joseph. 29. Thomas Nelson. Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. His master observed that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he was doing successful. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife is also enamored with Joseph. Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. 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. He did not think he deserved more than God had given him. 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. Are you preparing to conquer temptation by having integrity in all things or preparing to succumb to future temptations by small compromises? How is your integrity? 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. Application Question: Why is it important to practice integrity in little things to protect us from stumbling in bigger things? From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptians household for Josephs sake. 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)? His integrity was preparing him for further exaltationto be second in command over Egypt. Gods grace gives you strength, peace, and even joy, in any situation (Romans 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:9). Adam and Eve were tempted in the garden. Also, it would be easier for him to stand when other major temptations would come while he oversaw matters in Egypt. 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. He was faithful with littlePotiphars housetherefore, it was easier to stand when tempted by his wife. In Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale,Potiphor's wife is referred to in Chapter 46 of the Ardua Hall Holograph storyline as narrated by Aunt Lydia. Satan even tried to tempt Jesus to step outside of Gods perfect will (Matthew 4:1-11). Verse 10 in the NIV says, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Whenever Joseph saw Mrs. Potiphar, he simply went the other direction. Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. In the very beginning, God created one wife (Eve) for one man (Adam). What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. God is everywhere. Yahweh is only mentioned one other time in the rest of Genesis3, which shows how active God was in this part of Josephs life. Application Question: Why is it important to see God as sovereign over trials and temptations in order to be faithful in them (cf. 37-1: Why isn't Joseph considered a Patriarch? Are you giving thanks or becoming bitter? Why is this such an important discipline? Its the same lie Satan told Eve. Now he was in a land where people believed in thousands of gods. 2. He refused to even be around her. When Joseph rejects Potiphars wife, she lies and accuses him of attempting to assault her sexually. 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. If you eat of the tree, you wont die. He tried to have sex with me, but I screamed loudly. Thank God, He sees people differently from how we see people. 36-1: Esau and Edom are one and the same! 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. She grabbed hold of his coat, but he managed to get away from her. When you truly live a God-centered life, those around you will be able to tell that you are different (Philippians 2:15). If Potiphar believed that Joseph really tried to rape his wife, he most likely would have sent him somewhere that he would never see him again. Ask: Do you think he felt afraid or lonely? - Genesis 39:8-9. 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. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Lets read to find out: While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. We learn a great deal from Josephs triumphant example, as he faced multiple temptations as a slave and later a prisoner in Potiphars house. Overseeing other prisoners and interpreting dreams leads to his further success as a leader of the Israelites. Jewish commentators also see some good motives in her actions. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! (Romans 1:25 NLT). 24. A few commentators have focused on the issue of who believed her. No doubt, she not only spoke but probably tried to tempt him by wearing revealing clothing and alluring perfume. With that said, Josephs example also teaches a principle about how to go through trials and temptations. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity: How Did the Apostle Paul Die?Who are the Nicolaitans in Revelation?Who Was Deborah in the Bible?Who Was Moses in the Bible? Potiphar believes his high-pedigree wife and throws Joseph in prison. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison. The Hebrew word for "official" is the same that is used for eunuch. Therefore, in order to conquer temptation, we must trust God and what his Word says. When people look at the world around them, they can tell that there is a powerful God who created everything (Romans 1:20). Youre a handsome guy! It probably means something like "brilliant beauty or lovely." Joseph is also described as "handsome and good-looking," and one day she asks him to go to bed with her. God was intimately involved in every detail of Josephs life. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! 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)? If I have a mouse on the loose in my house, I want to keep it out of the good supply of food in my kitchen. This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." The blessing is on everything Potiphar owns - his fields, his house, his possessions. (Genesis 50:20). Soon after these things, his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, Have sex with me.. - Genesis 39:3-6a. Potiphar may also be protecting his ego by not admitting his wife strayed from him. Facts About Her: She was the wife of Potiphar who was the, "officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard" (Gen. 39:1); After Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire household she saw that Joseph was "a goodly person, and well favored", meaning that he was talented and good looking. What Can Christians Learn From John Donne? - Genesis 39:21 a NLT Props: A mousetrap, cheese Background/Review He didn't have Joseph killed. She attempted to sleep with him many times, but Joseph continually refused.

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