In Genesis, chapter 39, the story goes back to Joseph’s
life; who is now in Egypt.
Joseph got to Egypt in the worst conditions: as a slave. But
we will see how the story will, surprisingly, make a turn for the better. From being
a slave he will ascend to having one of the most privileged positions in the
Egyptian society. But let’s take it slow…
FRUSTRATED
EXPECTATIONS
Joseph was sold to Egypt as a slave. It is very likely that
he had resentment against his brothers for having allowed that; but he surely
kept the hope that his father would rescue him, because he knew that his father
loved him very much. Seeing how he ended up being sold as a slave, it is likely
that he thought that soon he would be redeemed by his father. But he wasn’t
counting on the fact that his brothers would say that he was “dead”.
Certainly Joseph waited for the day of his freedom, but this
never happened. Still, what is amazing is seeing how Joseph evidently made the
decision of not falling into bitterness, but to make the best out of every
situation in which he found himself…
ARRIVING AT EGYPT
When he got to Egypt, the Ishmaelites sold Joseph as a slave
to one of Pharaoh’s officials.
(Genesis 39:1) Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had
bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
(Gen. 39:2-6)
The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was
in the house of his Egyptian master. (3) His master saw that
the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did
to succeed in his hands. (4) So Joseph found favor in his sight and
attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of
all that he had. (5) From the time that he made him overseer in his house
and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for
Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in
house and field. (6) So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and
because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph
was handsome in form and appearance.
TROUBLES
Things were getting better for Joseph; however, all of the
sudden there were troubles.
(Gen. 39:7) And after a
time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”
Some commentators suggest that Pharaoh’s official was a
eunuch, which is why the woman asked for that. But others say that it was
purely covetousness. Either way, it was wrong and Joseph knew that.
Joseph could have let
himself go along with the temptation, and leave it all hidden. But Joseph not
only respected his master, he also feared Jehovah. He did the right thing
before God and men.
(Gen. 39:8-10) But he refused
and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern
about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my
charge. (9) He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept
back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do
this great wickedness and sin against God?” (10) And as she spoke to
Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be
with her.
What began as an indecent proposal eventually turned into
harassment. But Joseph stood firm. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife didn’t take
the rejection well; she was offended and planned on taking vengeance on him and
humiliating him.
(Gen. 39:11-18) But one day,
when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was
there in the house, (12) she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with
me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the
house. (13) And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her
hand and had fled out of the house, (14) she called to the men of her
household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at
us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud
voice. (15) And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried
out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” (16)
Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, (17) and
she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought
among us, came in to me to laugh at me. (18) But as soon as I lifted up my
voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
As soon as he heard this, Potiphar reacted with rage…
(Gen. 39:19-20) As soon as his master heard the words that his wife
spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. (20)
And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the
king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Potiphar could have had Joseph killed, but he didn’t. Maybe
his rage wasn’t only directed towards Joseph, but also towards his wife, whom
he didn’t trust.
Next time, we will see what happened with Joseph while he
was in prison…
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