did potiphar believe his wife

Thank God, He sees people differently from how we see people. He saw that the Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did. Knowing right from wrong may not stop us from acting sinfully. When successful, well need greater accountabilitypeople to speak into our lives and hold us accountable. To give in to Potiphars wife would have ruined his relationships with Potiphar and God. He gave Joseph success in everything he did. And again, Joseph is an important servant, but he isa slave without much clout. This is exactly how the world and Satan promote sin: It is not a great evil! - And it came to pass after these things, - Joseph had by this time been nearly ten years in Potiphar's house (vide Genesis 41:46) - that his master s wife cast her eyes (lasciviously) upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. Men and women can overcome the temptation to be unfaithful to their partner and God. Eventually, she became so desperate that on a day none of the other servants were around (a possible setup), she grabbed Joseph and tried to force him to sleep with her. What price do you have to pay in order to maintain holiness and conquer temptation? Potiphar's wife is a figure in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran. In Legends of the Jews,the Egyptian housewives are so captivated by watching Joseph that they accidentally cut themselves while peeling oranges! When he did, she sprung her trap. She attempted to sleep with him many times, but Joseph continually refused. The only thing Joseph is not in charge of is Potiphar's food. And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. QUESTION 5: Did Potiphar truly believe his wife's accusation of Joseph? Distracted by his handsomeness, all the ladies accidentally cut themselves with the knives, drawing blood. Homosexuality is not an abomination like Scripture says. In order to cover up for herself, accused of trying to commit . is potiphar and potiphera the same person No, bc he should've killed him and instead he sent him to jail. Joseph, ignore this. Application: You are young, but some of you have already faced very difficult situations. 35. Soon after these things, his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, Have sex with me. 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. Its OK! This is one of the ways Satan makes evil attractivehe rebrands it, like a great businessman. In this very difficult time, God poured out grace on Joseph that was like a big warm hug. Oh, getting drunk and abusing your wife, thats not your fault! Gods plan for Joseph continues during Josephs prison stay. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! She is the wealthy seductress of young, rising star Joseph. Therefore, we should consider all hardship as under the sovereign hand of Godused to train us. - Genesis 39:21 a NLT Props: A mousetrap, cheese Background/Review Who Is Potiphar? - Mesu Andrews For Joseph, it was probably initially intimidating working for Potiphar. What Do We Know about Potiphar's Wife? - Christianity.com 3. God is everywhere. Its Satans goal to rob God of the worship that God deserves, because Satan is so jealous of God. Application Question: What are some common costs of maintaining our integrity and conquering temptation? From what I have seen among a few commentaries, there seems to be a concensus among Ramba"n, Ibn Ezra and some others that Potiphar did not believe his wife, completely. They not only protected Pharaoh, but when he was upset with somebody, they executed that person. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Joseph ran awayleaving his outer garment in her hand. 1 Guzik, D. (2013). Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king's guard, in whose service he remained for ten years. Application: You must be aware of Satans traps. When a person goes through trials, he or she can be tempted to become bitter, to turn away from God and others. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More. All rights reserved. Sometimes, God sends us places so that people who do not know Him will be able to see God through us. 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. How could I sin against God?" He does not have any thoughts of committing adultery with her. God is working all things for our good and to make us into his Sons image (Rom 8:28-29). One of the best ways to do this is by giving thanks in all circumstances (including bad ones) for this is Gods will for our lives (1 Thess 5:18; cf. So . Do you think Joseph will be all alone this time? 36-1: Esau and Edom are one and the same! 35-1: How ancient Israel's understanding of God's nature differs from modern believers, 34-4: Jacob fails to exercise proper authority in his home, 34-3: Simeon and Levi avenge the rape of Dinah, 34-2: King Hamor meets Jacob to make amends for his son's crime. In a fascinating novel on Potiphars wife by Mesu Andrews based on Genesis 39, the author depicts Potiphars wife as the daughter of a king and the wife of a prince. Titus said this, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. Israel was tempted in the wilderness. And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. Application: Ask: Have you ever felt like Joseph in Egypt? My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. (Nobody promotes a bitter, whiny, solemn person! If Potiphar and the status quo look upon his wife as a piece of good-looking livestock, the people in Egypt may not be dismayed at Josephs actions. Remember that Satans lies are nothing more than stinky cheese! We may not have clear, predictive dreams from God, but we do have a clearer word than Joseph had. Application: Just like Joseph, we live in a time and place where many of the people around us dont know the one true God. Potiphar withheld nothing from Joseph, except his wife. Personally, I always think about how spiritual failure would negatively affect my daughter for the rest of her life. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.5. God used this humbling circumstance as a boot campmeant to discipline and train Joseph. Joseph's master saw that the Lord was with him. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. What God does with people and how people react is unpredictable, though. Overseeing other prisoners and interpreting dreams leads to his further success as a leader of the Israelites. All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added. But I dont want a mouse to thrive in my kitchen. Hand Me Another Brick (p. 98). 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.' Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. He didnt realize that Mrs. Potiphar was alone in the house. [3] It could be argued that the woman is trying to assert herself as a person who makes her own choices instead of remaining an object owned by her husband, and invites Joseph to join her in this action which the narrative frames as a 'sin'. He experienced sexual temptation from his masters wife, which is the major temptation in this narrative. It sounds ridiculous, but that is what many people around the world do, even today. Because Joseph submitted to God in the test and trusted Gods promises to him, he received Gods blessing. Say: Mrs. Potiphar would not give up. Also, it would be easier for him to stand when other major temptations would come while he oversaw matters in Egypt. The Bible does not report this. Naturally Potiphar was angered beyond words. Remember that you are NEVER alone! Similarly, if we are going to conquer temptation, we must intentionally and persistently avoid it as well. L15-4: How are believers to stay away from the UNCLEAN, yet show Gods love to the UNCLEAN? The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. (Genesis 39:7, 10, 12, 14). The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39 contains some obvious lessons about fidelity in the face of sexual temptation, and there are also some subtler points to be found about the loyal character of God. 39. From the Penthouse to the Prison (Genesis 39:1-23) Most importantly, like Joseph, we must remember that participating in sin hurts God deeply. The Hebrew word for "official" is the same that is used for eunuch. She mentions that Dr. Grove defended himself against attempted rape charges through the Potiphar vignette. 27. All rights reserved worldwide. The only way to tell the truth apart from Satans lies is to know Gods word. Joseph lived in Potiphar's house. Say: Here is a mouse trap. The mouse is caught. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. There is circumstantial evidence within the text that Potiphar didnt completely believe his wife. 7, 8), or , "his wife" (v. 19). 33-4: Jacob settles in the very same spot where Yeshua encountered the Samaritan woman, 33-3: Jacob tells Esau he will join him in Edom, but doesn't, 33-2: One advantage Asians have when reading the Bible, 32-5: The power in letting go and letting God, 32-4: Jacob's name is changed to Israel-One who trusts God. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." (3) Also, in Genesis 40:2-3, it appears that Joseph was imprisoned in a prison that was attached to Potiphars house. He was one of four men the Bible describes in this way, including Saul, David, and Absalom. 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. Inviting her friends to her home, Zuleikha gave them all oranges and knives to slice them with. He owns many slaves. In what ways is God calling you to further employ strategic principles to overcome temptation in general or with a specific temptation? Grabbing hold of his garment, she made her plea one last time: "Lie down with me!" Joseph acted . 2. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (Genesis 39) | Bible.org He put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners. He was learning administrative skills, as he led all of Potiphars household. It seems quite likely that Potiphar did not believe his wife. 40-2: The importance of dreams in ancient Egypt. We must do whatever it takes to be holy. He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away; When considering adultery, Solomon said the consequences last foreverthe reproach will never be wiped away. His goal is to distract you from the only real source of life. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Her lust overrules any fear of punishment or social stigma she might endure due to seducing Joseph. 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. Say: Joseph went from being the favorite son to becoming a SLAVE! Potiphar's Wife - BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING 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. Why did the most important official of the most important man in Egypt choose Joseph out of all the other slaves? What can we learn from the account of Potiphars wife? The warden put all the prisoners under Josephs care. She said that Joseph came in to attack her, she screamed, and he ran away. By His grace, God gave Joseph the power to say NO to sin (Titus 2:11-12). However, the account of Joseph and Potiphar changes when Potiphar's wife asked Joseph to sleep with her. Ask: Do you think he felt afraid or lonely? In the pagan world, adultery was normal. Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews has much to say about Joseph's journey, including what happened to Potiphar and his wife after Joseph was imprisoned. This is repeated four times in verses 4 to 6 for emphasis. "Zuleikha" redirects here. In all these temptations, God was faithful to provide ways of escape, and he does the same for us. With success, comes more temptations, and therefore we must be even more disciplined if God allows those opportunities. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?" Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Her husband believes her. Following this incident, her contemporaries no longer mocked her. Genesis 39 - Commentary by Rev. John Schultz The narrator said, Soon after these things (v. 7). It says she spoke to him day after day (v. 10). 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. Interpretation Question: Did Potiphar believe his wifes accusations? What is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Mrs. Potiphar quickly went from humiliation to rageleading her to frame Joseph. (2) Also, if Joseph were bitter, instead of experiencing Gods blessings as he did, he would have experienced Gods discipline. Potiphar's Wife Q&A - Part II (Truth, Facts, or Fiction) 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). He put Joseph in charge of his house. With that said, Josephs example also teaches a principle about how to go through trials and temptations. The more we know God and his grace, the more it will help us reject godless ways and worldly desires. Application Question: When tempted, how often do you consider the consequences of sin? The typical punishment for rape/attempted rape was the death penalty. A few commentators have focused on the issue of who believed her. It would devastate my wife. Yet Potiphars wife cannot ruin Josephs life because God is with him. Genesis 39:20 Commentaries: So Joseph's master took him and put him Potiphar's wife and her interactions with Joseph provide one of the most dramatic stories in the early Old Testament. Potiphars wife could have learned a lesson from her encounter with Joseph and gained a name and a new character in her future. No doubt, she not only spoke but probably tried to tempt him by wearing revealing clothing and alluring perfume. God is with you. Some members of my church might never return to church again. Lets face it; there is enough food in my kitchen to keep that mouse fat and happy for his entire life. Verse 7. According to Genesis 39:1 (NKJV), Potiphar was "an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian.". That's a pretty sobering story. 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). 9. Historical documents tell us that the bodyguards were Pharaohs executioners. 62 And Potiphar heard the words of his wife, and he ordered Joseph to be punished with severe stripes, and they did so to him. We must remember that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Many fail to submit to God in the midst of their trials and temptations and instead succumb to them. The story of Potiphar's 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. You cant hold it in. Even though Joseph had to suffer a cost for being holybeing put in prisonGod was with him in the prison and blessed him. God was enabling him to be strong and wise. When it reached a crescendo he fled youthful lust (2 Timothy 2:22). No one in this house is in a higher position than I am. Therefore, Potiphar was Pharaohs chief executioner.2 In all likelihood, he had a very decorated military resume and was a rough, no-nonsense guy. Even while in prison, Joseph continues to rise to prominence. We all know how this works. Ultimately, all sin is against God. All rights reserved worldwide. Its OK to cheat on a testEverybody else is doing it! they say. Satan has many lies for people to choose from, and he doesnt care which one they choose. Joseph, we remember, is the future leader and current visionary of the Jewish people in bondage in Egypt. The blessing of the Lord was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields. Potiphars wife appears to cut quite a figure in her important husbands life and the life of his steward, the Jewish peoples leader Joseph. Eight times Yahweh is mentioned in this chapter. This biographical article about a person notable in connection with Islam is a stub. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. Having a wife was primarily for providing an heir and overseeing the household. From the time he puts him in charge, the Lord blesses the household. She said Yosef was doing these things to me. For this, he insists, it is true of any person's deep love for another. Say: God blessed Joseph, and the blessings poured out over Potiphar, his family, and even his servants. Their jealousy grew and grew until some of them wanted to kill Joseph. And women in the city said, "The wife of al-Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. [1][2], Rashi comments that the wife of Potiphar saw through astrology that she would have children through Joseph. If they were weaker, willing to flee, they would be more successful. She picked a moment when the servants were all out of the house. How his brothers resented the special treatment their bratty little brother received. - Genesis 39:3-6a. Say: Joseph had grown up in the land that God had promised to his great-grandfather, Abraham. Although we LOVE for teachers to read from their Bibles, and for children to read along in theirs, in this case, it is best to paraphrase her words, and not read directly from the scripture. Its the same lie Satan told Eve. Do you believe that God would go all the way down to a dingy dungeon to be with Joseph? Plus, my husband has many other women! This is a discipline that we must always practice whenever we are tempted: we must seriously consider the consequences. 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. The Big Lie Joseph on a daily basis was around Potiphar's wife as he did his business, and he paid no attention to her in any adulterous way. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate" ( Genesis 39:3-6 ). - Genesis 39:1-2. The Bible says, They traded the truth about God for a lie. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants. His master observed that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he was doing successful. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. In the same way, Joseph had complete control over everything in Potiphars household - except for one thing, Potiphars wife. Genesis 39 - Believe His Prophets | Revival & Reformation If we dont hate it, then it will linger in our lives. Who Was Potiphar in the Bible? - Learn Religions When Joseph was imprisoned based on Mrs. Potiphars accusations, apparently, it was more like Daniel being thrown in the lions den (Daniel 6). Potiphar's response was predictable. It would seem that his judgment should have been swift and brutal if, indeed, Joseph had sexually assaulted her. [3] Simultaneously, however, she abuses her position of power as the slave master's wife to coerce Joseph into sex, and to punish him for refusal. When he refused, she falsely accused him of attempted rape. How he ended up a slave in the household of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officers. This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." Even though she continued to speak to Joseph day after day, he did not respond to her invitation to have sex with her. And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. We have Gods written Word! We also know that Potiphar was smart enough to recognize a good thing when he saw it. Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 464). Either Potiphar was singularly lenient, or, as is perhaps more probable, he did not quite believe his wife's story, and thought it best to hush up a scandal. SNAP! Gods grace can turn any situation around. Daniel was suddenly the Bible's most eligible bachelor, and he got a fictional wife in Of Fire and Lions. Have you ever been the only one who followed God on your team, or in your class at school? Are you preparing to conquer temptation by having integrity in all things or preparing to succumb to future temptations by small compromises? So he was there in the prison. He refused to even be around her. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.'

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