Joseph Falsely Accused, Imprisoned – Part 3
“And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:7-9)
Potiphar had seen that God blessed Joseph and he was a man of integrity. He made Joseph overseer over his house and his possessions, and God blessed Potiphar’s house. Things were going well, but that was about to change. Mrs. Potiphar started trying to seduce him. He turned her down and he told her why. First, he would not betray Potiphar. Second, and most importantly, he did not want to sin against God.
Unmarried sexual activity and children out of wedlock are common nowadays. If you’re a cop, you’re often exposed to such relationships. Of all the domestic calls you get, for example, how many are husband versus wife, as opposed to live-in versus live-in or baby’s mother versus baby’s father? Apart from the guidance of God’s Word, it is easy to start thinking of sexual activity like this as not a serious matter.
Yet adultery is a serious matter with God. God ordained marriage in all its aspects, including sexual activity, between one man and one woman. Sexual activity in any other context is a sin. When Joseph said what he did, he was telling Mrs. Potiphar that: a) she was wicked, which was a bold thing to say to your boss’s wife; and b) he respected marriage as a sacred institution from God.
She persisted. Joseph kept turning down her advances: “And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.” (Genesis 39:10) One day he was alone in the house, “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” (Genesis 39:12)
Mrs. Potiphar used Joseph’s garment as evidence to accuse him of sexual assault: “And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. And she spake unto him, according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.” (Genesis 39:16-18)
Now Potiphar was mad, “And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.” (Genesis 39:20) Things looked very bad for Joseph! Yet God knew the truth, that Joseph was innocent: “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39:21)
In fact, “…the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him [Joseph], and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.” (Genesis 39:22-23) Joseph was now in a similar position to where he was with Potiphar.
While in prison, Joseph also met Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker, who had offended Pharaoh and were imprisoned. They each had troubling dreams. Joseph was about to see God work in a powerful way.
Like Joseph, you may be in a tough spot through no fault of your own. Yet God has ways of working things out, as we shall see. Most importantly, if you want to see how to have your sins forgiven and get to heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 11/22/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822