(Genesis 39)
Joseph was in a unique group of men in scripture. Joseph, King David (1 Samuel 16:12), and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25), were the only men specifically described as good looking.It was because Joseph was “well-built and handsome” (Genesis 39:6), that the wife of Joseph’s owner, Potiphar, took an unhealthy interest in him. She quickly and directly made her desires known. Leaving nothing to the imagination she said, “Come to bed with me!” (Genesis 39:7).His flatly refused and stated his reasons. But she was not interested in his honour for her trusting husband, or his dedication to his righteous God. Nothing was going to deter her advances. She persisted day after day (Genesis 39:8-10).We can confidently assume that she was responsible for the house being clear of all slaves that day—except for Joseph. She thought that she had him in a place where he would give in. After all, who would know? But Joseph knew that God would know, and that was enough (Genesis 39:11)This wife of the Captain of Pharaoh’s Bodyguard did not take kindly to being refused by a foreign slave. Her final immoral advance was greeted with instant abandonment. There she stood, all by herself, with Joseph’s coat in her hand and spite in her heart (Genesis 39:12).Her accusation of attempted rape was enough. Whether Potiphar had been through all of this ‘kind of thing’ on previous occasions with other men, we’ll never know. But a lady in her position was not going to be questioned. Joseph was called, ‘guilty,’ thus, he may as well have been. Potiphar sent him to prison—that’s it! (Genesis 39:13-20).Nothing good is said about Potiphar’s wife. She isn’t even honoured with as much as a name of her own. The best we can say about her is that God used this situation to prudentially advance his will. Joseph’s righteousness saved Egypt and his family—God is good at that. “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom.8:28).
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