By Dr. Ben Stubblefield
Visiting assistant professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
ACCUSED?
Genesis 39:7–21
Tempted (7–10)
Now sold to Potiphar, Joseph begins his servitude under an Egyptian lord. God is with Joseph and he begins to prosper, even in the most unlikely circumstances.
In fact, he does so well that his master entrusts him with everything in his estate. The narrative seems pleasant and perhaps Joseph thinks, “This isn’t what I’d imagined, but it’s not as bad as I thought” — until the temptation of Potiphar’s wife.
She commands Joseph, her slave, to sleep with her. When the first attempt doesn’t work, she attempts day after day to entice him, and yet Joseph remains loyal to his master and his God.
Joseph’s integrity is in sharp contrast to the nature of Judah’s sexual immorality described in Genesis 38. In fact, readers will note how out of place Chapter 38 is to the developing story of Joseph from Chapter 37.
It may be intended to highlight the devotion of Joseph to righteous living even when in all the wrong conditions, and especially in contrast to his brothers.
Joseph could have made every excuse to justify engaging in this sin. His family had abandoned him; he could further his career; no one would really know; his God had no interest in him; sexual sin was commonplace; he couldn’t disobey the lady of the house. But he could not escape the gaze of the Almighty who knows the thoughts, intentions, words and deeds of us all. What we think is done in secret will always be brought out to the light.
Trapped (11–16)
It’s not clear from the text, but it is likely that Potiphar’s wife sets a trap for Joseph. She seizes him while they are alone, but he escapes her grasp by leaving his garment in her hand. Unable to have Joseph, she decides to find a way to punish him and makes up a false story of attempted abuse.
It seems like every time Joseph is getting into trouble, his clothes have something to do with it.
Here, Joseph’s garment serves as evidence of his crime to his master. When he was thrown into a hole by his brothers, his coat served as evidence of his death to his father.
In either case, Joseph exhibits remarkable resolve to do right even if it costs him the literal shirt off his back. And here we can imitate his courage and wisdom.
Our brother teaches us courage in that it is not simple to stand on conviction in a foreign land to a foreign authority when your life is on the line. And he teaches us wisdom in that it is never right to violate our consciences, even if it costs us dearly.
Trustworthy (17–21)
From these verses, you can sense the callousness of Potiphar and his wife. They don’t call Joseph by his name, there is not a chance for him to defend himself and there is anger and a rash decision to place Joseph in prison.
We don’t know all the details of Joseph’s relationship with his jailer, but just like in Verse 2, God is with Joseph, and he has the warden’s favor (v. 21).
As a pastor, I do a fair bit of counseling, and one of the recurring challenges folks have is trust — learning to trust someone again, learning to trust anyone and sometimes, trying to trust in God. Well, Joseph could have easily developed “trust issues.”
And while Joseph certainly may have had some dark nights of the soul, what the Bible gives us is the sense that he is remaining faithful whether in a slaver’s household or an Egyptian prison.
There are seasons when life is unfair and seems, frankly, unkind. But we have to be the kind of people who know the end from the beginning — that though there are moments of trial and testing, there is victory on the other side of every cross.
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