Potiphar’s Wife
by PAMELA ROSE WILLIAMS
No doubt our world is filled with women who
seem to have nothing more in mind than to tempt a man into and illicit relationship.
Sometimes I look at young girls and in my mind I ask “Did
your Mama see what you were wearing when you left the house today?”
These young girls and women have been around for many,
many years and in fact, we can look to the Bible for some famous temptresses.
Summary of a
historical event
The entire account of this temptress is
written in Genesis chapter 39. Here is the summary:
This temptress has no name in the Bible. She is simply
known as Potiphar’s wife.
Potiphar was an Egyptian officer and captain of the
guard. His wife, as the wife of an officer was used to having everything she
wanted.
She decided she wanted Joseph the son of Jacob, who was
an Egyptian prisoner and the trusted overseer of Potiphar’s home.
One day, Potiphar’s wife beckoned Joseph to come into her bed. Joseph refused because he believed sleeping with his Master’s wife was a
sin against God.
His refusal did not stop her from daily tempting him to
come into her bed.
When the opportunity presented itself that no one was in
the house except for she and Joseph, she grabbed him.
Joseph quickly escaped from her grasp, but as he ran out
of the house his garment was left behind.
Potiphar’s was so furious that Joseph rejected her. Time
and time again that she made up a lie. Here is what the Bible says happened:
“17 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:
18 And it
came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with
me, and fled out.
19 And it
came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto
him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was
kindled.
20 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
39:17-20)
Nothing more is told of what happened to Potipher’s wife,
but the account of Joseph in prison continues.
Although she sought revenge upon Joseph for not giving
her what she wanted, the LORD continued to bless Joseph because of his loyalty
and obedience to Him.
This is just one little part of all that God did
with Joseph.
Of course, we could say that what Potiphar’s wife meant
for evil, God used for good.
The chapter concludes with the following:
21 But the Lord
was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the
keeper of the prison.
22 And 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.
23 The keeper
of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord
was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. (Genesis 39:21-23)
Lessons learned
Potiphar’s wife was so full of lust of the
flesh and pride that she sent an innocent man to prison.
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