As I already mentioned, I have not studied Potiphar's wife yet. I'm actually kind of surprise that I hadn't! I did write about Joseph and how great it is that he didn't seek revenge once he was in power. (You can read that post here.)
Verses: Genesis 39
Background –
parents, husband, children, siblings
We know very little about Potiphar's wife. The name Potiphar means “devoted to the sun.” It was a name connected with the Egyptian religious system. We don't know if they had any children.
What is she
most known for? Victories?
Defeats? How can I be
like her? How can I
avoid being like her?
The first few verses of Genesis 39 talk about Joseph's role in the household. His master trusted him completely. Verse seven introduces Potiphar's wife, "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me."
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary says, "Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people - in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar’s wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest. Potiphar’s wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible points out that "Her sin began in the eye." I find that interesting since it was when Eve "saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise" that caused her to eat the forbidden fruit. We must be very careful with our eyes.
Genesis 39:10 says, "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." John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says, "Continually, incessantly, hoping in time to prevail upon him to comply with her desires; so that the temptation, as it was strong, and very ensnaring, it was urgent, and frequent, and pressed with great importunity; which required the more grace and spiritual strength to resist."
We don't know how long "day by day" lasted, but she was persistent. She finally found her perfect opportunity on a day when none of the men of the house were there. Maybe she thought Joseph was just pretending when he resisted, but with no witnesses, this was her opportunity. But verse 12 says, "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."
Did she
reach a place when she needed to reset?
If so, did she? For good or evil?
There was never a greater example of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," than Potiphar's wife. She saw Joseph run away and now she had his garment in her hand. He did not run away naked, but his outer garment was stripped off.
Verse 14 says "she called unto the men of her house." I have to wonder, when Joseph came in they weren't there, but she was able to call them very quickly. Did she have this planned?
Not only did she lie about Joseph, she also blamed her husband, "saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us." Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "Potiphar’s wife affects to throw great blame on her husband, whom we may reasonably suppose she did not greatly love. He hath brought in - he hath raised this person to all his dignity and eminence, to give him the greater opportunity to mock us."
More from Matthew Henry, "What an improbable story she tells, producing his garment as an evidence that he had offered violence to her, which was a plain indication that she had offered violence to him. No marvel that she who had impudence enough to say, Lie with me, had front enough to say, “He would have lien with me.” Had the lie been told to conceal her own crime it would have been bad enough, yet, in some degree, excusable; but it was told to be revenged upon his virtue, a most malicious lie. And yet, she manages it so as to incense her husband against him, reflecting upon him for bringing this Hebrew servant among them, perhaps at first against her mind, because he was a Hebrew. As this matter was represented, one would have thought chaste Joseph a very bad man and his wanton mistress a virtuous woman."
We don't read anything else about Potiphar or his wife. Just like other wicked people in the Bible, God took their evil deeds and turned it into good. We will never know if they stood on the sidelines while Joseph was elevated to number two in the kingdom.
I want to end this post on a positive note. Joseph is an excellent example of forgiveness. I wrote about forgiveness here.
"The Purpose of the Church," was a fabulous message we heard in
Hawaii. These bullet points about liberation are so good. In light of
Joseph's life, he truly did escape the prison of unforgiveness.
There are two things that lock you in prison that you cannot escape - a lie and unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness causes chaos and health issues.
Forgiveness is not an option. Your best life cannot happen if you won't release the junk you hold on to.
Revenge means that you become God. It never works.
Baptism frees us from our past. God forgives us, but He can't forgive FOR us.
True forgiveness cannot happen unless you give up all control and hope for revenge.
