Falsely Accused

 Read Genesis 39

The Proverbs are full of crafty women and the consequences of falling into their snares.  God told us to watch out!

There is danger in this world and some of it comes with makeup, perfume, and curves in just the right places. Look out, guys.

Joseph was a chick magnet but his mind was on the affairs of his master.  His heart was in fulfilling the trust his master had placed in him.  His desire was to please God, not offend him.

Chances are, only God would know if Joseph indulged himself.  Joseph had a free run of the place.  Nobody would suspect his motives regardless of where he was.  He was a trusted servant. He was in charge and could do what he wanted.

Joseph could have probably gotten away with a few rolls in the hay with Potiphar’s wife.  Only God would know, well at least until that good-looking baby that eventually would come didn’t look anything like Potiphar.

How did Joseph respond to the repetitive requests to hook up?

No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?

Consider the response:  No one is greater in this house than I am.

The sinful human heart would say, this is one of my perks.  I am the man.

Consider the response: My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.

The sinful human heart would beckon us to take the wife as well.  Why should she not be part of the employee benefits package?  It’s her idea after all.

Consider the response: How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?

This adds a perspective that Potiphar’s wife surely did not comprehend.  There is a real God.  Right and wrong are real things. Even if people don’t know what you did nor did not do, God knows.

God knows not only what you do but what your heart desires. 

Now consider the entire response.

No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?

Who do we see doing stupid, sinful things because they think they can get away with it?  It’s often those in power.  It’s those who think that by their position or rank, they will suffer no consequence for stepping over the line.

No one is greater in this house than I am, I will take advantage of the situation and do things that might otherwise be off-limits.  I have power.

It could be sex.  It could be a bribe.  It could be disposing of an inconvenient pregnancy.  I have just scratched the surface of American politics, but these things are not exclusive to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

You know the modern proverb:  Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

Those with power over the ages seldom heeded this warning.  We have a nation that constitutionally divided power among 3 federal branches, then between federal and state levels, and then reserved some power—rights—exclusively to the people.

Some very wise men sought to institutionalize safeguards against the threats that might come from this axiom. Today, many are willing to sacrifice those safeguards for a variety of reasons.

But Joseph set an example contrary to our sinful human nature, even though he probably could have gotten away with it.

I have been entrusted with great power.  The key word here is trust. My power and authority are the result of the trust placed in me.  I will not give into my sinful human nature and betray that trust.

Joseph was a servant, but he was master over his sinful human nature.  He would not offend God.  He would not offend his earthly master.  He was more than a conqueror.

Joseph was a suffering servant. He was sold into slavery.  He was unjustly accused. He was thrown into prison.

Joseph would save much of the known world.  He would be something of a savior to much of the world of that age.

Now consider that Joseph may have foreshadowed the Christ who set aside his place in heaven and came as a servant.  While Christ was truly Master, he faithfully did the will of his Father in heaven. 

Now consider that Joseph may have foreshadowed the Christ who was also the suffering servant. Christ gave his life freely for our salvation.

This story is a necessary step that gets Joseph closer to being the greatest in Egypt.

This story is about a man who could have cried, unfair, again and again.

This story is about a man who would suffer in order to save many.  He probably did not know how the story would play out moment-to-moment, but he knew enough not to offend God.

This story also gives us a taste of what is to come in the person of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Know the history but don’t overlook the suffering servant.

Amen.