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.
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