Training Grounds Part 2
Joseph is in Egypt, bought by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer, captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. Marbs God was not playing about Joseph, okay! Even as a slave, God was with Joseph, and everything he did to serve Potiphar’s household was a success. Genesis 39:3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. Joseph is then promoted to personal assistant. He is now in charge of running Potiphar’s household. A shepherd, errand guy who was previously under challenging management, travelled as a slave to Potiphar’s house, working to the best of his abilities in his master’s home.
Notice the author of this story never tells us how Joseph reacts to his situation. So far, I have not seen a comic bubble with his thoughts on how he will run away, or refuse to work, or even how he felt about not having the opportunity to go home and see his father. He may even know that his crazy brothers probably told his parents that he was no longer alive. However, we see that God had not forgotten about Joseph, verse 5, ‘From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake.’
Okay, God, I see you! God did not stop these things from happening to Joseph; he just stayed with him throughout it all.
Potiphar, realizing that the best investment he ever made was Joseph, went a step further and said Joseph is overqualified to be my PA. He will now be my second in command, my vice, my head of operations; this list of titles can go on. Now all Potiphar needed to do on a daily basis was figure out what he would like to eat.
As a slave, Joseph was invisible to those around him, just another hand to help wash, cook, and clean. But now, as the person who makes decisions in Potiphar’s absence, he is seen by many. Now Potiphar’s wife is lusting over Joseph. She is so bold that she demands that Joseph sleep with her.
Oh, you thought this story would be boring, huh?
Jo not only refused but was ‘like boss man, put me in charge of everything in this house, except you! You are his wife, and I can’t do this wicked thing and sin against God, verse 9.
Very impressive, Joseph! Most guys around your age would probably act and suffer the consequences of their boyish actions. Remember, Jo got to be closer to 19 now. He was not allowed to continue his studies, and was also in a foreign land. If anyone said Joseph could be depressed, it would not have been surprising.
Mrs. Potiphar just didn’t stop. She like she can’t understand that no, mean NO. Joseph did his best to avoid her. However, one day, Joseph and Mrs. Potiphar ended up alone in the house. Yeah, she planned that, even though the bible doesn’t say that. She attacks Joseph and tries to assault him forcibly. But he ran away before anything could happen. She realizes that she was still holding Joseph’s cloak, filled with anger rather rejection, because who wouldn’t want to be with the boss’s wife? Potiphar’s wife then falsely accused Joseph of assaulting her.
Wow! She told the servants he tried, but I screamed, and that is why he ran! She kept the evidence, the cloak, until her husband returned and told the same story she told everyone in the house. Potiphar throws Joseph into the King’s prison. Now truly studying this story, Jo can’t catch a break. I mean, it seems like the best moment in his life was getting that coat from Jacob. You really wonder why the bible doesn’t show Jo desperately crying out to God for help or for God to save him. We can only speculate; Jo was at a breaking point, he went to jail for something he didn’t do. The bible does not say how long Joseph spent in jail, but we know it was a long time due to the events that follow in the remainder of the story.
God does not go on vacation, or even says, “well Jo, I think I will need to switch you out with another player.” Maybe Jo knew this was the only way to fulfill his God-given dreams.
Genesis 39: 21a, NLT; But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.
And that’s what the bible says, not TJ!