2013-11-25 - What Would Potiphar's Wife Say?

Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in the entire household; he himself has no more authority here than I have! He has held back nothing from me except you yourself, because you are his wife. How can I do such a wicked thing as this? It would be a great sin against God.” (Genesis 39:8-9)

People would say I was a scorned woman. How I hate that expression. True, I was hurt, lonely, and abandoned by my husband Potiphar. His role as the king’s officer took him away from home a lot. Potiphar left an eligible, very attractive, young man to manage our home while he‘s away. What would you do? Don’t answer that. You probably would have acted like Joseph and ignored my advances. At least Joseph was tempted. That made me feel better.

I wonder if Potiphar was setting me up, or did he really not think anything about leaving Joseph and me alone?

When Joseph told me no (again) and ran, I was angry and upset and told my husband that Joseph propositioned me. I am sorry that Joseph is innocently suffering. I couldn’t tell Potiphar Joseph was innocent of my advances. That would end my shaky marriage, for sure. So I lied and put the blame on Joseph. Potiphar punished Joseph, and put him in jail.

My husband’s actions reaffirmed how much he cared for me! Soon Potiphar’s work called him away again, and I was stuck alone. Joseph and I are alike, both stuck in a prison.

Deep down, I wonder if this is all there is to life. I live in a lavish home with many possessions, and yet I want this empty feeling to go away. Joseph had it worse than me, working in a stranger’s house apart from his family, and yet he didn’t seem concerned about that; he had peace somehow. I wish Joseph were here now, to explain to me how to find this peace.

Lord, I’m not happy. May I see myself as You created me to be. Show me how to see the positive side of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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