City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“11 But one day, when he [Joseph] went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she [Potiphar’s wife] caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. 13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, ‘See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.’ 16 Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, 17 and she told him the same story, saying, ‘The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.’ 19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, ‘This is the way your servant treated me,’ his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”

Genesis 39:11-23 (ESV)

“6 Now at the feast he [Pilate] used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ 13 And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’ 14 And Pilate said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him.’ 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

Mark 15:6-15 (ESV)

Megan’ Musings

There were no servants around, no witnesses, this was unusual for the household. Was Joseph so focused on his work that he didn’t see there was no one else around? Or did Potiphar’s wife dismiss them hoping to have Joseph to herself? Joseph had the opportunity and he outright rejected it. Potiphar’s wife had her pride hurt, so she blamed Joseph. Or one of the servants saw her with his robe and she made up the lie on the spot to save her own skin (in ancient Egypt, a man could kill his wife if he suspected infidelity). She, like the typical gaslighter, points her finger at others so nobody would look at her and realize she is the problem. She falsely accuses Joseph of her own crime and accuses her husband for bringing him into their household. Joseph could have been executed. Though, it is likely Potiphar doubted his wife’s word, because instead, Joseph was put in a prison in the vicinity of the royal palace.

The prison was under the authority of the captain of the guards, Potiphar himself (Genesis 37:36), so he could look after Joseph’s welfare. There was a part of Potiphar that knew Joseph was innocent, but he put him in prison to save face. He might have even known of his wife trying to seduce Joseph because she had tried many times (Genesis 39:10). 

But Joseph didn’t use his circumstances as an excuse to give up. The Lord was with him and gave him favor in the sight of the head of the prison (v. 21). Joseph had a great work ethic to be trusted with such responsibility. He hadn’t forgotten the dreams God had given him of becoming a leader (Genesis 37:5-9), and he keeps practicing his leadership even in his dire state.  

Joseph’s life, in many ways, reflects that of Jesus. Just as Joseph paid the price for Potiphar’s wife’s sin, Jesus paid the price of our sins. Potiphar did not know the whole truth, but Pilate did, and he has no excuse. He knew Jesus was completely innocent and not at all deserving of death, but was more concerned with his position than an innocent person’s life (Matthew 27:24, John 19:12).  

Application

Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire told his students they all have to choose between what is easy and what is right. C.S. Lewis said, “It is not your business to succeed, but to do right. When you have done so the rest lies with God.” It takes a great deal of strength of character to do what is right instead of what is easy or what will make you successful. 

Maybe like Joseph, you’re in a dark place. Remember what God has promised you, He will never leave nor forsake you, He still goes before you (Deuteronomy 31:8). 

Joseph could have chosen to give in to despair, and nobody would have blamed him. After all, his own brothers sold him into slavery and he was framed for a crime he did not commit. But he chose not to. He chose to run with perseverance the race marked out for him (Hebrews 12:1-2).

For a visual, in the movie Joseph: King of Dreams, at Joseph’s lowest point, he plants a tree in the prison while knowing God is in charge. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to persevere especially in difficult circumstances. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.