Potiphar’s Wife Accuses Joseph

Genesis 39:7–18
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Joseph was a handsome young man. He also trusted in God and because of  this he looked and acted differently than the other slaves. As a result, another great test came to him. His master’s wife fell in love with him and wanted him to make love to her (v. 7). Joseph refused and told her that would be a sin against both God and his master (vv. 8-9). He then deliberately and wisely sought to avoid her daily advances by refusing to even be around her. Joseph was convinced that God had called him to a special task and if a person is to fulfill God’s plan, he cannot sin against the one who will bring it to pass. Our sins may harm and defraud others, but God is always the one most hurt and concerned.

Joseph had suffered in a pit because of the hatred of his brothers, but now he would face an even greater danger because of the lust of an evil woman (Prov. 23:27). We find that Potiphar’s wife used that same approach that wicked women use today. Her first approach involved flattery (v. 7), then the long enticing (v.10), and finally the ambush (vv. 11-12). When Joseph fled, she was humiliated by his refusal of her and fabricated a lie to accuse him of trying to assault her. She showed his coat to her household servants and then to her husband telling them Joseph had made improper advances to her (vv. 13-18). He may have lost his coat but he kept his character.

It is interesting to note that this is the second time that a coat of Joseph’s is used to bring a false report about him (37:31). In both cases he had been serving faithfully but in both cases he ended up in bondage. In the entire book of Genesis only Joseph is described as a person who was filled with the Spirit of God (Gen. 41:38). In fact the entire emphasis is on his total uprightness throughout the attempted seduction by Potiphar’s wife. He wasn’t about to sacrifice either his purity of his integrity just to please his master’s wife. He was put in jail because of a false witness brought against him.

Application

Have I ever been falsely accused of something and had to suffer for it? If so what was my reaction?  I must remember that in God’s time He always balances the books, even if it isn’t until eternity.