Daily Devotions
Genesis
"The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me." Psalm 116:6
Text: Genesis 39:1-23
FRAMED!
For a little while, Joseph enjoyed his life. He may have been sold as a slave, but he had gained respect and honour from his master. However, in the household of Potiphar he encountered a problem that could have cost him his very life. Realising, to her great frustration, that Joseph would never respond to her, Potiphar’s wife struck back viciously!
“And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment
in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men
of her house and spoke to them, saying,
‘See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us.
He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.
And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice
and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled
and went outside.'”
GENESIS 39:13-15
This was the storyline that she had determined to adopt. She would show Joseph that he, a Hebrew slave, could not humiliate her and get away with it!
A WELL-REHEARSED ACT
Potiphar’s wife had plenty of time to rehearse what she was going to say to her husband when he returned home.
“So she kept his garment with her until his master came home.
Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying,
‘The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to mock me;
so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left
his garment with me and fled outside.'”
GENESIS 39:16-18
What chance did Joseph have against the cunning wife of Potiphar? He was nothing but a Hebrews slave! He was naïve concerning the ways of the world. He did not know that a woman scorned could stoop so low! He had only his faith to fall back on now!
POTIPHAR’S ANGER
As expected, Potiphar exploded when he heard the allegations made against Joseph. He did what was well within his power. He threw Joseph into prison.
“Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison,
a place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
And he was there in the prison.”
GENESIS 39:20
Had Joseph’s “luck” run out? Hardly! Yes, Joseph was laid low. But God’s Presence had not deserted him. Not in the least! God had a great and divine plan! Even his being cast into jail, on a false charge was not outside His divine scope!