The story continues. "From the time that Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph." I wonder if Joseph thought, "God, what if you bless Joseph because of Joseph?" That makes more sense doesn't it? God should bless Joseph because of Joseph. Instead, God is blessing the household of a slave owner, an Egyptian. God is blessing the guy who bought Joseph at an auction. How about blessing Joseph because of Joseph? Everything in the Egyptian's household prospered because of Joseph.
Sometime later, Joseph's faithfulness to Potiphar was honored by Potiphar's wife making a move on him. Remember this? You understand that this is a completely no-win situation, right? She may have been talking and flirting through a translator. Maybe by this time he's learned the language, we don't know.
Here he is a teenager, far from home, nobody around, and his master's wife is making a move on him. Now, what do you do? If you say, "No", you're in trouble because you are going to make her mad. You could end up in prison or dead. If you say, "Yes," you are in trouble because it is eventually going to be found out or she's going to get tired of you, and you'll be dead or in prison. So it is over if you do. It is over if you don't.
Joseph probably thought, "Thank you, God, for honoring my faithfulness by putting me in an absolutely no-win situation."
Joseph tells her: "With me in charge", he told her, "My master does not concern himself with anything in this house. Everything he owns he's entrusted to me. And no one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how, then, could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
Makes me wonder: Joseph, you refuse to sin against the same God who let your brothers sell you, is that the God we're talking about? The same God that stood by and let you be put in this situation? The same God who has not rescued you, or done anything for you lately, is this the God you're afraid you might offend? Is this the God you're afraid you might sin against? Is this the God that somehow you're trying to please when obviously he has no concern or regard for you? Is this the God we're talking about?
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