(Genesis) Genesis 39:11-20 — J. Vernon McGee

Joseph Enters Potiphar's House and Faces Temptation

Notice verse 11 now, of chapter 39 of Genesis,. "...and it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, and there was none of the men of the house there within. She caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me.

And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, that she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us.".

Things weren't so well between Potiphar and his wife. Notice how she speaks of him in such a mean, degrading way. She says, "...see, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us.". In other words, the wife probably had been guilty of this before.

Potiphar's Wife Constructs a False Charge

The one man that I feel sorry for is Potiphar. He's the sap, if there ever was one. But I'm of the opinion that he suspected something all along. And she's beginning now to cover up her tracks. She says, "...see, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us.

He came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.". May I say to you, this boy now, just in his teens, down there in the land of Egypt, now is being framed in the most dastardly manner.

"...And it came to pass, when he heard that, I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.". Now, that's still her charge against him. "...And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.".

Potiphar Believes the Accusation

In other words, the husband was away from home. And so she has all of this built up, this story, to tell him when he arrives. And when he arrives, why, "...she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me.

And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me, that his wrath was kindled.".

Now, he believed her, though. This fellow Potiphar, I don't know what he was. He's an officer in the army of Pharaoh. He must have been among the brass. I guess when he was with them, he probably was a pretty sharp soldier.

But he sure was a stupid husband. And he's a sap. He believes his wife. I feel sorry for him married to this woman. He doesn't stand a chance. And I'm of the opinion she'd been unfaithful many times before.

And Joseph was to be another one in her conquest, and it just didn't work. So she frames up against the young man. The charge now is brought against him. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison.

Joseph's Repeated Injustice and Moral Integrity

Now, the year of this boy is certainly having bad luck, is he not? He was the favorite up there of his father, wearing a coat of many colors. The next thing he knew, his brothers take off the coat. They put him down in a pit.

The next thing he hears them dickering with tradesmen, Ishmaelites going to Egypt. And this boy, 17-year-old boy, sold down into Egypt. And I'm of the opinion on the way down and after he got there, he spent many nights wetting the pillow with his tears, and he certainly was homesick.

Now, just as he's getting along in this new position, been elevated to a high position, he's a capable young man. And a fine-looking young man, the wife of Potiphar, she attempted to lure him to commit a sin.

And his high moral standard is something that you need to know, and he does not yield. And as a result, why, she frames him, and the poor boy doesn't stand a chance. After all, you can see the position that Joseph is in.

Joseph's Imprisonment as a Slave

He's a slave, and though he's been elevated, he's still a slave. And on the other side, here is Potiphar's wife. It's like Caesar's wife. You just don't say anything about her, and her word would be accepted.

You can well understand poor Joseph. He didn't even need to open his mouth. He's guilty before he could make any kind of a defense at all. And he summarily and immediately finds himself put in the prison.

And he's put in the prison where those that were prisoners of Pharaoh were put.