WEEK 3
This series of “Thoughts for the Day” is inspired by the study series, NOTORIOUS, written by Jeff Lucas. He and Pastor Brent discuss 9 different characters from the Bible who we would possibly call rogues, scoundrels or scallywags. Each one however can teach us something of our faith.
POTIPHAR’s WIFE – It reads a bit like a soap opera, and in fact was very much part of the Rock Musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1970s.
Joseph has been taken into Egypt and sold into slavery to a wealthy official of the Pharaoh’s, named Potiphar. Joseph was young and good looking, and soon came to the attention of Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar evidently spent much of his time away from home, and, having promoted Joseph within his household, left Joseph in charge, leaving him to run the household.
Mrs Potiphar was bored and fancied Joseph, repeatedly asking him into her bed. Joseph repeatedly refused, aware of his responsibility towards his master. Angry at being refused, Mrs Potiphar lures Joseph into her room when there is no one else around. Joseph realises he is in a tricky situation and runs away, leaving his cloak behind. Mrs Potiphar, seeing an opportunity, screams that she has been attacked by Joseph.
Potiphar arrives and locks Joseph in prison. Joseph thinks all is lost, but whilst in prison, the prison guard sees what a good and trustworthy man Joseph is and so puts Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners, two of which have some strange dreams, that Joseph is able to interpret.
Joseph then comes to the notice of Pharaoh who has been experiencing strange dreams and so is released from prison and elevated to the position of Pharaoh’s adviser.
Sometimes we are put in very difficult situations or temptations, (hopefully not along the lines of Potiphar’s wife), and we might wonder why God has placed us there.
One thing we can be sure of is that temptation itself is not a sin, giving in to it is. God, can however use us, through the difficulties we face and elevate us to great things if we follow his way and not our own.
PRAYER: Merciful God, help us to see the correct path particularly when we are tempted to stray away. Help us to learn from our difficulties, help us to do your will, and use us to help others through our difficult experiences. AMEN