JOSEPH

Genesis 39:2 "The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian."

After Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites.

Ancient Egypt was a land of great contrasts. People were either rich beyond measure or poverty stricken. There  wasn't much of a middle class. Joseph found himself serving Potiphar, an extremely rich officer in Pharaoh's service. Rich families like Potiphar had elaborate homes two or three stories tall with beautiful gardens and balconies. They enjoyed live entertainment at home as they chose delicious fruit from expensive bowls. They surrounded themselves with alabaster vases, paintings, beautiful rugs, and hand-carved furniture. Food was served on golden tableware, and the rooms were lighted with golden lampstands.

Potiphar, had a large household and a wife with too much time in her hands. After he purchased Joseph, he put him to work in his home. This was the best decision Potiphar ever made. Joseph was not only talented; God was also with him. Because of Joseph, Potiphar began to prosper greatly.

While Potiphar was benefiting from Joseph's good work ethic, Potiphar's wife was noticing Joseph's good looks. She tried to seduce her Hebrew servant, but Joseph continually resisted her advances. Denied the thrill of chasing and capturing her prey, of feeling a few moments of illicit pleasure, Potiphar's wife became hungry and hurt. One day, after she had been scorned again, she accused Joseph of attempted rape. Consumed with selfish feelings, she wanted to punish Joseph.

Poliphar had Joseph thrown into prison. We don't know if he realized what was going on in his house, but he sided with his wife. Because he listened to a faithless woman, Potiphar jailed an innocent man and got rid of the best overseer in all Egypt. Had Potiphar been more observant, he would have seen that Joseph was not merely an administrative windfall, he was also a young man of integrity. Perhaps he did see Joseph's character but didn't have enough himself to face the truth. In any case, Potiphar and his wife deserved each other.

We need to be careful that we are not guilty of over-emphasizing talent and under emphasizing character. Both qualities are important, but character far more in the long run. Selfishness, faithlessness, and deceit have no in a person who wants to develop character. Potiphar and his wife show us that anyone can be a judge of talent, but it takes insight and courage to be a judge of character.(to be continued)