Potiphar’s Wife was not a nice woman. She was a prosperous
and influential woman who was unfaithful and vindictive. Her name is never
mentioned. She is just the spoiled, bored wife of Potiphar, a prosperous
Egyptian official, a captain of Pharaoh’s executioners. She was ready to lie to
protect herself and ruin an innocent man, all because she didn’t get what she
wanted. Her advances toward Joseph, a slave, were rebuffed and her pride was
wounded. She is featured briefly in the story of Joseph in Genesis 39:6-20. This
story is an example in temptation and Joseph, an example of how to resist it.
As well as Jesus, another example of how to resist temptations with the use of
Scripture.
She determined to use her charms to seduce Joseph, the
handsome, young Hebrew slave, in her husband’s household. At 17, Joseph was
sold into slavery by his brothers and Potiphar bought Joseph and gradually
entrusted him with more and more responsibility. When his wife saw Joseph, she
immediately wanted him and invited him into her bed. Joseph was quick to rebuff
her advances and did his best to avoid being in her presence. Unfortunately,
she would not take no for an answer. When Joseph refused one last time and ran
away, he leaves his cloak behind. She then takes her “evidence” and accuses him
of attempted rape. It is possible she accuses him out of fear that Joseph would
tell Potiphar of her behavior. Or most likely, she accuses him into punish him.
How dare he say no! Joseph was thrown into prison and we know the rest of his
story. However, Potiphar’s wife is never mentioned again. She was a hollow
woman who was fueled with the corrosive power of lust and hate.
When Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife no, he says “How then
could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). And when
she later tells her husband and Potiphar is outraged that his trusted servant
would do such a thing. He sends Joseph to prison when he could have easily sent
him to his death. Why didn’t he? Did Potiphar know about his wife’s advantages
and he knew Joseph was innocent? Did he throw him in prison instead of ordering
his execution to save him? Was he forced to believe his wife over a slave?
Whatever the reason for Potiphar’s decision to send Joseph to prison, God took
away her “victory” and gave Joseph the blessing of an even higher status. After
two years in prison, he comes before Pharaoh and can interpret his dreams when
no one was able to (Genesis 41:14-32) and then given great responsibility with
only the Pharaoh greater than him (Genesis 41:39-40). Whatever happens to
Potiphar and his wife? Did she finally get caught in a web of lies? In tangled
sheets? Did she eventually lose her wealth, status, and luxurious life? We may
never know.
The resistance of temptation is at the center of this story.
While Joseph did not have Scripture to tell him that it was a sin against God.
For us, our example is Jesus as he uses Scripture to resist sin. Satan uses
Scripture against Jesus in his weakness. In Matthew 4:1-12 and Luke 4:1-13, Jesus
spends forty days and forty nights fasting in the desert. He was hungry, tired,
and weak, ripe for Satan’s temptation. In his weakness, Jesus towards Scripture
to battle against temptations. We can use Scripture for the same purpose. Satan
tells him, “you’re hungry, make bread.” Jesus replies, “Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy
8:3). Satan then tells him, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down,
for God will command his angels concerning you (Psalm 91:11). Jesus answers him
with “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16). Satan tries
a third and final time and says, worship me and I will give you all the
kingdoms of the world. Jesus rebukes him with “Worship the Lord your God, and
serve him only” (Deuteronomy 6:13).
In conclusion, Potiphar’s wife wasn’t used to be told no and
a young slave dared to do so. She takes her revenge by accusing him of a
horrible crime. She taught she won; but God had other ideas. He took the
virtuous Joseph and elevated him even higher than being a slave in an
official’s household. Joseph becomes the highest man in the land, only
answering to Pharaoh himself. What happens to Potiphar’s wife? The Bible is
silent on the rest of her life, but we know that her desire to punish Joseph
for his rebuff was used by God for his glory and purpose. While the story is an
example of resisting temptation, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of
resistance temptations to protect us and glorify God.
