Potiphar's Wife: a story of temptation and how to resist it

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.

A brief look into Ableism, Lookism, and Tokenism

 Today’s news is filled with examples and stories of racism, sexism and even ageism to the point that everyone knows or familiar with racism, sexism, and ageism. There are many other  isms that function in the world around us. Have you heard about ableism? Lookism? Tokenism? I came across these terms in recent months and I was curious about what these terms mean and real-world examples. We are visual people and sometimes we make assumptions based on what we see. Assumption about someone’s physical health, personality, and including them in groups based on what we immediately see. These assumptions are usually made subconsciously and sometimes they are overt. Sometimes these assumptions are right and sometimes they are very, very wrong. Participation in these isms is sometimes more than just assumptions based on visual cues, but it is also in the language we use and our behavior towards people.

Ableism is “the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior” (Olsen, 2019). At its core, ableism is the assumption that people with disabilities require “fixing” or need help and defines people by their disabilities. What does ableism look like? There are many examples of ableism, I will highlight and discuss a few. First and an important one, ableism is a lack of compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a law enacted in 1990 which made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. Compliance includes the availability of closed captions at movie theaters and braille in public places. Second, using a disability as a punchline, mocking someone with a disability or using language that is used to insult another who does not have the disability. Some of the examples I have are phrases like “That’s so lame,” “She’s so crazy,” and even “The blind leading the blind.” Third, according to Ms. Olsen, ableism is using the handicapped bathroom stall when one is fully able. However, I have an issue with this one. In most public restrooms, especially in department stores, the handicapped bathroom is where they put the changing table. So, if I need to change my child’s diaper, I need to be in that stall. Also, if I need to use the restroom and it’s the only stall available, I will use it. Since many disabilities are invisible, do not assume someone who uses that stall doesn’t need it.

Lookism is discriminatory treatment of people who are considered physically unattractive, the workplace as well as in dating and social settings, where assumptions are made about a person’s ability to do a job or the type of person they are solely based on their outward appearance. Attractiveness is considered good and positive and unattractiveness is bad and negative. In the film, A League of Their Own (1992), the character, Marla, wasn’t chosen by the scout because she wasn’t pretty enough. She was only ultimately chosen because characters, Dottie and Kit, stand up for her and demand she be given the chance to play. A real-world example is the famous audition by Susan Boyle during the third season of Britain’s Got Talent. By his body language and tone of voice, Simon Cowell was already judging Ms. Boyle before she even began to sing. Of course, he was proven wrong as she beautifully sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Misérables. However, when it comes to dating and sexual attractiveness, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have been rejected by men based on my looks. I was always a good person to have as a friend but not as a romantic partner until my husband. My husband had been rejected by women based on his physical looks as well giving him the idea that no woman would find him attractive. Society may try to define what is attractive, beautiful, and sexy but in the eyes of the right person, that definition can be quite different.

Recently I read an article about how a woman received a powerful position due to tokenism because of who her father is. Tokenism is the practice of making a symbolic effort to be inclusive by recruiting people from underrepresented groups to create an impression of social inclusiveness and diversity. So, by this definition, this woman got this job is more an example of nepotism which is the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends. Nepotism is nothing new in business and politics even as John F. Kennedy was accused of nepotism in 1961 when he appointed his brother, Robert Kennedy, as attorney general. Tokenism is most often seen in tv and movies. “Tokenism is about inserting diverse characters because you feel you have to” (Ferrera, 2016). Tokenism has been in the news and on social media today as actors are casted in roles that people assume because of their ethnicities. The example of this outrage is when Disney announced they had cast actress Halle Bailey as Ariel in their upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Many people online commented that they (Disney) hired Ms. Bailey is simply because they needed a black girl. When I heard the news and the resulting outrage, I immediately thought of Disney’s adaption of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) with a multicultural cast. It was a good, fun film which received more praise then it received criticism. Disney wasn’t accused of tokenism then. So, what changed?

In conclusion, at their core, ableism, lookism, and tokenism is about trying to classify entire groups of people as “less than” or unworthy of mainstream societal standards. People with disabilities can go about their daily lives without an able person asserted themselves under the guise of assistance. If a people with a disability needs assistance, they will ask. Lookism is pushing aside people one judges to be unattractive by their own standards. Some men don’t like women with curves, but there are men who do. There are some women who resist a man with facial and or body hair, and there are some women who don’t. Tokenism is choosing someone based on their group classification rather than their ability to do a job. Ableism, lookism, and tokenism are based on assumptions. Assumptions based on visual cues, about motives, about causality. And you know what happens when we assume?

 

References

 

Ferrera, America (May 18, 2016). America Ferrera On Diversity In Film & TV: Guest Column. Deadline.com. www.deadline.com/2016/05/america-ferrera-diversity-superstore-1201752658/.  Retrieved September 19, 2020.

 

Olsen. Emma (December 12, 2019). Ableism 101. www.accessliving.org/newsroom/blog/ableism-101/. Access Living.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.

 

For more information

Americans with Disabilities Act. www.ada.gov.

The Little Breadwinner: life during the Salvadoran Civil War

 The Little Breadwinner is the newest book by activist Lucia Mann. It is a story of those who suffered during the Salvadoran Civil War which ravaged the Central American country from 1980 to 1992 and took the lives of approximately 75,000 Salvadorans. It is the story of Estrella Godwin Lozano, a little person, who suffers at the hands of her countrymen as well as the soldiers. As she struggles to survive, she meets various characters who fight for peace, justice, and a normal life including the Sandinistas. At its core, The Little Breadwinner is about finding hope and fight for survival amid uncertain times. Will Estrella survive the war? Will she be able to live a peaceful life?

I have read Ms. Mann’s books for years and they are powerful, emotional, and eye-opening to atrocities which occur around the world. The Little Breadwinner is not on par with her previous books. I appreciate her desire to bring the horrors of the Salvadoran Civil War to a wider audience; however, I did not feel the same emotional impact as I had with her previous books. There is just too much going on, too much back and forth in time, and a lot of exposition and commentary that the narrator interjects into the flow of the story that it feels choppy. Overall, The Little Breadwinner is a book that has introduced me to the Salvadoran Civil War, unfortunately, it does not have the emotional impact that I expect from a Lucia Mann book.

 

The Little Breadwinner is available in paperback and eBook.

American Gospel: Christ Alone a review

 American Gospel: Christ Alone is a 2018 documentary which became available on Netflix in May 2020. Written and directed by Brandon Kimber, American Gospel offers a critical critique of the Word of Faith Movement also known as the prosperity gospel and its influence on Christianity. Through expert interviews, biblical references and personal testimony, the documentary exposes the dangers of the prosperity gospel as well as the call to refocus on the true gospel. Through the Word of Faith history into the prosperity gospel of today, American Gospel argues that salvation with through Christ alone and a call to return to the true gospel, the gospel of Jesus. The Bible gives example after example that Jesus is the hero, the source of our salvation. Throughout the Old Testament, God is saying we need a better lawgiver, we need a better judge, we need a better king and we need a better prophet. The New Testament is Jesus as the fulfillment of those needs. The prosperity gospel teaches man as the hero and God is simply a genie in a lamp to make requests. What is the core of the documentary? What are the praises and well as the criticisms?

American Gospel opens with the core of what Christianity and the gospel is about and that is Jesus. The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus brings salvation and from other the fruit of good work follows. The prosperity gospel appeals to two basic human desires: 1) not to be sick or unhealthy and 2) to be wealthy, not to have to worry about money. A common theme among all the prosperity gospel proponents is that Christians are called to be healthy and wealthy and if you are not, then your faith isn’t big enough or strong enough. It is idolatry as it elevates the gift above the Gift Giver. At the heart of the prosperity gospel is “the more money you give to the Lord’s work, the more likely God will answer your prayers.” The prosperity gospel is a softer, gentler salvation by works. It is still the law, “do this and be blessed.” American Gospel focuses on exposing the falseness of these various teachers including Benny Hinn’s and his “healings” and well as Todd White of Gateway Church. The prosperity gospel teaches that you cannot speak against or criticize the anointed (aka the pastors) and if we do, God will curse us. However, Scripture after Scripture that tells us that we are to hold our teachers accountable and call out the false teachers. In Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans heard Paul’s message and checked it against the Scriptures to make sure what he said was true.

The documentary has been praised by many. American Gospel reveals that “the money changers are still in the temple, still making God’s name a mockery” (Strachan, 2019) as Costi Hinn, nephew of Benny Hinn and former Prosperity Gospel follower, “provides a key perspective that is brutally honest while being compassionate” (Vandenboom, 2020). I had known little about the Prosperity Gospel before this documentary. I had tried researching it before and the information out there was so convoluted that I eventually stopped. I knew it wasn’t biblically based as many of the teachers in the Prosperity Gospel rarely teach from Scripture with specific verses. The Prosperity Gospel’s main teaching is the “Name it and Claim it” doctrine, essentially the Power of Positive Thinking that God calls all Christians to be healthy and wealthy while ignoring the truly sick. Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries has made it his mission to expose the fallacy of the faith healers like Benny Hinn. I also liked that American Gospel shows why the Prosperity Gospel has been able to thrive in the United States as “America has always been a pragmatic, can-do kind of country” and “the material focus of the “gospel” suits the American culture” (Strachan, 2019).

American Gospel is not without its critics as Todd White, who is featured prominently in the film as a false teacher and faith healer, has stated that the film has been “demonically inspired” (Bjornson, 2020). Another criticism is that the film “enables a patriarchal power structure” (Pidcock, 2020) as men were interview for an instructional purpose while women were interviewed for their emotional stories. Unfortunately, many churches have a prohibition against women in leadership roles, especially as senior pastors. However, it doesn’t mean that women cannot have an active role the church, but that’s a different post. Another criticism is the film’s view on sin and justice (Pidcock, 2020). In the film, Ray Comfort, a minister, is seen doing his common Ten Commandments confrontation with a stranger, and with a microphone and camera in this individual’s face, Comfort questions and questions about lawbreaking until this person relents and admits he is a sinner. I understand Comfort’s motivation to share the gospel in the world; however, this is the part of the film I did not like. It is a common evangelistic method: confront, pray the sinner’s prayer, and then move on. I think the film would still have an impact without featuring Ray Comfort and this tactic.

In conclusion, American Gospel opened my eyes to the prosperity gospel which I have heard about in the last decade but didn’t truly delve into it very deeply. I knew it felt wrong, against my understanding of the Bible. The basics of prosperity gospel is great faith leads to health and wealth. The truth is that is not a great faith we need but a small faith (a mustard seed as Jesus says in Luke 17:6) and a great God. While the idea that we can be healthy and wealthy simply undermines the many examples in the gospel in which Jesus tells people to give up everything and follow him. The story of Jesus and the rich young man in Mark 10:17-31 comes to mind. The Church needs to refocus on the focus of Christianity in Jesus. Christianity is simply Jesus and nothing else. American Gospel is not perfect; however, it does an amazing job expose the truth behind the prosperity gospel. A teaching which doesn’t allow you to question and challenge your pastors is not a teaching we need in the church today. I recommend watching American Gospel and take the information they present to begin an investigation of your own. 

References

Bjornson, Greta (May 29, 2020). ‘American Gospel Christ Alone’ Controversy: Why The Film is Dividing Netflix Viewers. Decider. www.decider.com/2020/05/29/american-gospel-netflix-controversy/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Pidcock, Rick (August 14, 2020). Six ways ‘American Gospel’ is small-minded and abusive. Baptist News Global. www.baptistnews.com/article/six-ways-american-gospel-is-small-minded-and-abusive/#.X15cS2hKi1t. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Strachan, Owen (January 17, 2019). ‘American Gospel’ Blows a Hole in the Prosperity Gospel. The Gospel Coalition. www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/american-gospel-blows-hole-prosperity-gospel/. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

 

Vandenboom, Liza (June 22, 2020). “American Gospel” Shows Real-Life Consequences Of Poor Theology. Ministry Watch. www.ministrywatch.com/american-gospel-shows-tangible-consequences-of-poor-theology/. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 

The Book of Two Ways: not a typical Jodi Picoult story

 The Book of Two Ways is the newest book by bestselling author, Jodi Picoult. It is the story of Dawn Edelstein who survives a plane crash. In a single moment everything changes that as she prepares for the crash landing, her thoughts are not about her husband or daughter of a man she hasn’t seen in fifteen years. After the crash, she is given the option to be taken anywhere she wants to go. She knows she should go home to her husband and daughter but instead she hops on a plane to Cairo, Egypt where Wyatt Armstrong is an archaeologist studying the ancient burial sites. She wants to continue the work she left behind in Egypt as she was studying the Book of Two Ways, the first known map of the afterlife. It also means confronting her and Wyatt’s unresolved history. As the story unfolds, Dawn has two possible futures ahead of her and she confronts questions of what a life well-lived looks like, what do we leave behind when we leave this earth, and do we make choices or do our choices make us?

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult’s for many years and I eagerly delved into The Book of Two Ways. Unfortunately, after the excitement of the opening chapter, I was quickly bored as the story gets bogged down with so much detailed information of hieroglyphs, Egyptian cultures, and quantum physics. It is a book about love and loss, life and death, and Egypt. Lots and lots of Egypt. The overload of information caused me to lose track of where I was in the story and how the information even fits into the story. This overload overpowers the emotional, human aspects that is usually characteristic of her books. It was hard to care for Dawn and her journey. At one point, she has sex with her husband after an argument and her husband thinks everything is fine, she proclaims that just because she had sex with him, everything was not fine. So why have sex with him? It is just one example of eyerolling moments. As a fan of Ms. Picoult, I say give The Book of Two Ways a pass.

 

The Book of Two Ways is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.

A Strange Beginning: a story about the young life of Lord Byron

 A Strange Beginning by Gretta Curran Browne is book 1 of a seven-book series on the life of Lord Byron in which details the humble beginnings of one of England’s most famous poets. The story opens with a 10-year-old George Gordon who lives with his widowed mother and her maid. An avid reader and highly intelligent, young George thrived at school and was miserable at home. Until one day, his whole world would change. He would learn that everything he thought he knew about himself was a lie. He wasn’t a Gordon, he wasn’t poor. Soon a life of wealth and privilege would claim his life and would give him the opportunity to prove his worth on his terms. Covering Lord Byron from the age of 10 into his 20s, A Strange Beginning takes a deeper look into this iconic man.

A Strange Beginning is presented as a historical fiction, but it is more a fictionalized biography as the book’s description claims, “this is the true and meticulously researched story” and “ignoring all the old and unproven rumors and sensational scandals fabricated” at the time. I am familiar with Lord Byron’s poetry but was unaware of his personal life. I started it with interest as the opening pages were beautifully written but soon turned sour. Chapter after chapter, I lost interest. While I enjoyed reading about the events which would inspire his early poetry, the story was often dull and tedious. I don’t see myself continuing the series. However, if you are a fan of Lord Byron’s poetry, you might enjoy and find A Strange Beginning as well as the rest of the series, an interesting look into his life.

 

A Strange Beginning is available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook

Girl With A Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery

 Girl With A Gun by Kari Bovee is an Annie Oakley Mystery. The story opens in 1885 as Annie joins Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show as the next American sharp-shooting sensation. Fifteen-year-old Annie is the sole supporter for her widowed mother and two younger siblings. As an expert marksman, she hunts and sells games to the local stories to make ends meet. After a stunning performance against the reigning marksman, Frank Butler, she is offered a spot in the Wild West Show. But she soon realizes that someone is out to get her. A series of crimes occur within the show’s camp including the death of her assistant, Annie doesn’t believe the official reports and soon becomes a target and a suspect. With the help of a sassy reporter, Annie is determined to solve the crimes and clear her name before it destroyed everything she has worked for. Will she find the truth before its too late?

I really wanted to like Girl With a Gun because I have always enjoyed stories which figure Annie Oakley. However, this story takes too many creative licenses about Annie’s life. In 1885, when Annie joins the Wild West Show, she is 25, not 15, already married to Frank Butler and they joined the show together. I feel that if you are going to write a story about a historical figure, you need to consider the major aspects of their life and keep to their timeline as much as possible. Ms. Bovee certainly could have done that and still presented a mystery that Annie would solve. That aside, the mysteries, the crimes themselves weren’t that interesting and when the culprit was reveal, it was a letdown. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend Girl With A Gun.

 

Girl With A Gun is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook