Genesis 39:1 – 6 “Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did, Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned. From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field. So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.”
Wow! Sold as a slave, Joseph now finds himself as the steward in the household of Paroah’s captain of the guard, Potiphar. Things are going really well, and Joseph’s master is so pleased that he leaves the running of his entire business to Joseph. But trouble is coming.
v. 6. b. – 9 “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”
Joseph is a slave, and slaves have no rights. Technically, whatever a master or mistress demanded, the slave would have to comply. But Joseph feared God and respected his master Potiphar and refused. Eventually Potiphar’s wife virtually attacks Joseph when nobody else is around and when Joseph runs outside, she grabs his cloak and pulls it away from him. Potiphar’s wife then calls the household servants and tells them that Joseph tried to rape her but that she fought him off and he left his cloak behind. What are the household servants supposed to do? They might very well be slaves themselves and they might also be jealous of Joseph’s success. Of course, they will back up their mistress. When Potiphar comes home, his wife tells him the same lies, and he has Joseph hauled off to prison. By now, Joseph might be thinking that this is the end of everything for him!
Sexual harassment has existed as long as people have been on the earth. In this story, Joseph was in a terrible position; as a slave, he had no rights whatsoever. It’s likely that once Potiphar sent Joseph to prison, he also had Joseph beaten. Even if Potiphar suspected his wife of lying, he had no proof and the household servants were there to back up her story.
As a female surgeon in training, I encountered my share of sexual harassment, some of it subtle and some quite overt. Being the victim of such attacks can cause you to feel ashamed, dirty, and unworthy. At the same time, you may also be furious that someone would dare to violate your personhood.
APPLICATION: What does this passage teach about forgiveness? At first, it would seem there is no lesson here; however, as we go further into the story, it becomes obvious that Joseph did not worry about hating Potiphar’s wife or Potiphar. Imprisoned on trumped – up charges, Joseph would certainly be justified in feeling sorry for himself and hating those who put him there. There is never any indication that Joseph succumbs to self – pity or unforgiveness. As the story continues, Joseph actually rises to a position of responsibility in the prison itself.
If you are facing sexual harassment on the job, you need to protect yourself as much as possible. Jobs are not easy to come by and many people are the sole support of their families. While you are forgiving those who are harassing you, also pray for God to deliver you. It is not God’s will for you to be a victim of someone else’s lust. You can pray that God will remove the person who is harassing you or that God will move you somewhere safer and better.
PRAYER: Father God, please help those who are reading this who are victims of sexual harassment. Raise up champions for them or move them into safer situations. Help them to forgive those who have hurt them but also help them realize that forgiveness does not mean remaining in a vulnerable situation. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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