"Now Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man. And about this time, Potiphar's wife began to desire him and invited him to sleep with her. But Joseph refused." Genesis 39:6b-8a NLT
OH - MY - GOODNESS! This chapter made me blush! Potiphar's wife is what we would call a 'cougar' and Joseph, a tasty little morsel who caught her eye! And poor, neglected Mitzi of the fictional tale - I sympathized with her situation and hoped she wouldn't go through with it; I was actually shouting at her in my head. But once she decided to lie to her husband & blame Joe, she lost my support.
Oh, the pickle Joseph found himself in is still a staple of modern soap operas, TV dramas, and steamy novels (or so I've been told). Honestly, I prefer murder mysteries & sci-fi :) But, one can gather the general plot just by watching commercials. And this scenario has made more than a few appearances in murder mysteries, as you can imagine.
The story of this "bad to the bone", nameless woman is here to teach us some important lessons. Read carefully and be sure to 'think in ink' as you go.
I find it amazing how short the story is in the Bible, covering only 23 verses including back story and consequences. The actual seduction is told in only 10 verses, but apparently happened over a long-ish (yep, I'm making up words) period of time. There is a lot of inference on our author's part (and everyone who has written commentary on it) as to the motives, states of mind, and settings. As long as we don't add to God's word, I think it's okay in order to make the people more real, easier to relate to, and aid in teaching us valuable lessons we can apply to our own lives.
Fleshing out (pun intended) the characters, their circumstances and their thoughts, helps us to see how this ancient story translates into 21st Century life.
Have you ever:
* been too busy for your 'home life' or those who love you?
* felt neglected, overlooked, taken for granted?
* been tempted by something that looked or felt good? (sounds familiar, Eve)
* been put in an awkward situation or accused of something you didn't do?
* sought revenge or been the recipient of someone else's vengeance?
* shifted the blame to others for your missteps? (Eve & Adam started something with that one!)
Your experiences may not be as bold as those of our fiction & Biblical stories, but maybe there is a subtle connection to your life.
After you're finished reading, flip to the back of the book and do the Chapter Two Study guide questions. I'll be back on Thursday with some more thoughts on Potiphar's Wife.
Now that you know my reaction to this chapter, will you share your thoughts? Clicking here will take you to the blog where you can post your reaction in the Comment section. I can't wait to read it!
Your Partner in Ministry,
Shelly
warrior
"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Proverbs 16:24
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