Session 10
Genesis 39:7-21
Memory Verse: Genesis 39:21
What I’ve seen and heard on television in recent months has motivated me to shut off the tube on more than one occasion. Truth is, I’ve never cared for movies and shows where I know I’m going to hear foul language or sexual innuendos. In recent months, though, I have even encountered profane and suggestive language on game shows that used to be wholesome. So, since I’d rather not let such thoughts dominate my mind, I turn the set off.
Paul challenged the believers at Philippi to dwell on good stuff, the things that were worthy of their God and of their name as Christ followers (Phil. 4:8). As you prepare this week, reflect on the typical content of your thought life. Pray for the Lord’s strength to help you filter out what’s unhealthy and embrace what’s pure. Spend some time praying for the adults in your group, too, asking God to help them to avoid the impure thoughts that lead to impure living.
It is always good to do the right thing, and it is always right to do what is good. This may seem obvious, but we live in a world that often rejects these statements. People ask the question, “If something feels good, then how could it be wrong?” On the flip side, people often think that doing the right thing means depriving oneself of joy. The thinking is that doing what is good and what is right will get in the way of one’s own desires and agenda. God’s Word tells us that He will honor those who do what is good and right. This truth is evidenced in the life of Joseph. (PSG, p. 91)
The events of Genesis 38 starkly contrast those in chapter 39. Chapter 38 recounts the seduction of Judah by his daughter-in-law, Tamar. Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranged a marriage between Er with Tamar. However, Er was wicked and the Lord “put him to death” (Gen. 38:7). As a result, the law of levirate marriage went into effect. This legal provision required a dead man’s brother to marry the deceased man’s childless widow and father a son. This son would assume the dead man’s name and inherit his part of the promised land (Deut. 25:5-10).
Judah’s second son, Onan, refused to fulfill the duty of a levir, a Latin word meaning “brother-in-law,” so he also died for his evil deeds (Gen. 38:9-10). Judah instructed Tamar to remain a widow until his third son Shelah grew up. However, when Shelah reached adulthood, Judah reneged on his promise.
When Tamar learned that Judah was traveling to Timnah, she ceased wearing her widow’s garments, covered her face, and stationed herself along the road. When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute. She agreed to sleep with him in exchange for a young goat. Tamar insisted, however, that Judah leave his signet ring, cord, and staff with her until she received the goat. When Judah later sent the goat by a friend, the friend could not find the woman.
About three months later, Judah received word that Tamar was pregnant, so he decreed that she be put to death. Tamar, however, made clear that she had become pregnant by the man who owned the signet ring, cord, and staff. When Judah recognized these items as his own, he relented (38:26). Tamar gave birth to twins named Perez and Zerah.
In stark contrast to Judah’s immoral behavior, Joseph’s moral integrity shines brightly in chapter 39. After purchasing Joseph from his brothers, the Midianites/Ishmaelites sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers (37:28,36; 39:1). But chapter 39 begins with the notation that “the Lord was with Joseph” (39:2) and that theme played out across Joseph’s life.
In time, Potiphar placed all that he owned under Joseph’s authority. And, when Potiphar’s wife repeatedly attempted to entice Joseph to sleep with her, he consistently refused. Joseph identified such immoral behavior as an “immense evil” and a “sin against God” (39:9).
One day while Joseph was working in the house with none of the other servants present, Potiphar’s wife grabbed him by his garment. Joseph quickly fled, leaving the garment behind. Potiphar’s wife, however, wickedly turned circumstantial evidence against Joseph (39:16-18), accusing him of attempted rape.
As a result of his wife’s deception, Potiphar imprisoned Joseph. Even in these dark circumstances, though, Joseph remained faithful to the Lord. Because of his integrity, the warden granted Joseph a position of authority and influence in the prison.
Read Genesis 39:7-21. How did Joseph deal with temptation? (PSG, p. 92)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
7 After some time his master’s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” 8 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 put all that he owns under my authority. 9 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 this immense evil, and how could I sin against God?” 10 Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her.
(v. 7) After some time: In the original language, this expression literally reads: “after these things.” The rendering suggests a period of time had passed from when Joseph came into Potiphar’s house and the events of Genesis 39. While the exact timing is unknown, it was long enough for the woman’s passions to be aroused. Verse 6 has already introduced Joseph as a strong and attractive young man.
Sleep with me
Potiphar’s wife made her intentions clear to Joseph. Despite being a married woman, her lust drove her to make repeated adulterous offers to the young Hebrew slave. Scripture teaches that God’s design for marriage is one man and one woman (Gen. 2:21-25). Adultery violates God’s design for marriage. Even centuries before God gave Israel the Mosaic law at Sinai, Joseph understood that sex outside the covenant of marriage was wrong.
(vv. 7-8) His master’s wife: This phrase refers to the unnamed wife of Potiphar. The term master could also be rendered “lord” or “owner.” Thus, Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s household, and the woman who tempted Joseph was Potiphar’s spouse.
(v. 7) Looked longingly at: This phrase literally means the woman’s eyes were “lifted up.” A similar expression appears in Genesis 13:10 to describe Lot’s longing look at the Jordan plain when he chose to set up his tent near the wicked city of Sodom.
(v. 8) Refused: This verb appears in the Old Testament only in a form that expresses intense or strong rejection. The same verb occurred in Genesis 37:35 to describe Jacob’s refusal to be comforted when his sons presented him with Joseph’s robe that they had dipped in blood. In Exodus 7:14, the verb identifies Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites go. And it depicts Israel’s refusal to obey God’s commands (see Ps. 78:10) or even to repent (Hos. 11:5).
(v. 8) Under my authority: This phrase literally means “in my hand.” For the Hebrews, the hand symbolized power and authority. Thus, they used the term in a variety of idioms or expressions. For example in 1 Chronicles 29:24 the phrase “pledged their allegiance” is more literally “gave their hand under.” In Deuteronomy 2:7 the expression “work of your hands” designates the activity in which the person is involved. And in Numbers 15:30 the word “defiantly” literally means “with a high hand.”
(v. 9) Immense evil: The Hebrew word for evil contrasts the word “good” at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. It suggests any condition or action that is unacceptable in God’s sight (Jer. 52:2; Mal. 2:17). Joseph correctly evaluated immoral behavior with his master’s wife as a great transgression against God and others.
(v. 9) Sin: The Hebrew verb literally means “to miss the mark.” It is the main word for sin in the Old Testament. By committing sin, people miss the goal or standard God has set for them. They fail to meet the requirements for holy living and thus fall short of spiritual wholeness or well-being.
(v. 10) Day after day: This phrase emphasizes the repeated nature of the temptation. Potiphar’s wife persisted in her attempts to lure Joseph into wrongdoing. The expression underscores the reality of the daily pressure to conform. If we are serious about our faith, Christians need to rely on God’s Spirit when dealing with temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).
11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. 13 When she saw that he had left his garment with her and had run outside, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “my husband brought a Hebrew man to make fools of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, and I screamed as loud as I could. 15 When he heard me screaming for help, he left his garment beside me and ran outside.” 16 She put Joseph’s garment beside her until his master came home.
(v. 11) To do his work: This phrase calls attention to the fact that Joseph did not go looking for temptation. Rather, it arose in the normal course of his required daily activities. The Hebrew term for work, like its English counterpart, can designate the activity of working, the required skills for such activity, or the results of working. In the context of Genesis 39:11, it refers to Joseph’s routine or habitual labor that his role as a servant to Potiphar required him to perform. Verse 11 reveals Joseph’s innocence in the situation and his vulnerability.
(v. 11) None of the household servants: This comment emphasizes that no one witnessed the attempted assault by Potiphar’s wife. She tried to get Joseph to engage in sexual wrongdoing when no one else was present. Despite Joseph’s best efforts to avoid contact with the woman, this exceptional situation left him susceptible to her advances. Later, it also made him susceptible to her accusations.
(v. 12) She grabbed him by his garment: The verb rendered grabbed also means “to seize.” It can involve taking hold of something before further action. In Deuteronomy 22:28, the verb identifies a man taking hold of a virgin to rape her. The word for garment refers to a robe of any kind. He passed this test with flying colors by leaving his garment and running outside.
(v. 12) Escaped: The Hebrew verb appears four times in verses 12-18. The term basically means “to flee.” It indicates quick movement away from someone or something. In many biblical contexts, the verb refers to flight from danger or enemies. Centuries later Paul commanded believers to do what Joseph literally did: “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18).
(v. 14) Hebrew: Potiphar’s wife applied this designation to Joseph in a derogatory sense. The term is derived from the name “Eber,” one of Shem’s descendants (Gen. 11:10-14). Scripture also identifies Abraham as a descendant of Shem from Eber’s line (see 11:26 in its context). The label differentiates Israelites from foreigners. Its use seemed to disappear after David established the monarchy.
(v. 14) To make fools of us: The Hebrew verb can indicate laughter in disbelief or in joy. This was the case when Abraham and Sarah laughed after learning they would have a son in their old age (17:17; 18:12; 21:6). In a negative sense, as here, the verb can suggests scorn and derision. In the context of Genesis 39 the term also implies sexual abuse or misconduct.
(v. 14) I screamed as loud as I could: Although Potiphar’s wife was lying, her insistence that she screamed would be viewed as proof of innocence. Compare this account to Deuteronomy 22:23-27 where the Mosaic law addressed crying for rescue. The testimony of Potiphar’s wife along with the circumstantial evidence of Joseph’s garment sealed his apparent guilt.
17 Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought to us came to make a fool of me, 18 but when I screamed for help, he left his garment beside me and ran outside.” 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him - “These are the things your slave did to me” - he was furious 20 and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden.
(v. 17) Story: This common Hebrew term can also be rendered “words.” In some contexts it means “things,” “matters,” or “acts.” In the Old Testament, it frequently identifies what God says. For example, the list we refer to as the Ten Commandments is literally “the Ten Words” in Hebrew (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13; 10:4). The writer of the book of Hebrews reminded us of the powerful, living nature of God’s Word (Heb. 4:12). In contrast to the eternal truth of God’s words, the words of Potiphar’s wife remind us that human speech too often is untrustworthy and seeks its own agenda.
(v. 17) You brought to us: Potiphar’s wife pointed the finger at Potiphar in her trumped up charges against Joseph. To distract from her own guilt, she blamed her husband for bringing the slave into their household. She clearly indicated that her husband needed to take action regarding the situation. Her words call to mind Adam’s attempt to blame Eve-and even God-for his sin of eating the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:12).
(v. 18) Left his garment . . . ran outside: While this part of her story was technically true (v. 15), Potiphar’s wife craftily turned circumstantial evidence against Joseph. In her version of events, she presented herself as an innocent “damsel in distress.” This seized garment could be used to identify its owner as Joseph because such clothing could identify the individual’s status, rank, or office.
(v. 19) Furious: This phrase can more literally be rendered “his wrath was kindled” or “his anger burned.” The term for furious conveys the idea of one’s “nose” or “nostril.” The Hebrews likely observed that people’s noses tend to flare when they become angry. Thus, they realized that a person could express emotions through the nose or the act of breathing. This specific Hebrew word emphasizes the emotional aspect of anger. The Hebrew verb translated “kindled” compares growing anger to stoking a fire.
(v. 20) Prison: In Hebrew, this word appears eight times (all in Gen. 39-40). It relates to roundness, so it could be translated “roundhouse” In context, the term designated a particular prison that confined the king’s prisoners. In Genesis 40:15, Joseph referred to it as a dungeon. Since “captains of the guard” is the same term used for Potiphar in 39:1, this could have been a small, private jail for political or royal prisoners attached to Potiphar’s house (see Gen. 40:3). Joseph going to prison as his “reward” for upright behavior must be understood against the backdrop of God’s larger purposes.
The Lord was with Joseph
This recurring comment (see Gen. 39:2) reminds us that a person can be doing God’s will and still experience calamity. Joseph remained faithful and refused to yield to temptation even when falsely accused and unfairly treated. Ultimately, the Lord remained with him and blessed him, vindicating his faithfulness.
(v. 21) Kindness: This significant Hebrew term, often written in English as hesed, previously occurred in the prayer of Abraham’s servant as he sought a wife for Isaac. (24:12,14,27). It conveys both compassion and faithfulness to one’s obligations. It is sometimes translated “faithfulness.” Bible scholars often view it as a covenant term. The word appears again in Joseph’s appeal to the chief cupbearer to mention his plight to Pharaoh who could release him from prison (40:14).
(v. 21) Favor: This word can be also be translated “grace.” In contrast to the verb from which it derives, this term focuses not on the giver of grace (the jailer) but on the one receiving the grace (Joseph). Often the word appears in the context of the dealings of someone in a superior position showing favor toward someone in a subordinate position. It was that way in Potiphar’s house (39:4), and it was the same here in prison.
The Family
Marriage is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. (See Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4.)
Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage.
In Genesis 39:7-12, Joseph successfully resisted the attempts of Potiphar’s wife to lure him into temptation. What do you think enabled Joseph to successfully resist? Read Matthew 4:1-11 and Hebrews 4:15. How was Jesus able to resist the devil’s temptations? What do these Scriptures teach us about how we can overcome temptation? Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Since God has promised not to allow His children to be tempted beyond what they are able, why do we so often fall prey to the devil’s enticements?