Joseph Again

We have just finished our tour through the Bible and are back at Genesis and Joseph. We will do a quick over. Consider Chapter 37, and the first thing we encounter is a plot to kill Joseph. I noted before that Satan’s game plan is basically a “one trick pony.” All he can think of is “kill them all.” Joseph escapes with the help of Reuben, who seemingly was the only one of the 10 who had a conscience. So Joseph goes down to Egypt, and we immediately encounter an interesting episode.

We have previously considered Pothiphar’s wife’s seduction. I noticed something this time through. When Joseph left his coat and ran, this vixen concocted an unbelievable story. She called the household servants (point of emphasis) and accused Joseph with attacking her, and “when I screamed” he ran outside. (Point of emphasis) Potiphar, and most of his servants, one would surmise, was no dummy.

If she had screamed, does it seem odd that none of the servants heard it, but then a few minutes (assumed) later, she “called” them and they all came? If she, “raised my voice and screamed,” (repeated three times) is it conceivable that no one heard her? Defense attorney Jim, resting my case.

Regardless, God was just moving Joseph on to his “next assignment,” so that he would be ready when Pharaoh had a dream and did not understand it. Remember Joseph was pretty proficient in dreams with his brothers. We will jump past the details to the point where Joseph was elevated to Number Two honcho in all of Egypt. (Did they have honchos back then?)

We commented on how Mr. And Mrs Potiphar must have felt, seeing Joseph riding by in Pharaoh’s number two chariot. And Joseph did not retaliate. I just figured out why. Besides Joseph being a really nice guy, I think that we can infer that he was too busy for such petty concerns as “payback.” He had to save a boatload of lives.  He was like a new football coach. They all “hit the ground” running. Joseph was past pettiness.

And we see by his monologues, later in the book, that he did not blame his brothers for sending him to Egypt in the first place. To put it succinctly, he had a God perspective, and anything anyone did to forward that was fine with him. I like Joseph. He is my favorite character in this part of the Bible. I have given up on a “favorite.” They are all so powerful and compelling that we can just read through the Scriptures and learn from them all.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to find Mr. And Mrs. P in heaven? That would be Joseph’s best payback.


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+37-41&version=NASB