Although he often thought about and desperately missed his father, the young Hebrew settled snugly into his daily routines. Joseph fully dedicated himself to his assigned tasks as slave to a master. Potiphar could not help but notice. The captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguards and expert executioner grew to respect Joseph’s diligence, maturity and ability to adapt to his difficult situation. Pharaoh’s most trusted officer recognized there was something very special about this young Hebrew.

Potiphar grew fond of his slave, enjoying his company. In quiet conversations, Joseph told him about his father and his God. He listened intently to what was on Joseph’s mind. His thinking was as clear and uncluttered as a pristine lake. The young man’s wisdom was deep and way beyond his years. How his father must miss him, Potiphar thought.

Promoted to Overseer

As weeks and months passed, Potiphar noticed that everything Joseph set out to do worked out successfully. Potiphar understood that Joseph’s God was working things out for him. Wanting Joseph to excel even more, Potiphar promoted him as overseer of his house. This would give Potiphar more contact with him and introduce Joseph into Pharaoh’s circle. It was not long until Potiphar witnessed his personal wealth increase—in his house and in his fields. He knew it was because of Joseph’s presence (Genesis 39:3-5). Potiphar grew to love Joseph as a son.

Joseph smiled as he looked out over Potiphar’s fields. Though still a slave, he was free to breathe in deeply fresh air flowing over the fields and absorb into his well-bronzed skin prodigious amounts of healthy sunshine. Performing hard work had made him strong physically—he was in the peak of masculine health. Best of all, he understood that he was a trusted slave! Standing between rows of golden grain, Joseph thought on his new life.

He knew Potiphar was a man to be feared; Pharaoh trusted him with his life. Potiphar was detailed in his observations and calculated in his actions. His job demanded it. Joseph held him in the deepest respect and served the Egyptian official as if he were his own father.

Joseph knew God gave him favor in Potiphar’s eyes—God was protecting him from the horror and misery other slaves were subjected to in Egypt. Fully realizing that God was with him grounded him spiritually. He thanked God daily for Potiphar—an immense blessing in his new life.

As the weeks had passed, Joseph began to understand that God was working something out—God had brought him to Egypt and to Potiphar for a purpose! As the pain of being separated from his family had eased, Joseph had put his past behind him and opened his mind to move forward.

Joseph breathed in deeply, filling his lungs to their very bottom. The vibrant overseer loved most the management of Potiphar’s fields. He gained great pleasure from seeing the storehouses full. He had great status in Potiphar’s house. Yet, he knew it was not due to his own efforts—God did it!

Joseph treated the other slaves in Potiphar’s household with great kindness, so much so that they worked harder for him. But Joseph had one problem: Potiphar’s wife.

Princess of Infidelity

Joseph was “a goodly person, and well favoured” (Genesis 39:6). Commentaries connect this verse with the last part of Genesis 29:17: “Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.” Most commentaries agree that Joseph was given his mother’s beauty. He was most likely a very handsome, manly man!  His strong spiritual character made him even more attractive and likely drew people to him. Joseph made himself servant to all he came into contact with.

History tells us that Egyptian women—especially those of wealth—like Potiphar’s wife—were not known to be a monogamous bunch. Lange’s Commentary states that historians of ancient Egypt describe the nation as the home of unchastity. Cleopatra would be a modern, typical example of such lifestyle.

Though he concealed his true feelings well, Joseph disliked being in the same room with Potiphar’s wife. While she was a very beautiful woman, she came too close to him. She took every opportunity to touch him. It was happening more often. Then the day came when she became explicit. She commanded Joseph, “Lie with me” (Genesis 39:7).

The trusted slave could not believe what he had heard. He flatly refused, but not wanting to offend, he respectfully explained to his master’s alluring wife: “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (verses 8-9; English Standard Version). The Hebrew slave greatly valued Potiphar’s trust. He had been given charge of all the man’s goods—except his wife! Joseph knew adultery would cause great trouble in Potiphar’s house. It would mean great trouble for him. What’s more, Joseph knew it would be a great sin against God. He would never agree to such a shameful act.

God was allowing Joseph to be tested. With promotion often comes the swelling of vanity. Herbert W. Armstrong taught that vanity is the root cause of all sin. God needed to know if Joseph could handle promotion without it going to his head. Many men who achieve high status are often snared by vices like sexual promiscuity that eventually bring them down. King David and Solomon are two examples of such male tragedy. Joseph’s future was critically important to God’s master plan; He had to know where Joseph stood. So the heat of trial was turned up.

Raging Revenge

Potiphar’s wife was persistent in her attempts to draw the young slave into her bedchamber. She bullied Joseph, trying to seduce him daily; Daily, he refused her (verse 10). She often changed tactics. Some days she would say, “Joseph, just come and lay beside me.” On other days, she would plead with him: “Joseph, come and be with me.” Joseph always politely refused her invitations.

Yet Joseph could sense another crisis building, similar to what happened with his brothers. With each denial of her desires, his master’s wife smoldered with anger toward his trusted slave. Who does he think he is to deny my requests? I am Potiphar’s wife; he is the slave, she angrily thought. He will obey me, she promised herself.

For self-preservation, the wise slave always tried to surround himself with plenty of other male slaves. Yet the fateful day came anyway. Joseph was alone in the house working at his master’s business when Potiphar’s wife quietly came up behind him. She grabbed him and insisted sensuously, “Lie with me” (verse 12). Joseph was shocked by her aggression. A chill ran down his spine when he felt her breath hot on the back of his neck. His mind raced to a decision. It was time she faced reality–he would never sin against God–no matter what the consequences.

Joseph wrestled with all his strength to break free of her tenacious claws and ran like a gazelle chased by a ravenous cheetah (1 Corinthians 6:18). Joseph proved his loyalty to God’s law; He would never become a slave to her wanton lust.

The Egyptian vamp growled like a wounded lioness and screamed as a woman scorned. Her lust for Joseph turned instantly to vile hate. She looked into her hands and grinned darkly—she was holding the robe of the overseer! Within a split second she hatched an evil plot against Joseph. She would use the garment to destroy this insolent slave who dared to refuse her wish.

Potiphar’s wife whirled into a rage. She wanted nothing but revenge. She called the guards. “See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out,” she accused Joseph (Genesis 39:14-15). There were no witnesses. She commanded the guards to capture the Hebrew criminal who dared to rape her. Even though shocked by what they heard about Joseph, the guards set out to find him. The woman resolved that if she could not have Joseph, she would make him suffer!

She took Joseph’s coat, laid it beside her and patiently waited for Potiphar. She would severely punish his slave.

Potiphar’s Wrath Kindled

When Potiphar arrived home, he could immediately sense a tension in the air. The guards were nervous. His wife met him with great drama and many tears. She played the perfect liar—so sweet, so innocent. She explained, “The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out” (Genesis 39:17-18).

Hearing his wife’s story, Potiphar grew angry (verse 19). Yet it is interesting to ask, against whom? Potiphar knew Joseph; he also knew his wife and all the other wealthy women of Egypt. He sent for Joseph.

“And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison” (verse 20). Notice that Potiphar kept Joseph close by. He was put into the prison where Pharaoh’s prisoners were held—it was not just any common prison. Potiphar, captain of Pharaoah’s guard, likely visited this prison often. In his own way, Potiphar protected his favored slave. He got him away from his ruinous wife and actually moved him into closer contact with Pharaoh.

On one day—in a short sliver of time—it appears that Joseph lost absolutely everything again. Yet let’s not forget, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man” (verse 2).