Parker Inspirations

According to Egyptian rule back Bible times, the death penalty was common for adultery or rape. Joseph was put in prison instead. This makes you think that Potiphar doubted his wife telling of what really happened.

There are a few things that make me believe Potiphar did not believe his wife was telling the truth.

The story is told in Genesis chapter 39. In verse three it states that Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and everything he did was prosperous. Then the next verse says, “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand”. Potiphar trusted Joseph with all that was in his house. He trusted him so much that he did not even know how much stuff he had. All he knew was he was being blessed abundantly with Joseph as his overseer.

Then the story changes for Joseph. Potiphar’s wife speaks to Joseph every day. Day after day she tried to get him to sleep with her. Then one day there was no one in the house but her. When Joseph came in to take care of the house business, she caught him by his coat and tried to force him to lie with her. Joseph fled away from her and left his coat behind that she was holding on too.

When she realized she had his coat, and she did not get her way, Potiphar’s wife called unto the men and spoke unto them. She even told them that she cried with a loud voice. It was what she did next that made it look like a lie. She laid the garment by her until her husband came home. Women who have been attacked do not hold on to their own clothes much less their attacker.

When she spoke to her husband, she told him what happened. Women who have been attacked have a hard time talking about their attack. Some do not even want to talk about it and relive the incident. She was mad that she did not get her way.

We know that Potiphar was a wise man because of his trust in Joseph to begin with. He saw the hand of the Lord on Joseph. I believe this wisdom helped him to see the big picture and put Joseph in prison instead of killing him.