GENESIS 39
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. – Genesis 39:19-23
GENESIS 39 POTIPHAR PUTS JOSEPH IN PRISON
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Potiphar believed his wife’s accusation of Joseph
He didn’t even ask Joseph’s side as he fumed in anger
Joseph was taken by his master to the king’s prison
But the Lord never left Joseph and still gave him favor
The keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all prisoners
Whatever Joseph did in that prison walls, the Lord made it prosper.
The malice and slander that Potiphar’s wife had over Joseph’s character poisoned her husband’s trust in Joseph. Interesting that he never pondered on those many years that Joseph did everything for him and that he didn’t have to manage anything that he owned. Anger overtook him and made a rash decision to put Joseph in prison without even hearing his side. After all, he trusted him that long. He was blinded by his wife’s sly and cunning ways to get rid of someone who rejected her sexual advances. Anger that isn’t processed always leads to unhealthy results. In this case, it was to break his trust to Joseph. It was also to his detriment because now, he had to attend to all that Joseph responsibly did for him.
No one can hurt anyone who belongs to God, the psalmist says in Psalm 105 that no one is to touch or harm his people. Psalm 34 also says God let angels encamp around them.
REFLECTION
- How is this passage a message of hope for those afflicted with suffering?
