Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

MRS. POT O'FIRE

This entry was posted on 03-29-2010 and is filed under STUDIES IN GENESIS.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." That is not in the Bible but there is a story in Scripture that illustrates this ancient maxim. Joseph is a slave in Egypt and is put in charge of the house of Potiphar, a high ranking official of the Pharaoh. Three times the text (Gen. 39:1-6) tells us that God was with Joseph. In fact, the blessing of the Lord fell upon the house of Potiphar just because of Joseph's godly presence. All well and good . . . until the day Mrs. Pot O'Fire got the hots for young Joseph.

"Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. After some time his master's wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, 'Sleep with me.'" (Gen. 39:7 CSB). Joseph's response to her advances would disappoint Hollywood. They would have to lie through their teeth to tell the story the way they would want to (of course that has never kept Hollywood from misrepresenting truth and history in the movies). The first thing he did was remind Mrs. Pot O'Fire that she belonged to Potiphar, not him (v. 8). Second, he recognized the sin factor: "How could I do such a great evil and sin against God?" (v. 9). He knew adultery was a sin. Third, every day he refused to go to bed with her; i.e., his temptations with the sultry seductress were daily, yet he fought her off (v. 10). Think about this. They were all alone. Who would know? But Joseph knew that God would know and that was enough for him. Fourth, the fateful day she grabbed him while no one else was around he literally fled from temptation. He ran away, leaving his garment in her hand (V. 13). The Bible says "Flee youthful lusts" and that is what he did ~ literally. Joseph wound up in prison over this incident but even there "the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him" (v. 21).

Hymn: "Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; each victory will help you some other to win; fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through. As the Savior to help you, comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through" ( H. R. Palmer)