Potiphar’s Wife – Bored to Distraction
Being bored often leads to temptation. Temptation usually comes in the form of new and exciting. It’s something that gets us out of boredom that our lives can become. Temptation can be good as it can get you out of your comfort zone to join a group or do that thing that you always wanted to do. It can also be bad where you may do something you later regret. It can happen to any woman every day with tragic consequences.
”So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.“
Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT
So let’s do a little back story. Potiphar was the captain of the palace guards which means he was a well respected man. He bought Joseph as a slave when Joseph’s brothers sold him due to jealousy. (More of that back story read Genesis chapter 37) Potiphar brought home this handsome slave and made him responsible for everything he owned. It says in Genesis 39:6 that he only worried about food which probably means he may not be giving attention to his wife.
”So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,“
Genesis 39:6 NLT
Now Potiphar’s wife is not innocent in this situation, but she was probably bored and this Joseph was handsome. And he rejected her…. Sometimes when you get rejected it makes you want it more. It’s now a challenge to get that temptation.
I have empathy for her because I spent my youth chasing and being with the bad boys. And the funny thing is that is how Joe (my husband) got my attention in the first place. I was hanging out with his sister and he came to ISU for a concert. I remember sitting in the food court area and he ignored me the entire time. Guys did not ignore me…. That got my attention and made we want to get to know him. He was a challenge where if he did act interested I may have just ignored him. God works in funny ways like that.
Back to Potiphar’s wife’s story where she comes up with a plan to get what she wants. She sends her servants away. When we don’t want someone catching us doing something bad, we usually push them away. We don’t want to be judged because we know we shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.
Lesson 1: Don’t push your friends away when you are tempted. Bring them closer and lean on them. Have that authentic vulnerable conversation.
Tip: When you are at work, leave the office door open. Don’t go to lunch, dinner, coffee with just the two of you. One of the guys I work with actually did this with me. I invited him to coffee during covid and he brought his wife every time. At first I thought it was weird and now I have more respect for him.
Joseph being a man of God rejected her, but she somehow managed to grab his coat. (Joseph cannot keep his coats….). She made up a story to make her look innocent. She had to cover up what she knew she shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
Lesson 2: When we stumble, confession beats a cover-up. How easy it is to blame someone else when we’re tempted to sin. It’s “his” fault, “her” fault, or when all else fails, it’s God’s fault. Potiphar may not have seen through his wife’s lies, but the Lord we love looks straight into our hearts. Instead of going for a cover-up, let’s confess and repent.
Inspired From: Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs