Ah yes, Potiphar’s wife. This is the point at which many Christians shake their heads in the story of Joseph, wondering why she was so hell bent on putting the innocent boy in trouble. But the truth is, we are not so different from her, this nameless, faceless woman. And before you get all hot and bothered, I know, I know. You would never cheat on your husband/ wife abii?? You would never beg a man/woman to lie with you ba?? In this same generation we are in?? Lol, let’s just keeping deceiving ourselves that we have integrity, and it’s not grace that is literally holding us up. But anyways, the Word of life is supposed to be our mirror, so let’s just see what our reflection says, shall we??
Introducing Mrs P, wife of Potiphar, the Captain of the Guard, the highest ranking military officer in Egypt. I’m sure he reported directly to Pharaoh himself, so there’s absolutely no way this oga was broke. She was married to a legit big boy. In today’s world, we can liken Potiphar to maybe the Chief of Army Staff or the Head of the White House Security (Homeland). But yeah, he was a baller. So anyways, Mrs P would definitely have been a babe by Egyptian standards, a fine woman who was married to a very wealthy, very busy man. Typically, women in this position have it all, their husband’s wealth is completely at their disposal. She’d have had slaves, maidens in waiting, exotic pets, and all those plenty weird things that people of told used to show their wealth and privilege. But she wanted more. She wanted something she shouldn’t have. Is it beginning to sound familiar yet? No? Stay with me then.
Don’t get me wrong, the Bible does not say that Potiphar was a bad or inattentive husband, and heaven forbid I add to the Word, so let’s just say Joseph was around a lot more than he was. Potiphar, I mean. A fine, fresh foreigner, physically fit in all the right places from the life of a slave, was brought into the space of an indulged princess. Disaster was bound to happen right?? Wrong. She was married, and she had everything she needed, but like King David after her, she let her gaze linger too long. Gen. 39:7 says that,”After a time, she cast her eyes on Joseph…” My question is, to do what exactly?? What are you looking at?? A slave in your house?? The head of your husband’s affairs, yes, but a slave nonetheless. I’m pretty sure we still agree at this point ba?? Good, because this next part, you won’t really like.
We are exactly the same. Yes, you read right. We are all the same as Mrs P. How??? Watch and see. As believers, as the Bride of Christ, we have it all in Him. His wealth is limitless, His grace is abundant and His mercy, unending.
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)
Is your chest beginning to hurt yet? Stay with me, there’s more ahead. We’re in this together. Honestly though, we easily see what she could have done better, or say how she shouldn’t have even done anything at all, but the truth is, we all want something we shouldn’t want. We, who are dead to sin. We, who have shed the darkness and come into the Wonder of His light. We have everything we need in Christ, but still we long for things outside the light. The problem is, when you want something long enough, you subconsciously and consciously begin to look for ways to get it. See Mrs P, disturbing the poor boy day after day, until she finally made him run outside with pant. Just think about it, how serious was this babe, that he left his clothes with her and ran away?? He knew that if he stayed an extra second, wahala go dey. Is her face looking like yours now or should I keep quiet??
She let it get that far, and then she made it worse. After braving rejection in the pursuit of pleasure, she would have been furious after he ran away, that her plans had been thwarted. She wanted revenge. And this is where most of us are, ready to destroy others in our quest for satisfaction. We’d lie, bribe, steal or even hurt people to get what we want. As long as it doesn’t affect us, we’re ready to say that the end justifies the means. But it always, always affects us in the end, whether we admit it or not. Both on the inside and out. Imagine Mrs P’s face when Joseph became Prime Minister, higher than even her own husband. I know I would have wanted to die. It’s never worth it, honestly, not if It’s going to cost someone else, and definitely not if it’s going to take us outside of Christ.
The Love of God outshines even the shiniest of stars, and He made them. Truthfully, there’s nothing we want that He cannot give, but in having it, would we remain within His Will and Purpose for our lives? Or would our blessings become our burdens, and our testimonies become our tests?? Remember, if you have to go outside the Light to get it in the dark, then you’d have to remain in the dark to hide it from the Light. Caution and contentment, brethren, for all of us, but especially for me. This is a letter from my heart to mine, and yours by chance.
Greetings from the foot of The Cross…
Gabrielle
