Page 33 - The Road from Babylon to Zion

he proved himself faithful as a servant to Potipher. Things so prospered under
Joseph’s care that Potipher soon placed Joseph over everything that he owned.
Potipher’s house prospered under the faithful watch of this Hebrew slave. Then
Potipher’s wife began to take an interest in Joseph.

We are told that Joseph was a very handsome youth. Potipher’s wife began to entice
Joseph while her husband was away. Every day she would urge him to lie with her.
Why would Joseph not do this? He was lonely. He had been rejected by his brothers.
He had been sold into slavery. He could not discern why all this had happened to
him. The dreams he had in earlier days seemed far from being fulfilled. In fact, it
appeared that his life had taken a turn quite opposite of what God had promised. His
brothers were living as the free sons of a wealthy father, and he was a slave in a
foreign land.

How easy it would have been for Joseph to give in to self-pity. How easy it would
have been for him to justify giving in to the enticement of Potipher’s wife. After all,
here was one who found him attractive when those who were closest to him had
rejected him, and it seemed that his integrity before God had availed him nothing to
this point. Yet Joseph remained faithful to Yahweh and he refused to give into self-
pity and to yield to the temptation before him.

Joseph would have forfeited much had he given into this temptation. He never would
have been found worthy to be appointed to the position Yahweh had determined for
him. He never would have been made a ruler in the greatest nation on the earth. He
never would have been able to provide salvation for his father’s household. Joseph
eventually suffered even greater things, as he was falsely accused by Potipher’s wife
and then thrown in prison. Many long years he spent in prison, but even there he
remained faithful as his soul was laid in irons and the word of Yahweh tested him
(Psalms 105:17ff).

There will come a day when all are judged for their deeds that were done in the body.
We are told that many will weep and gnash their teeth together in grief.

Matthew 8:11-12
"I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the
table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the
sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that
place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I suspect that much of the grief will arise as the saints and the sons of the kingdom
are shown what Yahweh had intended for them had they proven themselves faithful.
Many will realize that they threw away great honor because they gave in to self-pity
when Yahweh tested them through various difficulties and trials. How many will see