Scripture
1-15 On one of these days he came to the house to do his work and none of the household servants happened to be there. She grabbed him by his cloak, saying, “Sleep with me!” He left his coat in her hand and ran out of the house. When she realized that he had left his coat in her hand and run outside, she called to her house servants: “Look—this Hebrew shows up and before you know it he’s trying to seduce us. He tried to make love to me but I yelled as loud as I could. With all my yelling and screaming, he left his coat beside me here and ran outside.”
16-18 She kept his coat right there until his master came home. She told him the same story. She said, “The Hebrew slave, the one you brought to us, came after me and tried to use me for his plaything. When I yelled and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside.”
19-23 When his master heard his wife’s story, telling him, “These are the things your slave did to me,” he was furious. Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the jail where the king’s prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.
Reflection
What a rapid change of circumstance for Joseph! From favored son to slave, from slave to prisoner and within that prison – honored and favored. Joseph was falsely accused but the accuser and the accusation cannot steal Joseph’s true character or the blessing of God on his life. A blessing that does not mean the lack of stunning difficulty but the strength of a faithful God (Ps. Dale).
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell us about God and people?
- What is God telling you through this passage?
- What would it look like if Christ-followers totally applied this lesson (or obeyed this principle) in their lives today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
Pray for somewhere in the world that needs God’s attention. Flick to a news app or website, and pick a news story to pray for.
