When Joseph was 17 years old, his father Isaac sent him to check on his shepherding brothers. His ten half-brothers hated him and were jealous of his favored standing with their father. When they saw the lad coming, their fierce jealousy and hatred boiled into an evil plan – they would sell the kid to Ishmaelite traders. The Ishmaelites were descendants of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. The traders paid the brothers twenty sheckels which amounts to $6.20 in today’s U.S. currency. The traders knew a young, handsome man would bring a good price in Egypt.
Joseph’s father, Isaac, did favor Joseph and had made him a beautiful, multi-colored tunic. Isaac had also taught Joseph since childhood about God.
Joseph felt terror at his older brothers’ wrath when they ripped his tunic from him. Although he struggled against his brothers, Joseph found himself bound and in the hands of Ishmaelite traders. He was in a caravan headed to Egypt !
When the caravan arrived in Egypt, a noisy crowd, looking for spices, merchandise, and jewelry, gathered around the traders, as usual. Among the crowd, stood a rich and imporant officer of Pharaoh. Potiphar was also captain of the guard. He liked what he saw in the looks and bright eyes of this young man and paid a hefty price for his new servant named Joseph. And for the second time, Joseph was sold – once out of hatred and once out of greed.
Because Joseph had integrity, he found favor with Potiphar. Soon, Joseph was promoted to overseer of his entire house. Joseph proved himself to be trustworthy, faithful and wise. Therefore, Joseph lived and worked in his master’s house. He ate his meals at Potophar’s table along with Potiphar’s beautiful wife, and Potiphar’s mother. With Joseph in charge, Potiphar had no cares except his menu.
Before long, Potiphar’s wife, Hasina, cast lustful eyes to Joseph. Kasmut, her mother-in-law, noticed. She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing to, or about, her daughter-in-law.
One day as Kasmut walked to her chambers, she over-heard Hasina say, “Lie with me.” She gasped and bent her head toward Hasina’s voice. This time, Joseph spoke.
“My master has put everything in my care, except you. How can I do this great wickedness and sin against my God?”
All too often, Kasmut heard her brazen daughter-in-law try to seduce Joseph and wondered how long before Joseph would succumb. Kasmut fumed silently. Egyptians honor the marriage bed. How could she do such a thing!
One day, Joseph came in to do his work. Kasmut stood discreetly in the passageway and heard Hasina say in a most seductive tone, “Lie with me,” and took hold of Joseph’s coat. But, Joseph fled out the door to the courtyard leaving his coat in Hasina’s grasp. Hasina filled with rage! Kasmut was filled with shock!
Hasina screamed. The male workers rushed inside as Hasina recounted the incident of Joseph trying to have his way with her. And to prove her false accusation, she held up the tunic and cried, “See! He left his coat and ran when I screamed!”
When Potiphar heard this, he was enraged and at the same time, perplexed regarding Joseph. Still, she had his coat. “Bring the man to me!” he demanded. They brought Joseph in to Potiphar. “I trusted you with all I have and now this?” he snarled, shaking his coat in his face. “What do you have to say for yourself?” And Joseph, not wanting to dishonor his master’s wife, said nothing. Again, Joseph’s integrity comes to the forefront.
Potiphar couldl have had Joseph killed. Instead, he handed him over to the prison warden who was under the captain of the guard – namely Potiphar.
Thirteen years passed. Joseph was forgotten in prison. Let sleeping dogs lie, Kasmut thought, and kept silent regarding Hasina. Then Pharaoh had a dream. Because Joseph had a reputation – the wise dream-interpreter with integrity – he was summoned to Pharaoh. Joseph interpreted the dream correctly and was elevated to second in command over all Egypt.
Integrity wins! Joseph’s faithful God was with him! Kasmut smiled – satisfied that goodness had prevailed.