Now we find Joseph in Potiphar’s house in chapter 39 after being sold in chapter 37. Soon Joseph becomes highly favored because the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2). Once Potiphar saw how all Joseph did prospered, he realized the Lord was with Joseph. So, he gives Joseph the task of administering his entire estate. The Lord blessed Potiphar's estate through Joseph. Everything was fine, until Potiphar’s wife started to lust after Joseph. He was a good looking man and she wanted him. But Joseph would not have it. He was like(Genesis:39:8-9), “…my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” Just when his circumstances seemed to be getting better, after being sold, he finds himself in a pickle. But praise be to God Joseph’s mind’s made up and his heart is set on the Lord. Kind of like that old hymn, “I got my mind made up. My heart is set, and I’m going with Jesus all the way!”

She keeps trying and he keeps standing firm on sexual purity out of respect for God and his master. So, she sets him up. She catches him when no one else is around (Genesis 39:11-12). He refuses again and runs out, but she snatches his cloak on his way out. What happens next is crazy! Potiphar’s wife starts screaming like she has been attacked and all of her other servants hear her. Ever heard of the rule in football when one guy starts something, it’s always the second guy who gets caught? See, she accused Joseph and we all know how hard it is to prove a negative. Potiphar was in a tough spot. He probably knew that Joseph was innocent. He definitely was nothing but a God-send in Potiphar’s house. But even if he knew his wife was lying, as the captain of the guard for Pharaoh, he had to do something. There was no way to sweep this event under the rug. He had to punish Joseph.

My personal view is Potiphar had a hunch his wife was sneaky, and did not totally believe her. I mean, we may not know everything our spouse does, but we know them enough to see thru them when they are lying, normally. At least we’d like to think so. I am thinking he knew what she accused Joseph of was not true and was angrier at the situation than at Joseph. He knew how much he was losing by sending Joseph to prison. So, when he got mad in Genesis:39:19, it could not have been all about this Hebrew slave trying to rape my wife. I think in his head he might have been more like, “I cannot believe she did this with my prize servant!” But like I said, that is just my personal thought.

So, Potiphar sends Joseph to a prison where the king’s prisoners were held (Genesis:39:20). But the Lord was with Joseph and the prison warden found favor with him as well. Joseph was soon placed in administrative duties over the entire prison, just like he was in Potiphar’s house. The warden was pleased because he had nothing to worry about now. Everything Joseph did was successful.