Genesis 39:19–23
The Bible4Jesus.com Podcast
About this episode
We come now to a passage that is a severe test for the sentimental Christian. We have just witnessed Joseph, a man of sterling integrity, flee from a sexual temptation that most men would have rationalized their way into. He did the right thing, the hard thing, the honorable thing. And for his trouble, he is thrown headlong into the king's dungeon. This is not how our modern stories are supposed to go. We want to believe that if you do the right thing, you get the promotion, the reward, the immediate vindication. But the economy of God's kingdom often operates on a much longer timeline, and with a much deeper curriculum, than our flimsy prosperity gospels will allow. Joseph has gone from the pit to Potiphar's house, and now from Potiphar's house to another pit, this one a formal prison.