Devotion 3.22/123: Genesis 39:14-20: [#metoo]

Joseph, the 'slave' in this story was actually a powerful man. He was in charge of all of the properties, possessions, wealth, and the whole estate of the captain of Pharaoh's guards. Women in Egypt of the Pharaohs had a lot less power than do women of today. Potiphar's wife spoke out about this powerful man in her husband's employ taking advantage of her: there was no guarantee her husband would believe her over his right hand man. You can see she even needed the support of his staff to back her up. She confided in them that this servant of her husband's was here to make sport of them. She took a chance, she spoke up, and Joseph lost his job without warning and wound up in prison. There was no trial, you wouldn't want to disgrace Potiphar's wife any further. Even her identity is forever protected. Her name is never mentioned in the official record. She is protected.  

Recently in Ontario the leader of the Opposition Party was accused of similar things by two anonymous people from years gone by and he lost his job and was condemned by the PM, the Premier, his own party and others in a matter of hours. Over night he lost his job and his reputation. His accusers are protected; they went to the media; they didn't face him. He didn't get a trial. He has affidavits and evidence that even seem to clear his name. One day he seemed poised to be the next ruler of this province and the next, with reputation besmirched, his staff turned on him

Joseph we know was innocent but he went to jail.  

Our Lord and Saviour was executed for treason 

It is in your and my moments of insecurity that we turn to the Lord for security. It is when we are broken that He can make us whole. It is when we are fallen that He may lift us up

Billy Graham was ‘Promoted to Glory’. He always put the gospel in its most basic form. We need salvation.  Psalm 46:10: God: “be still and know that I am God.” Lent is a time to be still and focus on God rather than on ourselves. It is reminiscent of Jesus’ time in the desert and can remind us of Joseph’s time on his way to prison.  So today I encourage us not to rely on our positions, our strength, our skills, our talents, our smarts, our looks, or anything else – just like with Joseph in Genesis 39, they can all disappear in a moment but let us instead look to our Saviour for our Salvation. For salvation comes from Christ alone.