Principles and Values
«Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison” (Genesis 39:20)
Joseph dealt with two major betrayals: his brothers’ betrayal then the betrayal of the wife of his master Potiphar. In both cases the consequences were bitter, but they led to positive situations not only for Joseph, but also for the salvation of many—including his family. Joseph entered as a slave in the house of the Egyptian official. The latter quickly realized that God was with the Jewish young man and made him steward of all his possessions. But Potiphar’s wife laid her eyes on the handsome young man and tried to seduce him. Joseph refused to do anything against God and his master, so she made up a story and accused Joseph of trying to dishonor her. Today’s verse sums up the consequences.
The D’Orbiney Papyrus which is preserved in the British Museum and written centuries later, includes a mythological story of two Egyptian brothers who remind us of Joseph and Potiphar. Anpu and Bata live as father and son. Anpu is married to a beautiful woman and Bata, his single younger brother, lives with them. Anpu goes on a trip and his wife takes advantage of his absence to unleash her feminine wiles on Bata. No matter how hard she tries to seduce him, Bata refuses. Feeling rejected, she decides to take revenge and tells her husband that Bata was harassing her in his absence. Anpu chases his younger brother to kill him, but he finds out the truth, returns home and kills his wife. Even with significant variations, many archaeologists see in this tale a resemblance to the true story of Joseph and Potiphar, which has been preserved in Egypt through the centuries.
Some archaeologists take the beginning of the construction of Solomon’s temple in I Kings 6:1 as a reference («the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt») to fit Joseph’s story into the historical records. With this data, they situate Joseph’s presence in Egypt in the Middle Kingdom during the reigns of Sesostris Il, Sesostris Ill, and Amenemhat Ill, between 1894 and 1797 BC. On the other hand, there are others who consider Joseph’s story to correspond to the First Intermediate Period, between 1699 and 1589 BC, during the Hyksos occupation of the Egyptian territory.
Joseph’s behavior teaches us many exemplary lessons: loyalty to God, loyalty to his master, self-control, integrity, kindness, faith, wisdom, and courage. May our prayer be that God will grant us these essential traits of character to face today’s challenges.
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores:Ricardo Vela & Alejandra Zavala
