Genesis 39-40
We are back to Joseph’s story in these next verses. This is a fascinating story about how power protects itself. It reveals how the truth can take the long road lending to feelings of injustice. This post asks the question; how can our character develop when waiting for justice to arrive?
Summary
Joseph has been sold into slavery. His new master is Potiphar, an officer of the king of Egypt. God has blessed Joseph so Joseph is good at everything he does. Potiphar trusts Joseph and puts him in charge of every worker in the house. Joseph pretty much has free rein over the house. All the people in the house are also blessed by the Lord.
Joseph is very attractive. Potipher’s wife desires Joseph and makes countless advances towards him. Joseph always rebuffs her advances and pledges his loyalty to Potiphar and to God. One day, Potiphar’s wife tries to lure Joseph into her bedroom again by grabbing his coat. Joseph sheds his coat and runs out of the house. Out of vindictiveness, Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of misconduct using the coat as proof, leading to his imprisonment.
While in prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. [The king put these particular servants in prison because he got angry at them]. Joseph predicts the cupbearer will be restored to his position, while the baker will be executed. Ultimately, both outcomes happen as Joseph foretold. Despite asking the cupbearer to remember him, Joseph remains forgotten in prison.
Sidebar
Joseph’s story isn’t just ancient drama. Unfortunately, it’s a pattern that still plays out today. We still live in a world where people with power can twist a narrative to punish someone who refuses them. It could be an employee rejecting a supervisor’s advances. Or a whistleblower calling out wrongdoing. When truth threatens power, power often responds with accusation.
In 2025, a Chicago Police Department lieutenant was awarded $950,000 after supervisors retaliated against him with false administrative actions for whistleblowing on illegal traffic stop orders. After the lieutenant complained of the illegal traffic stops, his superiors reassigned him to night duty on the South Side of Chicago.
In 2008, a male operations manager brought a legal case in the District of Puerto Rico that claimed an HR manager began criticizing his work and eventually had him terminated after he rebuffed her romantic interest. The district court concluded that the company could be liable for quid pro quo harassment if it resulted in his termination.
Harvey Weinstein, the former co-chairman of Miramax and The Weinstein Company, was notorious for using his vast influence in the film industry to coerce actresses into sexual acts, often luring them to hotel rooms under the guise of business meetings. When his advances were rebuffed, he frequently used his power to retaliate against them professionally.
These present-day examples luckily led to justice in the end. However, how many injustices still exist where there are power imbalances, retaliation, and the person is punished before the truth emerges? Potiphar’s wife received the benefit of the doubt over Joseph because she was the one in power. Hopefully, the truth emerges to shed light on Joseph’s innocence.
Intention
Many injustices don’t resolve quickly, and some don’t resolve at all. While we can’t control the timing of justice, we can shape who we become in the waiting. Avoid vindictive, petty behavior. Try to use the opportunity to grow as a person and realize your own inner strength.
“The truth will come out in the end.” – Joseph Estrada
