If you have ever been in a place of demotion, in a place of
being wrongfully accused, in a place of feeling the judgment and ridicule of
man…
Then the Potiphar Principle may apply to you.
Man’s punishment can
serve as God’s placement. The judgment
of man moves us into the jurisdiction of God.
If you remember the story of Joseph – whose brothers sold
him into slavery – you may recall that he landed in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar was “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard.” (Gen 39:1)
It wasn’t long before Potiphar “saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all that he
did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace
in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and
all [that] he had he put into his hand.” (vv. 3-4)
Joseph seemed to be on the fast track to recovery, to
redemption, to being justified. He may
have felt that God was finally
fulfilling the plan that had been shown to Joseph in the dreams. No more bottom of the pit for Joseph. The well was a thing of the past. Everything was going to be okay.
And then…
“it came to pass after
these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said,
Lie with me.” (v.7)
Joseph refused, giving way to Potiphar’s wife’s anger and
pride. She accused him of attempted rape
to the men of the house and to Potiphar himself.
“And it came to pass,
when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying,
After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.”
(v.19)
Potiphar’s wrath was kindled, true… but Potiphar knew
Joseph… and he knew his wife… so Joseph, whom Potiphar had seen God favored,
was given grace. He was not executed as
would be required, but only imprisoned.
It would appear that perhaps Potiphar’s wrath may have been partly
toward his wife.
“And Joseph's master
took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners
[were] bound: and he was there in the prison.” (v.20)
Potiphar could have placed Joseph in any prison, but he
didn’t, he placed him in the place where the king’s prisoners were.
And had he not wound up there… in the king’s prison… he
would not have come in contact with the butler or the baker… and ultimately
with Pharaoh himself.
You see, the judgment of man… the punishment of people… if
viewed through temporary lenses would have seemed definitive:
Joseph was in prison therefore he must have been wrong.
Bob got demoted… John
got laid off… therefore they must
not have been doing a good job.
Greg hasn’t been to
church in a while, therefore…
But the Potiphar Principle doesn’t say we are therefore… it
says
We are there for a reason… to glorify
God… to be in the right place for His plan.
So don’t be discouraged if you have felt the punishment or judgment of man…
It may well be that you are being given
placement under the
jurisdiction of God’s Kingdom.
And you will find that you are THERE FOR a reason…
To glorify God…
To make Jesus known…
To be in line for a promotion…
To minister to the butler or the baker…
He is the Defender of those who are wrongfully accused. He is the Comforter of those who have been
cast out.
He is with us when others are against us. He is for us when others ignore us.
And He wants others to see Him through us… through our
situations… through our prisons and our promotions.
For the falsely accused, harshly abused, hurting and
confused… He is The Redeemer.
Wherever you are right now you are there for a reason.
Be there… in Christ.
SDG
