Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2: Oh, okay, okay, Lie. Lying in a pit just north
Speaker 2: of here, there is a young young man. He's seventeen.
Speaker 2: He's strong, lean, and able to work. What what will
Speaker 2: you give us for?
Speaker 3: If the boy is healthy and able bodied, We'll give
Speaker 3: you twenty shekels of silver? Oh God, what have I
Speaker 3: done to deserve this?
Speaker 1: Joseph was taken to Potiphar's home.
Speaker 2: You will work in the vineyards and in my home.
Speaker 2: You'll do your work fast and with great care. You
Speaker 2: will clean, you will cook, and you will do anything
Speaker 2: my servants ask of you. If you do not, I
Speaker 2: will kill or sell you. It is as simple as that.
Speaker 1: Three years past, and Joseph grew stronger and filled with
Speaker 1: the spirit of God. He was diligent in learning the language,
Speaker 1: and eventually was promoted to oversee the slaves alongside Net.
Speaker 4: I would like to appoint you as my household overseer.
Speaker 4: Everything I own, everyone who lives here, and all the
Speaker 4: crops I grow will be under your gear.
Speaker 1: The tall captain froze med thought and looked out the
Speaker 1: door into the courtyard. His wife and her maid servants
Speaker 1: were preparing to bathe in the pulls Potiphon looked at
Speaker 1: Joseph intently, eyes revealing some deep wounds and desires.
Speaker 4: However, you may under no circumstances that would my wife
Speaker 4: for her maid servants.
Speaker 1: For the first time in three years, he no longer
Speaker 1: felt like a slave. He felt once again the loving approval.
Speaker 4: Of a father.
Speaker 5: Betrayed by blood and tested by desire, Joseph stood firm
Speaker 5: in a world intent on his downfall. Shallow, my friends
Speaker 5: from here in the Holy Land, i'm ya l Extein
Speaker 5: with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Welcome to the
Speaker 5: Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired
Speaker 5: by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love,
Speaker 5: and the meaning of life. Through israel story, we find
Speaker 5: this truth that we are all chosen for something great.
Speaker 5: While we know these stories offer something to you, it
Speaker 5: never ceases to amaze and bless us that you would
Speaker 5: tune in here every single day to learn together with me,
Speaker 5: these ancient stories that continue to inspire us today. So
Speaker 5: from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much.
Speaker 5: Now let's begin. Have you ever felt the weight of
Speaker 5: the world pressing in on you, demanding a choice between
Speaker 5: integris gritty and compromise, a choice that could compromise your
Speaker 5: very soul. In the silence of Potifar's house, Joseph faced
Speaker 5: such a choice. Let's dive into this narrative inspired by
Speaker 5: Genesis thirty nine six to twenty, as Joseph tries to
Speaker 5: stand firm even as the ground beneath him crumbles.
Speaker 1: This episode of The Chosen People with Yeile Exstein contains
Speaker 1: explicit content that may be triggering for some listeners and
Speaker 1: inappropriate for young children. Listener discretion is advised. Five years
Speaker 1: had passed, and under Joseph's diligent stewardship, Potipha's wealth had
Speaker 1: flourished beyond imagination. His estates brimmed with prosperity. The servants
Speaker 1: were well fed and content, The vineyards yielded wine worthy
Speaker 1: of Pharaoh's table, and the stables boasted the finest race
Speaker 1: horses in all of Egypt. The blessings of God's to
Speaker 1: follow Joseph's every move. There was not an inch of
Speaker 1: Potiph's land that had not been touched by his wisdom
Speaker 1: and hard work. Yet in the deep shadows of night,
Speaker 1: a subtle evil slithered through the corridors of Potiphar's house.
Speaker 1: It prowled like a serpent, silent and unseen. Joseph lay
Speaker 1: in his bed, the dim torchlight flickering at the doorway.
Speaker 1: A shadow loomed over him, watching with cold eyes. Joseph stirred,
Speaker 1: the sense of unease prickling his skin. He sat up abruptly,
Speaker 1: but the figure had vanished into the darkness. Rising cautiously,
Speaker 1: he peered down the hallway.
Speaker 3: Who's there?
Speaker 1: Silence, Only the distant murmur of the night answered him.
Speaker 1: Joseph rubbed his eyes and returned to his bed. Dawn
Speaker 1: was only a few hours away, and he needed rest.
Speaker 1: Morning came early, as it always did for Joseph. He
Speaker 1: began his day in the courtyard, polishing the marble pillars
Speaker 1: until they gleamed in the sunlight, scrubbing the floors until
Speaker 1: they were spotless, and buffing Potiphar's desk to a high shine.
Speaker 1: Over the years, Joseph and Potiphar had grown as close
Speaker 1: as father and son. There was nothing in the household
Speaker 1: that Potiphar withheld from Joseph. After completing his tasks, Joseph's
Speaker 1: thoughts turned to the new plot of land behind the stables.
Speaker 1: He had convinced Potiphar to plant grain there to prepare
Speaker 1: for any future famine. As Egypt's fields were lush with
Speaker 1: golden grain, Joseph sought to ensure Potiphar's household would never
Speaker 1: want for food. He rode his horse to the fields,
Speaker 1: the sapphire amulet around his neck, catching the morning sun.
Speaker 1: To the other servants, the amulet was a symbol of
Speaker 1: Joseph's merit and diligence. Rather than envy, they felt admiration.
Speaker 1: If Joseph, a slave like them, could rise to such heights,
Speaker 1: then so could they.
Speaker 3: Good morning, brother, Let's quicken our pace in the morning,
Speaker 3: before the harsh sun slows our work.
Speaker 1: He took up the plow, his muscles rippling under the strain.
Speaker 1: As he worked the rough soil. Memories of his brother's
Speaker 1: grumbling filled his mind. They had always complained about their labor. Joseph,
Speaker 1: determined to be different, worked with a smile. Hours passed
Speaker 1: under the punishing sun. Joseph wigged his brow, the sweat
Speaker 1: glistening on his broad back. He poured water over his
Speaker 1: head and neck, savoring the brief relief. Despite the heat,
Speaker 1: progress was steady. Potipher and his wife rode up to
Speaker 1: check on the breaking of the new ground. Joseph approached
Speaker 1: them and bowed.
Speaker 2: How is the groundbreaking, Joseph, Will it receive the seat soon?
Speaker 3: All is well and going according to plan, my lord,
Speaker 3: it will be prime for planting soon. My only worry
Speaker 3: is water access in case of a drought. But do
Speaker 3: not worry. We've hired diggers to carry water from the
Speaker 3: streams cutting at the edge of your property.
Speaker 2: You'll think of everything well done.
Speaker 1: Potiphara nodded in approval. Pacing the fields to inspect the
Speaker 1: rich tilled soil, Joseph stood in the shade, catching his breath.
Speaker 1: His large chest rose and fell with deep breaths, his
Speaker 1: skin slick with sweat. Potiphar's wife lounged near by, her
Speaker 1: eyes lingering on Joseph. At twenty five, he had grown
Speaker 1: into a man of striking appearance. She watched him with
Speaker 1: a predatory gaze. Joseph, feeling her eyes upon him, did
Speaker 1: his best to avoid her.
Speaker 6: Stare, My husband thinks you are a gift from Rah.
Speaker 6: Did you know that?
Speaker 1: Now? Joseph had no choice but to turn. He faced her,
Speaker 1: seeing her beauty illuminated in the afternoon light. She wore
Speaker 1: a loose linen dress that lay over her body like
Speaker 1: a thin sheet. He felt like he could see all
Speaker 1: of her. Joseph bowed his head and averted his gaze.
Speaker 3: Your husband is a kind man.
Speaker 6: Be that as it may. He's wrong. You aren't a
Speaker 6: gift from raw. I think you were sent by Annette.
Speaker 6: There's no way a frame such as yours wouldn't have
Speaker 6: been crafted for pleasure.
Speaker 3: Your gods are still foreign to me. I doubt any
Speaker 3: of them consider me at all.
Speaker 6: Oh, Oh, you're as humble as you are handsome, young Joseph.
Speaker 6: Come lounge with me and watch the others work. Drink
Speaker 6: some chilled wine, and devour some berries with me. You
Speaker 6: look tired.
Speaker 3: That's a kind invitation, my lady, but I must continue working.
Speaker 3: Your husband has entrusted me with much.
Speaker 6: Very well, then till next time, Joseph.
Speaker 1: Joseph bowed again and turned back to the field, putting
Speaker 1: distance between himself and her. Yet whenever he glanced back,
Speaker 1: she was watching him, her gaze unwavering. Later that night,
Speaker 1: Joseph sought the sanctuary of the chamber baths. His body
Speaker 1: ached from the day's labor, and he longed for the
Speaker 1: peace and quiet of the warm water. He often waited
Speaker 1: for the other servants to finish so he could soak
Speaker 1: in solitude. Stripping off his clothes, he eased into the bath,
Speaker 1: the warmth sweeping into his muscles. He closed his eyes,
Speaker 1: letting the water soothe his aches. Half asleep, Joseph could
Speaker 1: hear quiet footsteps, quiet and deliberate. He opened his eyes
Speaker 1: to see Potiphar's wife entering the room. Her dress hung loosely,
Speaker 1: barely clinging to her body as she approached the bath.
Speaker 3: Hello again, josel My lady, why are you out here
Speaker 3: so late?
Speaker 7: My husband retreats to bed early. He vows to sleep
Speaker 7: when rash sleeps. Water bore, but not loan.
Speaker 6: I'm like a cat.
Speaker 7: I have the most fun at night. I prowled these halves,
Speaker 7: hunting for a snack.
Speaker 3: Perhaps I should take cues from your husband and ritchiet
Speaker 3: early nonsense.
Speaker 6: This is your ritual, is it not. You come here
Speaker 6: to escape a noise and relax. Here, let me help
Speaker 6: you unwild.
Speaker 1: She let her dress slip off her shoulders, Standing naked
Speaker 1: before him, She smiled and stepped into the bath, the
Speaker 1: water rippling around her.
Speaker 7: It's just you and me here, Joseph.
Speaker 1: Potifa's wife waded closer, her hand reaching out under the water.
Speaker 1: Joseph's breath caught in his throat. His body tensed, his
Speaker 1: mind screaming for him to move in closer, But in
Speaker 1: a brief moment of control over his will, Joseph stole
Speaker 1: his agency back and recoiled. He leaped out of the
Speaker 1: water and grabbed his clothes. He wrapped a towel around
Speaker 1: his waist and bowed his head.
Speaker 3: I am clean now and very tired. Have a good bath,
Speaker 3: my lady.
Speaker 1: Without another word, he fled the room, leaving Potiphar's wife
Speaker 1: in the bath. She watched him go, a smirk playing
Speaker 1: on her lips. The next morning, Joseph avoided Potiphar's wife,
Speaker 1: knowing that if he lingered toolon, his resolve might crumble.
Speaker 1: He worked all day, bathed quickly with the other servants,
Speaker 1: and retreated to his quarters. That night, he sat on
Speaker 1: the balcony, gazing up at the stars and wondering if
Speaker 1: his family still lived. Before Egypt, the God of his
Speaker 1: father had seemed distant and mysterious, but through hardship and trial,
Speaker 1: Joseph had come to see God more clearly. He felt
Speaker 1: his presence as if he were in the room guiding
Speaker 1: and protecting him. With a heavy sigh, Joseph turned back
Speaker 1: into his room. He stopped short. Lying on his bed
Speaker 1: under the flickering candlelight was Potiva's wife. She looked at
Speaker 1: him with longing you and.
Speaker 7: I, poor Lord Potiphar is far too busy for on me.
Speaker 1: She crawled forward on the bed, lifting her eyes to Joseph.
Speaker 6: I am lonely at night, Joseph. I require your company, mistress.
Speaker 3: My master has given me authority in this house. He
Speaker 3: doesn't need to think about anything because he trusts me.
Speaker 4: He's put everything in my.
Speaker 3: Care and has withheld nothing from me except you.
Speaker 8: You are his wife and.
Speaker 3: Very precious to him.
Speaker 6: Enough, honor, Joseph, come to bed.
Speaker 1: Joseph gulped, his eyes drifting to her smooth skin, barely
Speaker 1: touched by the sun, and the curls of her hair
Speaker 1: draping over her body. She was undeniably beautiful. He leaned in,
Speaker 1: feeling his temperature eyes. She smiled an inched closer like
Speaker 1: a lioness, not wanting to startle her prey lie with me.
Speaker 1: Before she could lean him to kiss him, Joseph pushed
Speaker 1: back and shook his head. I I cannot do this.
Speaker 6: Please leave very well.
Speaker 7: I will leave.
Speaker 1: She rose and wrapped herself in her garment, sauntering past
Speaker 1: him with a seductive sway. Before leaving, she caressed his
Speaker 1: cheek with the back of her hand.
Speaker 4: Before I go, I would like.
Speaker 6: To remind you that you are still a slave in
Speaker 6: my house under my rule. When I come again, it
Speaker 6: won't be this polite.
Speaker 1: Joseph closed his eyes and waited for the door to
Speaker 1: close behind him, hailed a breath, and leaned against the
Speaker 1: window sill. He had avoided catastrophe again. Joseph clenched his jaw.
Speaker 1: He remembered how easily his brothers had succumbed to women.
Speaker 1: It was a red mark on their character. Joseph was
Speaker 1: determined to be better to rise above the temptations of
Speaker 1: his forefathers. My God help me. The air was thick
Speaker 1: with the mingled sense of incense and freshly baked bread
Speaker 1: as the sun cast its golden rays over Egypt. It
Speaker 1: was the festival of Opet, a time on a tradition
Speaker 1: dedicated to the god Amen Wrath, and the city was
Speaker 1: alive with vibrant energy. Along the wide, dusty streets. Citizens
Speaker 1: of all ages lined the route, eager to witness the
Speaker 1: grand procession. Women in flowing white linen gowns adorned with
Speaker 1: colorful beadwork chatted animatedly. Men wore their best skirt, their
Speaker 1: bronze skin gleaming in the sunlight as they stood tall,
Speaker 1: ready to pay homage to their deities. Children darted between
Speaker 1: the adults, their laughter a light, joyous counterpoint to the deeper,
Speaker 1: rhythmic chanting that filled the air. In the heart of
Speaker 1: the city, the grand avenue leading from the Karnak Temple
Speaker 1: to the Luxor Temple was transformed into a sacred pathway.
Speaker 1: Joseph watched the procession of musicians with lyres, harps and flutes,
Speaker 1: playing tunes with the steady beat of drums. The sounds
Speaker 1: seemed to vibrate through the very stones of the city,
Speaker 1: creating a palpable sense of anticipation. Joseph stood behind the
Speaker 1: crowd and watched the priests, clad in intricately embroidered robes,
Speaker 1: carry statues of the gods. Each statue was resplendent in
Speaker 1: gold and precious stones. The priests moved with deliberate grace,
Speaker 1: their faces serene and focus, chanting hymns that echoed through
Speaker 1: the city behind them, dancers swirled and leaped, their movements
Speaker 1: fewered and hypnotic, telling stories of the God's deeds and
Speaker 1: the creation of the world. Their costumes, vibrant and elaborate,
Speaker 1: mirrrored the colors of the niles, flora, and fauna, creating
Speaker 1: a living tapestry of motion. The crowd watched in all
Speaker 1: their eyes, following every twist and turn of the dancer's bodies.
Speaker 1: As the sun dipped below the horizon, the first eval
Speaker 1: transformed into a more debased celebration. The streets filled with
Speaker 1: the sound of drunken cackles, and tables groaned under the
Speaker 1: weight of lavish feasts. Wine flowed freely, and the rich
Speaker 1: aroma of roasted meat filled the air. When the temple,
Speaker 1: prostitutes and enslaved children filled the streets, Joseph knew it
Speaker 1: was his time to leave. He walked the path back
Speaker 1: to Potiphar's house. The summer air was humid and thick
Speaker 1: enough to run a blade through. Joseph was weary from
Speaker 1: the festivities. Times like these reminded him that he was
Speaker 1: a stranger in this, a Hebrew among Egyptians. Yet the
Speaker 1: night brought some solace. Potiphar's entire household was gone, save
Speaker 1: but for a few guards standing at the entrance. Joseph
Speaker 1: enjoyed the quiet, using the opportunity to organize a few
Speaker 1: things in the house. He paced in the halls of
Speaker 1: Potiphar's quarters, organizing scrolls and polishing statues. The torches illuminated
Speaker 1: ornate tapestries and trophies of conquest. It was against this
Speaker 1: backdrop that Joseph saw a shadow approaching, hymns swinging to
Speaker 1: and fro in a familiar motion.
Speaker 8: Oh not again, not here.
Speaker 1: Joseph turned to see Potiphar's wife leaning against the entrance.
Speaker 6: Why aren't you celebrating with the others, Most even slaves
Speaker 6: revel in the festival. We celebrate the creation, a knight
Speaker 6: of ends, possibilities.
Speaker 4: I am a Hebrew.
Speaker 3: We have a different creation story, not one of conquest
Speaker 3: and dominance, but of truth and order spoken to chaos.
Speaker 6: How poetic? Tell me more?
Speaker 1: Potipher's wife inched closer, longing reflected in her coalined eyes.
Speaker 3: I don't think you're here to listen to Hebrew stories.
Speaker 7: You're smart, no.
Speaker 6: Wonder, you're so respected and soft.
Speaker 1: After she closed the door, the sound of wood against
Speaker 1: the beams, echoed across the empty halls. No, Mistress, I
Speaker 1: told you I can't.
Speaker 7: We are alone, Joseph, all alone.
Speaker 1: She licked her finger and snuffed one of the candles.
Speaker 1: The room was now dimmer, but somehow hotter. Joseph was
Speaker 1: getting flustered.
Speaker 3: I won't sin against my master or my God.
Speaker 6: Here and now I am your master and God.
Speaker 1: Potiphar's wife seized Joseph by the belt of his garment
Speaker 1: and pulled in forcibly. This time there was a deep
Speaker 1: rage within her.
Speaker 7: Lessen to me, slave, you are still owned by this household.
Speaker 6: You are still owned by me.
Speaker 3: That may be so, But before you and my master,
Speaker 3: I am owned by another. I will not sin against
Speaker 3: my guard.
Speaker 8: To the nile with your God, lie with me, or
Speaker 8: face the consequences.
Speaker 1: Joseph, out of options, decided to run. With his garments
Speaker 1: still in her hand. Joseph fled out of his room.
Speaker 1: The garment slid off his body, and Joseph ran naked
Speaker 1: through the halls. Just as he turned the corner, he
Speaker 1: heard a loud scream echo through the entire home. Joseph
Speaker 1: knew at that moment that he was in desperate trouble.
Speaker 1: Potifah's wife screamed and called for the guards. Joseph looked
Speaker 1: back and saw them rush into his room.
Speaker 6: He t yes, he grew slave, lured me into sleep
Speaker 6: with me, but I screamed Quickly he went that way.
Speaker 1: Joseph held his head low. He didn't run, he didn't quarrel.
Speaker 1: He knew it would be an admission of guilt if
Speaker 1: he fought. He simply held his hands up and allowed
Speaker 1: the guards to tackle him to the floor. Joseph was beaten.
Speaker 1: He dragged to Potiphar by his hair. Potiphar sat at
Speaker 1: his polished desk, holding Joseph's garment in his hand. His
Speaker 1: wife was crying behind, being consoled by her maid servants.
Speaker 1: Tied up and bruised, Joseph stood before Potipha, much like
Speaker 1: he had eight years ago.
Speaker 8: So this is how you repay.
Speaker 3: My kindness, master, I promise you.
Speaker 2: I save you from the ishmaelite trader. I brought you
Speaker 2: into my home. I give you charge over everything I have,
Speaker 2: and this is what you give me, my wife, and
Speaker 2: make a mockery of me.
Speaker 1: Joseph's eyes began to water. He saw in Potiphar the
Speaker 1: same deep well of hatred his brothers once had. Joseph
Speaker 1: breathed in deeply and looked Potiphar in the eye.
Speaker 3: You are my master and my friend. Have I not
Speaker 3: earned your trust by now? I tell you I've done
Speaker 3: nothing wrong? It's a lie.
Speaker 4: Please, you must believe me.
Speaker 1: Potiphar was silent for a long moment. He leaned over
Speaker 1: his desk with his head held low. Joseph watched his
Speaker 1: grip tighten on the desk. Sedgess believe you believe you.
Speaker 4: Believe be foreigner over my own wife.
Speaker 2: Believe a Hebrew slave over the water that my beloved bride.
Speaker 1: Potiphar looked up with complete rage and contempt.
Speaker 2: Did I not warn you that I would kill you
Speaker 2: if you disobey me?
Speaker 1: As he yelled this, Potiphor drew his sword and swung
Speaker 1: at the desk. The desk shattered and frayed into dozens
Speaker 1: of pieces. The desk Joseph had cleaned every day for
Speaker 1: eight years was in shallows. Potipha pointed his sword at Joseph.
Speaker 2: You will rot in twison for the rest of your
Speaker 2: day's Hebrew take him away.
Speaker 1: In an instant, Joseph was taken up by the guards
Speaker 1: and thrown into the Royal prison where Pharaoh's prisoners were confined.
Speaker 1: He fell down the jagged steps onto the cold, damp
Speaker 1: stone beneath. He looked up, looking at the last light
Speaker 1: of the prison hallway disappear. As he peered up, he
Speaker 1: saw the faces of his brothers scowling at him from above.
Speaker 1: Joseph was once again in the pit.
Speaker 5: I'm sure you've heard it said that he who fears
Speaker 5: one fears none, but he who fears many fears any.
Speaker 5: And this old saying is definitely true. In the face
Speaker 5: of man, fear develops, but in the face of God,
Speaker 5: fear dissolves. That reminds me of an old story, not
Speaker 5: one from the Bible, but one from the dawn of
Speaker 5: the twentieth century. As Europe's Jews faced growing anti Semitism
Speaker 5: and widespread pigromes, Rabbi Josef Yitzchrakschnersen stood as a beacon
Speaker 5: of faith in the shadows of communist Russia. One day,
Speaker 5: as the rabbi's prayers mingled with the early morning air,
Speaker 5: three men stormed into his synagogue. They seized him for
Speaker 5: the audacious act of worship, but the Rabbi's spirit remained unbroken.
Speaker 5: He declared steadfast and unwavering his refusal to abandon his faith.
Speaker 5: One of the men his gun pressed to the rabbi's temple, sneered, said,
Speaker 5: this little toy has made many a man change his mind,
Speaker 5: and without a moment's hesitation. The rabbi replied that little
Speaker 5: toy can only intimidate men with many gods and one world.
Speaker 5: But I have only one God and two worlds, so
Speaker 5: I'm not impressed by your little toy. One God, two worlds.
Speaker 8: That's way, he said.
Speaker 5: And in today's dramatic Bible story, we find Joseph.
Speaker 6: In a very similar situation.
Speaker 5: The wife of his master, Potifar, sought to ensnare Joseph
Speaker 5: in sin day after restless day, and Joseph, a foreign
Speaker 5: slave in Egypt, faced a herrowing choice.
Speaker 6: To succumb would.
Speaker 5: Be to betray his master and to sin against God.
Speaker 5: To resist would invite the wrath of a powerful woman,
Speaker 5: and quite possibly even mean death. Yet Joseph chose the
Speaker 5: path of righteousness. He not only refused her advances, but
Speaker 5: he did so while openly professing his faith in God.
Speaker 5: Each and every day, we are all confronted with moments
Speaker 5: like this where our faith clashes with the pressures of society.
Speaker 5: Like Rabbi Schneerson, and like Joseph, we must remember this lesson.
Speaker 5: There are two worlds, the earthly and the heavenly world,
Speaker 5: but there's just one God. Our allegiance is to him
Speaker 5: who transcends all worlds and all fears. Let's talk about
Speaker 5: the meaning behind these tests, challenges, and moments of pressure.
Speaker 5: In Hebrew, a test is called nisayon. This word comes
Speaker 5: from the root in nis, which literally means to raise.
Speaker 5: By testing us, God wants to elevate us. The purpose
Speaker 5: of a test is to shape our character, to guide
Speaker 5: us towards growth. Joseph's ordeal wasn't just about seduction. It
Speaker 5: was a divine test of character and faithfulness. Let's go
Speaker 5: back to the first pages of the Torah. The Bible
Speaker 5: begins with the garden, a tree, and a choice. Adam
Speaker 5: and Eve, entrusted with creation, faced a test. The tree
Speaker 5: of knowledge of good and evil stood as their nisaon
Speaker 5: as their test. Joseph in Egypt faced a similar trial.
Speaker 5: Potifar's wife was the tempter, like the serpent in Eden,
Speaker 5: twisting opportunities into traps. Joseph chose to trust in God's
Speaker 5: wisdom Unlike Adam and Eve, Joseph's refusal was a testament
Speaker 5: to the godly values of purity and honor that he
Speaker 5: believed in and that.
Speaker 7: He lived by.
Speaker 5: His rejection of potif his wife upheld purity and honor,
Speaker 5: the sanctity of marriage and chastity, bodying the values of
Speaker 5: his ancestors. His defiance was a declaration of his identity
Speaker 5: as one of God's chosen people, and Joseph's story didn't
Speaker 5: end in despair, though falsely accused, God's hand remained upon him.
Speaker 5: This echoes throughout scripture. God vindicates the righteous. Joseph's rise
Speaker 5: in Egypt was due to his unwavering faith and integrity.
Speaker 5: From Eden to Sinai. We've already seen again and again
Speaker 5: that tests underscore one truth. God's tests are our opportunities,
Speaker 5: moments to show trust, to choose his wisdom, and to
Speaker 5: grow closer to him. There's an interesting teaching in Jewish
Speaker 5: tradition about this Bible story. After Potifar's wife's repeated attempts
Speaker 5: to seduce him, Joseph was tempted to give in to
Speaker 5: her advances. She was beautiful and she was persistent, but
Speaker 5: at that moment tradition says Joseph pictured his father's face
Speaker 5: back in the land of Canaan, his father who he
Speaker 5: hadn't seen in so many years, his father who was
Speaker 5: so holy. And that image of Jacob's face and what
Speaker 5: Jacob's teaching an example meant to him is what gave
Speaker 5: Joseph the strength to hold back from sinning. You know,
Speaker 5: sometimes all the logic in the world doesn't stop us
Speaker 5: from doing something wrong. But if we picture at the
Speaker 5: critical moment a parent, a grandparent, someone who we respect
Speaker 5: and someone who we want to respect us, that can
Speaker 5: actually make all of the difference. Every time and every
Speaker 5: trial are opportunities from God, chances to trust his wisdom
Speaker 5: and cling to his promises. Joseph's journey calls us to
Speaker 5: this higher path, a path of integrity, of faith and
Speaker 5: divine trust. Joseph's story reminds us of our own divine call.
Speaker 5: God is calling each one of us on our lives
Speaker 5: to get closer to Him, to uphold purity, to walk
Speaker 5: in holiness, and to trust in God's wisdom. His story
Speaker 5: is part of the divine story of redemption and restoration.
Speaker 5: To speak more on this is my good friend, Bishop Paulineer, thank.
Speaker 8: You so much.
Speaker 2: El.
Speaker 8: When I look at this chapter thirty nine, if I
Speaker 8: was to reduce it to one phrase, it would be
Speaker 8: this and the Lord Lord was with Joseph, and I
Speaker 8: would add to it, everything Joseph touched turned to glory,
Speaker 8: not gold. Sometimes your needs are very different. I don't
Speaker 8: need perhaps a financial blessing. Maybe it's something in my health.
Speaker 8: Maybe it's favor or access or something in a relationship.
Speaker 8: I don't know, but gold is irrelevant in that particular situation.
Speaker 8: But everything Joseph touched the favor the glory of the
Speaker 8: Lord was upon it. Joseph prospered, Potiphar prospered, and Partipha
Speaker 8: provided access to Joseph in absolutely every part of his life.
Speaker 8: Except the Bible says food. Why food, It was actually
Speaker 8: a security issue. Well, we're going to find out later on.
Speaker 8: Nobody had problems with Joseph dealing with the food issues
Speaker 8: of Egypt. But the Bible does say there was a
Speaker 8: woman it was part of his wife, and she was
Speaker 8: entirely enamored, fixated with this Joseph. He was handsome, strong, robust,
Speaker 8: and the glory of the Lord was upon him, charismatic,
Speaker 8: able to navigate so well, and she wanted him, and
Speaker 8: he said, there's no way I could do this. I
Speaker 8: would never betray Potipher. He's entrusted me, he's good to me.
Speaker 8: Joseph tried to run, and yet again we have another
Speaker 8: one of these coat dramas where it was left and
Speaker 8: she again created a false narrative concerning his coat. Well,
Speaker 8: I wouldn't be surprised if Potipher had been through these
Speaker 8: kind of situations before. But what was he to do?
Speaker 8: So he removed Joseph from his home and placed him
Speaker 8: in an adjacent prison, And again the glory of the
Speaker 8: Lord was upon Joseph's life, the favor of God, so
Speaker 8: much so that the prison God, the warden, the prisoners,
Speaker 8: they discerned the glory of the Lord upon Joseph's life.
Speaker 8: I would say to those listening to me, now, I
Speaker 8: decree by the Lord that there is a job with
Speaker 8: your name on it that doesn't even exist.
Speaker 4: Yet.
Speaker 8: They don't even have an office or furniture. There's no
Speaker 8: plaque upon the door. But because you belong to God
Speaker 8: and you walk in the covenant blessings and promises, I
Speaker 8: decree by Heaven you are blessed and prospered and everything
Speaker 8: you touch turns to glory.
Speaker 5: So what do we do with all of this? How
Speaker 5: do we live out this victory over temptation in our
Speaker 5: daily lives? When you feel the pull of temptation, call
Speaker 5: out to God in prayer, turn to him, bring it
Speaker 5: before him, ask for his strength, and don't stop there.
Speaker 5: Take time to pray for some of your friends who
Speaker 5: maybe are facing the same temptations. Lift them up, pray
Speaker 5: for them, give them spiritual strength, because together we stand stronger.
Speaker 5: Together we overcome. In community we find support, In prayer
Speaker 5: we find power, and in God we find victory and blessing.
Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with the Isle
Speaker 1: Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
Speaker 1: dot Com app today. This Pray don't comproduction is only
Speaker 1: made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
Speaker 1: producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
Speaker 1: kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
Speaker 1: of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
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