An Atheistic Bible study Of Genesis Chapter Thirty-Nine

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After a detour to discuss the story of Judah, Joseph’s brother, the main story arc of Joseph’s time in Egyptian slavery is now the central focus again. Joseph, cast into slavery by his brothers who have falsely claimed that he is dead, finds himself treated ridiculously well. No whippings and back breaking rock carrying for him. He is a possession of Potiphar, the Captain of the Pharaoh’s guard. Potiphar realizes that Joseph is very lucky in the way God protects him, after all God has saved Joseph from actually being murdered by his brothers. Potiphar realizes that though not a follower of Joseph’s God himself, he can benefit from treating Joseph well and staying near him. He gives Joseph easy work and elevates him to head of the slaves and the household. Joseph now has power over everyone except Potiphar himself, and the only thing denied to Joseph is the right to make love to Potiphar’s wife. This is a pity as the never named wife of Potiphar keeps trying to seduce Joseph, Mrs Robinson style. One day she tries to drag him to her bed by his cloak but Joseph slips out of the cloak and leave her holding it. He runs from fear of her. She creates a false story among the other slaves that he tried to rape her but that her screams for help frightened him off. She uses his cloak as proof that he was in her bedroom. She repeats the same claim to Potiphar who angrily finally casts Joseph into prison in chains like any common slave. The prison warder sees that God protects Joseph so he starts treating him lightly to gain some of the good fortune himself jut as Potiphar had done when he first bought Joseph. Before long Joseph is running the prison on behalf of the warder. Joseph is virtually a superhero, able to get a cushy (easy) time wherever he is through God’s blessings. It makes for rather dull reading as he is never in any serious danger thanks to having such extreme favour from God. Arthur Chappell