Yikes!

I've been reading in Genesis about Joseph recently. We all remember the story of his early years; Dreams, his coat of many colors, being sold as a slave by his brother, Potiphar house in Egypt,  being thrown into prison, and then interpreting Pharaoh's dreams to ascend to second in command over all the land. But there's one person in all of this that we forget about. In fact, we don't really even know her name: Potiphar's wife.

OK, we do know her attraction to Joseph grew over time and she begged him to sleep with her. When he refused time and again, she make the household believe that he had tried to rape her after tearing his garment off of him while he fled. She used this robe to 'prove' to Potiphar when he returned that Joseph tried to rape her. Thus, Joseph went to jail. From there, over a long period of time, he became second only to Pharaoh.

But what about Potiphar's wife? Can you imagine the terror she felt when she realized that this man she framed and had thrown in jail for years suddenly had that kind of power? Did she live for years imprisoned by the stress of knowing that today could be the day he became bored and vindictive enough to have her exposed?

Or... through the grace shown her by Joseph and his God, did she begin to believe? Did that peace ever come to her?

I ask this because we have all been Potiphar's wife at some point and we all can be Joseph. Do we allow the consequences of our past sins, who have suddenly found us again, to keep us cowering in shame and fear? Do we accept the grace available and live victoriously through the power of Christ in our lives, acknowledging that it is only through Him we are able?

We also have the chance to be Joseph. When others wrong us, will we get back at them when the chance presents itself - for it always will -,or will you show the love and grace of God to them so that they may desire to know Him as well?

When the choice comes to you, remember this: Joseph's name we know.