Genesis 39:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Being herself a woman without principle, she does not understand this argument, and thinks he has a price and she has simply not reached it yet, or that she can wear down his resistance. The world does not understand what motivates the child of God, or what real love and devotion to God is. ‘Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not’ (1 John 3:1). Satan does not understand this either, and so accused Job of being a hypocrite, motivated by self-interest in his devotion to God. The faithfulness of Job proved how wrong he was. By the permission of the Lord, Joseph’s situation reached a crisis point. Potiphar’s wife would not have dared to do this while there were witnesses around, but the day came when she found herself alone in the house with him. He had tried never to let this happen, but on this occasion he was taken by surprise. There are situations in life where our best policy is never to go to certain places, or be with certain people. No doubt she engineered this, and thought that he would comply if they were alone together. Perhaps she thought that what held him back was the fear of discovery by others, and now she had removed this possibility. But Joseph has deeper concerns than this. He fears the living God who sees when no mortal eye sees. He has a tender conscience which will not let him sin in secret.She takes hold of him physically, and tries to compel him to sin with her, but his fear of God is proof even against this, and he immediately flees from her. He must flee. He cannot resist her with force or he is likely to be charged with another crime, and he wishes to remain guiltless. Nor is it safe to remain in her presence, for Joseph knows he has a sinful nature, and the lusts of the flesh are best put to death immediately by ending all possibility of sin, and not toyed with. But in escaping he has to go so urgently and so quickly that he leaves behind his garment which she has grabbed hold of. He would rather lose his garment than his innocence in this matter. We must not let the world get any hold on us. Satan may bring us into a position where the path of obedience involves leaving behind something of our own. Better to do that than to risk sin overpowering us. The felicity of the translator is abandoned – ‘got him out.’ When things became rough ‘he got him out.’