Genesis 39:19-23 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying… Though his body is in fetters, Joseph's pure spirit is still free. The one, man may load with irons; the other, God alone can bind in the prisonhouse of torture. With integrity preserved, the prison may be a palace. With God's favour there may be happiness in a dungeon; without it, wretchedness in a royal court. There may be spiritual liberty while shackles are chafing the weary limbs, there may be the bondage of sin while no visible chains are eating into the quivering flesh. In point of fact, Potiphar's wife was the slave — the slave of sin; Joseph the freeman, the emancipated of the Lord. "He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, all besides are slaves." Many, alas! though their limbs are unshackled, are yet bound captives, to human appearance hopelessly fettered by iniquity. Who is there so lost to honour that he would not prefer Joseph's situation to that of his assailant? purity to impurity? God's favour in a prison, to God's displeasure in the decorated halls of wordly grandeur? (J. S. Van Dyke.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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