I'm thinking about Joseph in Egypt, that iconic figure from the book of Genesis. He was sold into slavery, remember? And he ended up working for Potiphar, an Egyptian official.
Now, even though Joseph underwent serious self-denial – some texts even say he gave his own food to the poor and sick – his master, Potiphar, still thought he lived lavishly! Why? Because, as the text puts it, "those that fast for the glory of God are made beautiful of countenance." It's a fascinating idea, isn't it? That devotion and piety can literally make someone more radiant.
And then there's Potiphar's wife. We know how that story goes, right? But let's look closer at what some of the rabbinic traditions say about her motivations.
According to Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation of Jewish folklore by Louis Ginzberg, Potiphar's wife would often praise Joseph's chastity to her husband. Think about that! Was she trying to deflect suspicion, or was something else going on? She even encouraged Joseph privately, assuring him that Potiphar was convinced of his purity. "Even if someone gossiped about us," she supposedly said, "Potiphar wouldn't believe them!"
But it gets even more interesting. She then shifted her tactics, approaching Joseph with a rather… peculiar request. She asked him to teach her about the word of God! "If you want me to abandon idol worship," she pleaded, "then fulfill my desire, and I'll persuade my Egyptian husband to forsake the idols too. We can walk in the law of your God!"
Talk about a mixed message, right?
Joseph, of course, wasn't having any of it. His response, as recorded in Legends of the Jews, is firm and unwavering: "The Lord desireth not that those who fear Him shall walk in impurity, nor hath He pleasure in the adulterer."
So, what do we take away from this little episode? It is a reminder that even in the face of temptation, integrity and devotion to one’s principles can hold strong. It also serves as a commentary on human nature, showing how complex and multifaceted even the most seemingly straightforward situations can become. What really motivated Potiphar's wife? Was it lust, a genuine spiritual yearning, or some twisted combination of both? The text leaves us to ponder these questions, inviting us to delve deeper into the complexities of the human heart.