Stooping to Slander

These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.


Learning how to face our family problems through an in-depth study of the troubled home of Joseph.




This devotion is part of the "Family Problems" series.


How do you typically react when you can't have what you really want? Do you seek revenge like Potiphar's wife did when Joseph refused her advances? Whoever said, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn" must have experienced firsthand the behavior of a spoiled woman rejected! Refusal has a tendency to bring our ugly side to the surface. It is at these moments of extreme hatred for the one who refused us our fleshly desires that humans stoop to dishonorable methods of retribution. Because of Joseph's firm refusal, the spurned Potiphar's wife sought retaliation through her lies and slander as we'll see in our study of Genesis 39:13-16…

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

Notice the direction that Joseph fled; the Bible says he fled FORTH - straight into the protective arms of His God! Where else could you go to get away from an evil temptress such as this??

Psalm 143:9
Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

What do you think is Potiphar's wife's problem, dear lady? Part of it is discovered in the statement she makes to the men of the house as she chooses the words "he hath" with which to begin her deceitful scheme. She launches her false accusation of Joseph by incriminating her husband, whom we may reasonably assume by now she did not really love. Potiphar made a very wise decision in choosing Joseph to put in charge over all his goods, yet this woman had no problem openly criticizing her husband's decisions. This unfaithful wife was bankrupt of any loyalty toward Potiphar whatsoever!

Psalm 12:1
Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Very often numerous wives blame their personal problems on their husbands. When we can't have our own way or when circumstances don't go according to what we would desire, it's always possible to find some way to reroute the problem and make it all the man's fault! "He hath...." After we've convinced ourselves of this lie, we turn around and try and convince those around us as well. It's usually the people closest to our husband who we want to persuade that he is a loser. It is rare indeed for nearly all wives to have their husband's well-being in constant view…

Proverbs 31:12
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Ladies, this is a very self-centered way of thinking and living, not to mention very manipulative and damaging. If this woman's heart was hateful enough to slander her own husband, she's certainly not going to have any problem slandering Joseph. How quickly her sweet talk changed when she didn't get her own way! Potiphar's wife now whined that Joseph insulted her and treated her unworthily. Might you be whining too, dear lady?? Is there a chance your lips are making any false accusations in regard to your husband's character, simply because you are not willing to look at your own sin nature? Have you been denied your own way and sought to place the blame upon your unsuspecting husband? Are you concealing your inner hatred for him by assassinating him through your well-chosen words?? If so, you're going to invite the judgment of God upon your head! May the Lord protect us all from behaving like Potiphar's wife! It is reckless conduct for anyone to stoop to lies and slander to get revenge…

Proverbs 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Psalm 101:5
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off....

Slander undermines family harmony, breaks down relationships, and is more harmful and lasting than physical wounds! As was the case with Potiphar's wife, the assassination of anyone's character simply reveals a reprobate heart and a deceitful disposition. Those who are faithful to God will be faithful to man as well. Would that be you?

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003  Meet Ms. Pam

Other Rise and Shine Devotionals
New Beginnings Baptist Church Website