By no choice of his own, Joseph ends up as a “houseboy” in an Egyptian mansion. Because of his hard work, integrity and the favor of God, he gets promoted and ends up in charge of everything Mr. Potiphar owns. Then, because of one false report, one piece of gossip, one accusation, one side of a story, Joseph is thrown into jail. Because one man failed to hear both sides of the story and rushed to judgment, Joseph’s good name gets tarnished.
You know the story. Mr. Potter’s sleazy wife unsuccessfully tries to seduce Joseph; Joseph runs; Mrs. Sleazy Pot spins the story to make herself the victim; Mr. Potter accepts one side without hearing the other; the results are unjust. Of course, God shows up in that nasty jail and continues to bless Joseph, but that’s another story for another day.
I suspect there is an inner-Potiphar lurking in all of us—a dark part of us that secretly likes to hear “tsismis” especially about successful people. I am not sure how it got there, but I know it is—at least in me, sometimes. Why else would I see news about Jessica Simpson and John Mayer all the way across the ocean in the Philippines! Because they are successful celebrities and the public has to know all the private details of their lives—whether those details are true or not. Why are bad news and unsubstantiated rumors so enticing? Why are gossip columns some of the most popular pages even in otherwise respectable newspapers? Why do we read and watch tabloid “news” knowing that we are being fed half-truths, exaggerations and sometimes boldfaced lies? What is it about human nature that craves, follows and swallows the latest scoop?
I am not sure about the answers to those questions, but I am sure about this: “the first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” (Proverbs 18:17) I am sure that the next time I hear a rumor and one side of a story, I must hear the other side before rushing to judgment. I am sure that I must know and evaluate the character and motive of the accuser, before I accept it as unbiased fact. Joseph had exemplary moral character. Mrs. Potter had issues. Had Mr. Potter evaluated the character, history and motive of the accuser and the accused, he may have come to a different judgment. God forbid we should follow the example of Potiphar and only hear one side of the story.