# 50 - Joseph: The Tempted - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein we explore Joseph’s journey from betrayal to triumph continues as he resists temptation in Potiphar’s house, standing firm in faith against relentless trials. Join us as we explore timeless lessons of integrity, courage, and divine purpose inspired by Genesis 39.
Episode 50 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by James 4:7, “Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
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Show Notes:
(01:59) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(03:22) Joseph: The Tempted - Cinematic Retelling
(22:42) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People.
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Speaker 2: Oh, okay, okay, Lie. Lying in a pit just north
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Speaker 2: of here, there is a young young man. He's seventeen.
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Speaker 2: He's strong, lean, and able to work. What what will
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Speaker 2: you give us for?
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Speaker 3: If the boy is healthy and able bodied, We'll give
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Speaker 3: you twenty shekels of silver? Oh God, what have I
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Speaker 3: done to deserve this?
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Speaker 1: Joseph was taken to Potiphar's home.
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Speaker 2: You will work in the vineyards and in my home.
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Speaker 2: You'll do your work fast and with great care. You
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Speaker 2: will clean, you will cook, and you will do anything
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Speaker 2: my servants ask of you. If you do not, I
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Speaker 2: will kill or sell you. It is as simple as that.
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Speaker 1: Three years past, and Joseph grew stronger and filled with
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Speaker 1: the spirit of God. He was diligent in learning the language,
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Speaker 1: and eventually was promoted to oversee the slaves alongside Net.
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Speaker 4: I would like to appoint you as my household overseer.
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Speaker 4: Everything I own, everyone who lives here, and all the
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Speaker 4: crops I grow will be under your gear.
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Speaker 1: The tall captain froze med thought and looked out the
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Speaker 1: door into the courtyard. His wife and her maid servants
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Speaker 1: were preparing to bathe in the pulls Potiphon looked at
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Speaker 1: Joseph intently, eyes revealing some deep wounds and desires.
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Speaker 4: However, you may under no circumstances that would my wife
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Speaker 4: for her maid servants.
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Speaker 1: For the first time in three years, he no longer
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Speaker 1: felt like a slave. He felt once again the loving approval.
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Speaker 4: Of a father.
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Speaker 5: Betrayed by blood and tested by desire, Joseph stood firm
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Speaker 5: in a world intent on his downfall. Shallow, my friends
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Speaker 5: from here in the Holy Land, i'm ya l Extein
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Speaker 5: with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Welcome to the
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Speaker 5: Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired
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Speaker 5: by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love,
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Speaker 5: and the meaning of life. Through israel story, we find
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Speaker 5: this truth that we are all chosen for something great.
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Speaker 5: While we know these stories offer something to you, it
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Speaker 5: never ceases to amaze and bless us that you would
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Speaker 5: tune in here every single day to learn together with me,
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Speaker 5: these ancient stories that continue to inspire us today. So
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Speaker 5: from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much.
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Speaker 5: Now let's begin. Have you ever felt the weight of
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Speaker 5: the world pressing in on you, demanding a choice between
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Speaker 5: integris gritty and compromise, a choice that could compromise your
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Speaker 5: very soul. In the silence of Potifar's house, Joseph faced
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Speaker 5: such a choice. Let's dive into this narrative inspired by
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Speaker 5: Genesis thirty nine six to twenty, as Joseph tries to
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Speaker 5: stand firm even as the ground beneath him crumbles.
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Speaker 1: This episode of The Chosen People with Yeile Exstein contains
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Speaker 1: explicit content that may be triggering for some listeners and
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Speaker 1: inappropriate for young children. Listener discretion is advised. Five years
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Speaker 1: had passed, and under Joseph's diligent stewardship, Potipha's wealth had
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Speaker 1: flourished beyond imagination. His estates brimmed with prosperity. The servants
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Speaker 1: were well fed and content, The vineyards yielded wine worthy
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Speaker 1: of Pharaoh's table, and the stables boasted the finest race
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Speaker 1: horses in all of Egypt. The blessings of God's to
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Speaker 1: follow Joseph's every move. There was not an inch of
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Speaker 1: Potiph's land that had not been touched by his wisdom
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Speaker 1: and hard work. Yet in the deep shadows of night,
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Speaker 1: a subtle evil slithered through the corridors of Potiphar's house.
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Speaker 1: It prowled like a serpent, silent and unseen. Joseph lay
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Speaker 1: in his bed, the dim torchlight flickering at the doorway.
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Speaker 1: A shadow loomed over him, watching with cold eyes. Joseph stirred,
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Speaker 1: the sense of unease prickling his skin. He sat up abruptly,
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Speaker 1: but the figure had vanished into the darkness. Rising cautiously,
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Speaker 1: he peered down the hallway.
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Speaker 3: Who's there?
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Speaker 1: Silence, Only the distant murmur of the night answered him.
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Speaker 1: Joseph rubbed his eyes and returned to his bed. Dawn
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Speaker 1: was only a few hours away, and he needed rest.
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Speaker 1: Morning came early, as it always did for Joseph. He
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Speaker 1: began his day in the courtyard, polishing the marble pillars
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Speaker 1: until they gleamed in the sunlight, scrubbing the floors until
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Speaker 1: they were spotless, and buffing Potiphar's desk to a high shine.
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Speaker 1: Over the years, Joseph and Potiphar had grown as close
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Speaker 1: as father and son. There was nothing in the household
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Speaker 1: that Potiphar withheld from Joseph. After completing his tasks, Joseph's
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Speaker 1: thoughts turned to the new plot of land behind the stables.
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Speaker 1: He had convinced Potiphar to plant grain there to prepare
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Speaker 1: for any future famine. As Egypt's fields were lush with
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Speaker 1: golden grain, Joseph sought to ensure Potiphar's household would never
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Speaker 1: want for food. He rode his horse to the fields,
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Speaker 1: the sapphire amulet around his neck, catching the morning sun.
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Speaker 1: To the other servants, the amulet was a symbol of
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Speaker 1: Joseph's merit and diligence. Rather than envy, they felt admiration.
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Speaker 1: If Joseph, a slave like them, could rise to such heights,
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Speaker 1: then so could they.
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Speaker 3: Good morning, brother, Let's quicken our pace in the morning,
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Speaker 3: before the harsh sun slows our work.
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Speaker 1: He took up the plow, his muscles rippling under the strain.
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Speaker 1: As he worked the rough soil. Memories of his brother's
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Speaker 1: grumbling filled his mind. They had always complained about their labor. Joseph,
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Speaker 1: determined to be different, worked with a smile. Hours passed
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Speaker 1: under the punishing sun. Joseph wigged his brow, the sweat
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Speaker 1: glistening on his broad back. He poured water over his
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Speaker 1: head and neck, savoring the brief relief. Despite the heat,
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Speaker 1: progress was steady. Potipher and his wife rode up to
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Speaker 1: check on the breaking of the new ground. Joseph approached
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Speaker 1: them and bowed.
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Speaker 2: How is the groundbreaking, Joseph, Will it receive the seat soon?
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Speaker 3: All is well and going according to plan, my lord,
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Speaker 3: it will be prime for planting soon. My only worry
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Speaker 3: is water access in case of a drought. But do
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Speaker 3: not worry. We've hired diggers to carry water from the
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Speaker 3: streams cutting at the edge of your property.
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Speaker 2: You'll think of everything well done.
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Speaker 1: Potiphara nodded in approval. Pacing the fields to inspect the
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Speaker 1: rich tilled soil, Joseph stood in the shade, catching his breath.
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Speaker 1: His large chest rose and fell with deep breaths, his
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Speaker 1: skin slick with sweat. Potiphar's wife lounged near by, her
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Speaker 1: eyes lingering on Joseph. At twenty five, he had grown
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Speaker 1: into a man of striking appearance. She watched him with
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Speaker 1: a predatory gaze. Joseph, feeling her eyes upon him, did
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Speaker 1: his best to avoid her.
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Speaker 6: Stare, My husband thinks you are a gift from Rah.
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Speaker 6: Did you know that?
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Speaker 1: Now? Joseph had no choice but to turn. He faced her,
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Speaker 1: seeing her beauty illuminated in the afternoon light. She wore
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Speaker 1: a loose linen dress that lay over her body like
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Speaker 1: a thin sheet. He felt like he could see all
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Speaker 1: of her. Joseph bowed his head and averted his gaze.
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Speaker 3: Your husband is a kind man.
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Speaker 6: Be that as it may. He's wrong. You aren't a
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Speaker 6: gift from raw. I think you were sent by Annette.
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Speaker 6: There's no way a frame such as yours wouldn't have
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Speaker 6: been crafted for pleasure.
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Speaker 3: Your gods are still foreign to me. I doubt any
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Speaker 3: of them consider me at all.
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Speaker 6: Oh, Oh, you're as humble as you are handsome, young Joseph.
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Speaker 6: Come lounge with me and watch the others work. Drink
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Speaker 6: some chilled wine, and devour some berries with me. You
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Speaker 6: look tired.
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Speaker 3: That's a kind invitation, my lady, but I must continue working.
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Speaker 3: Your husband has entrusted me with much.
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Speaker 6: Very well, then till next time, Joseph.
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Speaker 1: Joseph bowed again and turned back to the field, putting
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Speaker 1: distance between himself and her. Yet whenever he glanced back,
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Speaker 1: she was watching him, her gaze unwavering. Later that night,
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Speaker 1: Joseph sought the sanctuary of the chamber baths. His body
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Speaker 1: ached from the day's labor, and he longed for the
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Speaker 1: peace and quiet of the warm water. He often waited
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Speaker 1: for the other servants to finish so he could soak
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Speaker 1: in solitude. Stripping off his clothes, he eased into the bath,
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Speaker 1: the warmth sweeping into his muscles. He closed his eyes,
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Speaker 1: letting the water soothe his aches. Half asleep, Joseph could
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Speaker 1: hear quiet footsteps, quiet and deliberate. He opened his eyes
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Speaker 1: to see Potiphar's wife entering the room. Her dress hung loosely,
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Speaker 1: barely clinging to her body as she approached the bath.
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Speaker 3: Hello again, josel My lady, why are you out here
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Speaker 3: so late?
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Speaker 7: My husband retreats to bed early. He vows to sleep
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Speaker 7: when rash sleeps. Water bore, but not loan.
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Speaker 6: I'm like a cat.
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Speaker 7: I have the most fun at night. I prowled these halves,
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Speaker 7: hunting for a snack.
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Speaker 3: Perhaps I should take cues from your husband and ritchiet
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Speaker 3: early nonsense.
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Speaker 6: This is your ritual, is it not. You come here
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Speaker 6: to escape a noise and relax. Here, let me help
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Speaker 6: you unwild.
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Speaker 1: She let her dress slip off her shoulders, Standing naked
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Speaker 1: before him, She smiled and stepped into the bath, the
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Speaker 1: water rippling around her.
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Speaker 7: It's just you and me here, Joseph.
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Speaker 1: Potifa's wife waded closer, her hand reaching out under the water.
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Speaker 1: Joseph's breath caught in his throat. His body tensed, his
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Speaker 1: mind screaming for him to move in closer, But in
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Speaker 1: a brief moment of control over his will, Joseph stole
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Speaker 1: his agency back and recoiled. He leaped out of the
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Speaker 1: water and grabbed his clothes. He wrapped a towel around
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Speaker 1: his waist and bowed his head.
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Speaker 3: I am clean now and very tired. Have a good bath,
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Speaker 3: my lady.
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Speaker 1: Without another word, he fled the room, leaving Potiphar's wife
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Speaker 1: in the bath. She watched him go, a smirk playing
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Speaker 1: on her lips. The next morning, Joseph avoided Potiphar's wife,
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Speaker 1: knowing that if he lingered toolon, his resolve might crumble.
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Speaker 1: He worked all day, bathed quickly with the other servants,
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Speaker 1: and retreated to his quarters. That night, he sat on
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Speaker 1: the balcony, gazing up at the stars and wondering if
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Speaker 1: his family still lived. Before Egypt, the God of his
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Speaker 1: father had seemed distant and mysterious, but through hardship and trial,
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Speaker 1: Joseph had come to see God more clearly. He felt
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Speaker 1: his presence as if he were in the room guiding
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Speaker 1: and protecting him. With a heavy sigh, Joseph turned back
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Speaker 1: into his room. He stopped short. Lying on his bed
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Speaker 1: under the flickering candlelight was Potiva's wife. She looked at
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Speaker 1: him with longing you and.
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Speaker 7: I, poor Lord Potiphar is far too busy for on me.
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Speaker 1: She crawled forward on the bed, lifting her eyes to Joseph.
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Speaker 6: I am lonely at night, Joseph. I require your company, mistress.
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Speaker 3: My master has given me authority in this house. He
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Speaker 3: doesn't need to think about anything because he trusts me.
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Speaker 4: He's put everything in my.
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Speaker 3: Care and has withheld nothing from me except you.
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Speaker 8: You are his wife and.
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Speaker 3: Very precious to him.
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Speaker 6: Enough, honor, Joseph, come to bed.
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Speaker 1: Joseph gulped, his eyes drifting to her smooth skin, barely
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Speaker 1: touched by the sun, and the curls of her hair
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Speaker 1: draping over her body. She was undeniably beautiful. He leaned in,
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Speaker 1: feeling his temperature eyes. She smiled an inched closer like
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Speaker 1: a lioness, not wanting to startle her prey lie with me.
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Speaker 1: Before she could lean him to kiss him, Joseph pushed
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Speaker 1: back and shook his head. I I cannot do this.
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Speaker 6: Please leave very well.
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Speaker 7: I will leave.
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Speaker 1: She rose and wrapped herself in her garment, sauntering past
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Speaker 1: him with a seductive sway. Before leaving, she caressed his
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Speaker 1: cheek with the back of her hand.
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Speaker 4: Before I go, I would like.
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Speaker 6: To remind you that you are still a slave in
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Speaker 6: my house under my rule. When I come again, it
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Speaker 6: won't be this polite.
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Speaker 1: Joseph closed his eyes and waited for the door to
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Speaker 1: close behind him, hailed a breath, and leaned against the
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Speaker 1: window sill. He had avoided catastrophe again. Joseph clenched his jaw.
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Speaker 1: He remembered how easily his brothers had succumbed to women.
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Speaker 1: It was a red mark on their character. Joseph was
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Speaker 1: determined to be better to rise above the temptations of
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Speaker 1: his forefathers. My God help me. The air was thick
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Speaker 1: with the mingled sense of incense and freshly baked bread
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Speaker 1: as the sun cast its golden rays over Egypt. It
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Speaker 1: was the festival of Opet, a time on a tradition
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Speaker 1: dedicated to the god Amen Wrath, and the city was
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Speaker 1: alive with vibrant energy. Along the wide, dusty streets. Citizens
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Speaker 1: of all ages lined the route, eager to witness the
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Speaker 1: grand procession. Women in flowing white linen gowns adorned with
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Speaker 1: colorful beadwork chatted animatedly. Men wore their best skirt, their
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Speaker 1: bronze skin gleaming in the sunlight as they stood tall,
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Speaker 1: ready to pay homage to their deities. Children darted between
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Speaker 1: the adults, their laughter a light, joyous counterpoint to the deeper,
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Speaker 1: rhythmic chanting that filled the air. In the heart of
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Speaker 1: the city, the grand avenue leading from the Karnak Temple
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Speaker 1: to the Luxor Temple was transformed into a sacred pathway.
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Speaker 1: Joseph watched the procession of musicians with lyres, harps and flutes,
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Speaker 1: playing tunes with the steady beat of drums. The sounds
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Speaker 1: seemed to vibrate through the very stones of the city,
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Speaker 1: creating a palpable sense of anticipation. Joseph stood behind the
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Speaker 1: crowd and watched the priests, clad in intricately embroidered robes,
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Speaker 1: carry statues of the gods. Each statue was resplendent in
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Speaker 1: gold and precious stones. The priests moved with deliberate grace,
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Speaker 1: their faces serene and focus, chanting hymns that echoed through
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Speaker 1: the city behind them, dancers swirled and leaped, their movements
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Speaker 1: fewered and hypnotic, telling stories of the God's deeds and
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Speaker 1: the creation of the world. Their costumes, vibrant and elaborate,
00:16:09
Speaker 1: mirrrored the colors of the niles, flora, and fauna, creating
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Speaker 1: a living tapestry of motion. The crowd watched in all
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Speaker 1: their eyes, following every twist and turn of the dancer's bodies.
00:16:22
Speaker 1: As the sun dipped below the horizon, the first eval
00:16:25
Speaker 1: transformed into a more debased celebration. The streets filled with
00:16:30
Speaker 1: the sound of drunken cackles, and tables groaned under the
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Speaker 1: weight of lavish feasts. Wine flowed freely, and the rich
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Speaker 1: aroma of roasted meat filled the air. When the temple,
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Speaker 1: prostitutes and enslaved children filled the streets, Joseph knew it
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Speaker 1: was his time to leave. He walked the path back
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Speaker 1: to Potiphar's house. The summer air was humid and thick
00:16:52
Speaker 1: enough to run a blade through. Joseph was weary from
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Speaker 1: the festivities. Times like these reminded him that he was
00:16:59
Speaker 1: a stranger in this, a Hebrew among Egyptians. Yet the
00:17:03
Speaker 1: night brought some solace. Potiphar's entire household was gone, save
00:17:08
Speaker 1: but for a few guards standing at the entrance. Joseph
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Speaker 1: enjoyed the quiet, using the opportunity to organize a few
00:17:15
Speaker 1: things in the house. He paced in the halls of
00:17:18
Speaker 1: Potiphar's quarters, organizing scrolls and polishing statues. The torches illuminated
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Speaker 1: ornate tapestries and trophies of conquest. It was against this
00:17:27
Speaker 1: backdrop that Joseph saw a shadow approaching, hymns swinging to
00:17:32
Speaker 1: and fro in a familiar motion.
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Speaker 8: Oh not again, not here.
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Speaker 1: Joseph turned to see Potiphar's wife leaning against the entrance.
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Speaker 6: Why aren't you celebrating with the others, Most even slaves
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Speaker 6: revel in the festival. We celebrate the creation, a knight
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Speaker 6: of ends, possibilities.
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Speaker 4: I am a Hebrew.
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Speaker 3: We have a different creation story, not one of conquest
00:18:01
Speaker 3: and dominance, but of truth and order spoken to chaos.
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Speaker 6: How poetic? Tell me more?
00:18:08
Speaker 1: Potipher's wife inched closer, longing reflected in her coalined eyes.
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Speaker 3: I don't think you're here to listen to Hebrew stories.
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Speaker 7: You're smart, no.
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Speaker 6: Wonder, you're so respected and soft.
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Speaker 1: After she closed the door, the sound of wood against
00:18:29
Speaker 1: the beams, echoed across the empty halls. No, Mistress, I
00:18:34
Speaker 1: told you I can't.
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Speaker 7: We are alone, Joseph, all alone.
00:18:42
Speaker 1: She licked her finger and snuffed one of the candles.
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Speaker 1: The room was now dimmer, but somehow hotter. Joseph was
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Speaker 1: getting flustered.
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Speaker 3: I won't sin against my master or my God.
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Speaker 6: Here and now I am your master and God.
00:19:02
Speaker 1: Potiphar's wife seized Joseph by the belt of his garment
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Speaker 1: and pulled in forcibly. This time there was a deep
00:19:09
Speaker 1: rage within her.
00:19:11
Speaker 7: Lessen to me, slave, you are still owned by this household.
00:19:16
Speaker 6: You are still owned by me.
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Speaker 3: That may be so, But before you and my master,
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Speaker 3: I am owned by another. I will not sin against
00:19:26
Speaker 3: my guard.
00:19:27
Speaker 8: To the nile with your God, lie with me, or
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Speaker 8: face the consequences.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: Joseph, out of options, decided to run. With his garments
00:19:37
Speaker 1: still in her hand. Joseph fled out of his room.
00:19:40
Speaker 1: The garment slid off his body, and Joseph ran naked
00:19:43
Speaker 1: through the halls. Just as he turned the corner, he
00:19:46
Speaker 1: heard a loud scream echo through the entire home. Joseph
00:19:49
Speaker 1: knew at that moment that he was in desperate trouble.
00:19:53
Speaker 1: Potifah's wife screamed and called for the guards. Joseph looked
00:19:56
Speaker 1: back and saw them rush into his room.
00:19:59
Speaker 6: He t yes, he grew slave, lured me into sleep
00:20:03
Speaker 6: with me, but I screamed Quickly he went that way.
00:20:08
Speaker 1: Joseph held his head low. He didn't run, he didn't quarrel.
00:20:12
Speaker 1: He knew it would be an admission of guilt if
00:20:14
Speaker 1: he fought. He simply held his hands up and allowed
00:20:17
Speaker 1: the guards to tackle him to the floor. Joseph was beaten.
00:20:23
Speaker 1: He dragged to Potiphar by his hair. Potiphar sat at
00:20:26
Speaker 1: his polished desk, holding Joseph's garment in his hand. His
00:20:30
Speaker 1: wife was crying behind, being consoled by her maid servants.
00:20:35
Speaker 1: Tied up and bruised, Joseph stood before Potipha, much like
00:20:39
Speaker 1: he had eight years ago.
00:20:41
Speaker 8: So this is how you repay.
00:20:44
Speaker 3: My kindness, master, I promise you.
00:20:49
Speaker 2: I save you from the ishmaelite trader. I brought you
00:20:52
Speaker 2: into my home. I give you charge over everything I have,
00:20:56
Speaker 2: and this is what you give me, my wife, and
00:21:01
Speaker 2: make a mockery of me.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Joseph's eyes began to water. He saw in Potiphar the
00:21:08
Speaker 1: same deep well of hatred his brothers once had. Joseph
00:21:11
Speaker 1: breathed in deeply and looked Potiphar in the eye.
00:21:14
Speaker 3: You are my master and my friend. Have I not
00:21:17
Speaker 3: earned your trust by now? I tell you I've done
00:21:20
Speaker 3: nothing wrong? It's a lie.
00:21:23
Speaker 4: Please, you must believe me.
00:21:26
Speaker 1: Potiphar was silent for a long moment. He leaned over
00:21:29
Speaker 1: his desk with his head held low. Joseph watched his
00:21:33
Speaker 1: grip tighten on the desk. Sedgess believe you believe you.
00:21:43
Speaker 4: Believe be foreigner over my own wife.
00:21:46
Speaker 2: Believe a Hebrew slave over the water that my beloved bride.
00:21:51
Speaker 1: Potiphar looked up with complete rage and contempt.
00:21:55
Speaker 2: Did I not warn you that I would kill you
00:21:58
Speaker 2: if you disobey me?
00:22:01
Speaker 1: As he yelled this, Potiphor drew his sword and swung
00:22:05
Speaker 1: at the desk. The desk shattered and frayed into dozens
00:22:08
Speaker 1: of pieces. The desk Joseph had cleaned every day for
00:22:12
Speaker 1: eight years was in shallows. Potipha pointed his sword at Joseph.
00:22:18
Speaker 2: You will rot in twison for the rest of your
00:22:21
Speaker 2: day's Hebrew take him away.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: In an instant, Joseph was taken up by the guards
00:22:29
Speaker 1: and thrown into the Royal prison where Pharaoh's prisoners were confined.
00:22:34
Speaker 1: He fell down the jagged steps onto the cold, damp
00:22:37
Speaker 1: stone beneath. He looked up, looking at the last light
00:22:40
Speaker 1: of the prison hallway disappear. As he peered up, he
00:22:44
Speaker 1: saw the faces of his brothers scowling at him from above.
00:22:49
Speaker 1: Joseph was once again in the pit.
00:22:57
Speaker 5: I'm sure you've heard it said that he who fears
00:23:00
Speaker 5: one fears none, but he who fears many fears any.
00:23:06
Speaker 5: And this old saying is definitely true. In the face
00:23:09
Speaker 5: of man, fear develops, but in the face of God,
00:23:13
Speaker 5: fear dissolves. That reminds me of an old story, not
00:23:16
Speaker 5: one from the Bible, but one from the dawn of
00:23:19
Speaker 5: the twentieth century. As Europe's Jews faced growing anti Semitism
00:23:24
Speaker 5: and widespread pigromes, Rabbi Josef Yitzchrakschnersen stood as a beacon
00:23:30
Speaker 5: of faith in the shadows of communist Russia. One day,
00:23:34
Speaker 5: as the rabbi's prayers mingled with the early morning air,
00:23:37
Speaker 5: three men stormed into his synagogue. They seized him for
00:23:42
Speaker 5: the audacious act of worship, but the Rabbi's spirit remained unbroken.
00:23:48
Speaker 5: He declared steadfast and unwavering his refusal to abandon his faith.
00:23:55
Speaker 5: One of the men his gun pressed to the rabbi's temple, sneered, said,
00:24:00
Speaker 5: this little toy has made many a man change his mind,
00:24:04
Speaker 5: and without a moment's hesitation. The rabbi replied that little
00:24:08
Speaker 5: toy can only intimidate men with many gods and one world.
00:24:13
Speaker 5: But I have only one God and two worlds, so
00:24:16
Speaker 5: I'm not impressed by your little toy. One God, two worlds.
00:24:22
Speaker 8: That's way, he said.
00:24:24
Speaker 5: And in today's dramatic Bible story, we find Joseph.
00:24:27
Speaker 6: In a very similar situation.
00:24:30
Speaker 5: The wife of his master, Potifar, sought to ensnare Joseph
00:24:34
Speaker 5: in sin day after restless day, and Joseph, a foreign
00:24:40
Speaker 5: slave in Egypt, faced a herrowing choice.
00:24:44
Speaker 6: To succumb would.
00:24:45
Speaker 5: Be to betray his master and to sin against God.
00:24:49
Speaker 5: To resist would invite the wrath of a powerful woman,
00:24:53
Speaker 5: and quite possibly even mean death. Yet Joseph chose the
00:24:57
Speaker 5: path of righteousness. He not only refused her advances, but
00:25:01
Speaker 5: he did so while openly professing his faith in God.
00:25:06
Speaker 5: Each and every day, we are all confronted with moments
00:25:10
Speaker 5: like this where our faith clashes with the pressures of society.
00:25:16
Speaker 5: Like Rabbi Schneerson, and like Joseph, we must remember this lesson.
00:25:21
Speaker 5: There are two worlds, the earthly and the heavenly world,
00:25:25
Speaker 5: but there's just one God. Our allegiance is to him
00:25:31
Speaker 5: who transcends all worlds and all fears. Let's talk about
00:25:37
Speaker 5: the meaning behind these tests, challenges, and moments of pressure.
00:25:42
Speaker 5: In Hebrew, a test is called nisayon. This word comes
00:25:47
Speaker 5: from the root in nis, which literally means to raise.
00:25:52
Speaker 5: By testing us, God wants to elevate us. The purpose
00:25:57
Speaker 5: of a test is to shape our character, to guide
00:26:01
Speaker 5: us towards growth. Joseph's ordeal wasn't just about seduction. It
00:26:06
Speaker 5: was a divine test of character and faithfulness. Let's go
00:26:11
Speaker 5: back to the first pages of the Torah. The Bible
00:26:14
Speaker 5: begins with the garden, a tree, and a choice. Adam
00:26:18
Speaker 5: and Eve, entrusted with creation, faced a test. The tree
00:26:22
Speaker 5: of knowledge of good and evil stood as their nisaon
00:26:27
Speaker 5: as their test. Joseph in Egypt faced a similar trial.
00:26:32
Speaker 5: Potifar's wife was the tempter, like the serpent in Eden,
00:26:36
Speaker 5: twisting opportunities into traps. Joseph chose to trust in God's
00:26:44
Speaker 5: wisdom Unlike Adam and Eve, Joseph's refusal was a testament
00:26:50
Speaker 5: to the godly values of purity and honor that he
00:26:55
Speaker 5: believed in and that.
00:26:56
Speaker 7: He lived by.
00:26:58
Speaker 5: His rejection of potif his wife upheld purity and honor,
00:27:03
Speaker 5: the sanctity of marriage and chastity, bodying the values of
00:27:08
Speaker 5: his ancestors. His defiance was a declaration of his identity
00:27:13
Speaker 5: as one of God's chosen people, and Joseph's story didn't
00:27:17
Speaker 5: end in despair, though falsely accused, God's hand remained upon him.
00:27:24
Speaker 5: This echoes throughout scripture. God vindicates the righteous. Joseph's rise
00:27:31
Speaker 5: in Egypt was due to his unwavering faith and integrity.
00:27:36
Speaker 5: From Eden to Sinai. We've already seen again and again
00:27:40
Speaker 5: that tests underscore one truth. God's tests are our opportunities,
00:27:49
Speaker 5: moments to show trust, to choose his wisdom, and to
00:27:54
Speaker 5: grow closer to him. There's an interesting teaching in Jewish
00:27:58
Speaker 5: tradition about this Bible story. After Potifar's wife's repeated attempts
00:28:03
Speaker 5: to seduce him, Joseph was tempted to give in to
00:28:06
Speaker 5: her advances. She was beautiful and she was persistent, but
00:28:11
Speaker 5: at that moment tradition says Joseph pictured his father's face
00:28:17
Speaker 5: back in the land of Canaan, his father who he
00:28:21
Speaker 5: hadn't seen in so many years, his father who was
00:28:25
Speaker 5: so holy. And that image of Jacob's face and what
00:28:30
Speaker 5: Jacob's teaching an example meant to him is what gave
00:28:35
Speaker 5: Joseph the strength to hold back from sinning. You know,
00:28:40
Speaker 5: sometimes all the logic in the world doesn't stop us
00:28:43
Speaker 5: from doing something wrong. But if we picture at the
00:28:48
Speaker 5: critical moment a parent, a grandparent, someone who we respect
00:28:52
Speaker 5: and someone who we want to respect us, that can
00:28:56
Speaker 5: actually make all of the difference. Every time and every
00:29:00
Speaker 5: trial are opportunities from God, chances to trust his wisdom
00:29:06
Speaker 5: and cling to his promises. Joseph's journey calls us to
00:29:11
Speaker 5: this higher path, a path of integrity, of faith and
00:29:16
Speaker 5: divine trust. Joseph's story reminds us of our own divine call.
00:29:23
Speaker 5: God is calling each one of us on our lives
00:29:27
Speaker 5: to get closer to Him, to uphold purity, to walk
00:29:31
Speaker 5: in holiness, and to trust in God's wisdom. His story
00:29:38
Speaker 5: is part of the divine story of redemption and restoration.
00:29:43
Speaker 5: To speak more on this is my good friend, Bishop Paulineer, thank.
00:29:47
Speaker 8: You so much.
00:29:48
Speaker 2: El.
00:29:49
Speaker 8: When I look at this chapter thirty nine, if I
00:29:53
Speaker 8: was to reduce it to one phrase, it would be
00:29:57
Speaker 8: this and the Lord Lord was with Joseph, and I
00:30:04
Speaker 8: would add to it, everything Joseph touched turned to glory,
00:30:11
Speaker 8: not gold. Sometimes your needs are very different. I don't
00:30:15
Speaker 8: need perhaps a financial blessing. Maybe it's something in my health.
00:30:19
Speaker 8: Maybe it's favor or access or something in a relationship.
00:30:24
Speaker 8: I don't know, but gold is irrelevant in that particular situation.
00:30:29
Speaker 8: But everything Joseph touched the favor the glory of the
00:30:34
Speaker 8: Lord was upon it. Joseph prospered, Potiphar prospered, and Partipha
00:30:42
Speaker 8: provided access to Joseph in absolutely every part of his life.
00:30:48
Speaker 8: Except the Bible says food. Why food, It was actually
00:30:55
Speaker 8: a security issue. Well, we're going to find out later on.
00:31:01
Speaker 8: Nobody had problems with Joseph dealing with the food issues
00:31:07
Speaker 8: of Egypt. But the Bible does say there was a
00:31:11
Speaker 8: woman it was part of his wife, and she was
00:31:13
Speaker 8: entirely enamored, fixated with this Joseph. He was handsome, strong, robust,
00:31:21
Speaker 8: and the glory of the Lord was upon him, charismatic,
00:31:25
Speaker 8: able to navigate so well, and she wanted him, and
00:31:30
Speaker 8: he said, there's no way I could do this. I
00:31:32
Speaker 8: would never betray Potipher. He's entrusted me, he's good to me.
00:31:38
Speaker 8: Joseph tried to run, and yet again we have another
00:31:43
Speaker 8: one of these coat dramas where it was left and
00:31:49
Speaker 8: she again created a false narrative concerning his coat. Well,
00:31:57
Speaker 8: I wouldn't be surprised if Potipher had been through these
00:32:00
Speaker 8: kind of situations before. But what was he to do?
00:32:05
Speaker 8: So he removed Joseph from his home and placed him
00:32:08
Speaker 8: in an adjacent prison, And again the glory of the
00:32:13
Speaker 8: Lord was upon Joseph's life, the favor of God, so
00:32:18
Speaker 8: much so that the prison God, the warden, the prisoners,
00:32:23
Speaker 8: they discerned the glory of the Lord upon Joseph's life.
00:32:28
Speaker 8: I would say to those listening to me, now, I
00:32:31
Speaker 8: decree by the Lord that there is a job with
00:32:35
Speaker 8: your name on it that doesn't even exist.
00:32:38
Speaker 4: Yet.
00:32:39
Speaker 8: They don't even have an office or furniture. There's no
00:32:42
Speaker 8: plaque upon the door. But because you belong to God
00:32:46
Speaker 8: and you walk in the covenant blessings and promises, I
00:32:50
Speaker 8: decree by Heaven you are blessed and prospered and everything
00:32:55
Speaker 8: you touch turns to glory.
00:33:00
Speaker 5: So what do we do with all of this? How
00:33:03
Speaker 5: do we live out this victory over temptation in our
00:33:07
Speaker 5: daily lives? When you feel the pull of temptation, call
00:33:11
Speaker 5: out to God in prayer, turn to him, bring it
00:33:14
Speaker 5: before him, ask for his strength, and don't stop there.
00:33:20
Speaker 5: Take time to pray for some of your friends who
00:33:22
Speaker 5: maybe are facing the same temptations. Lift them up, pray
00:33:27
Speaker 5: for them, give them spiritual strength, because together we stand stronger.
00:33:35
Speaker 5: Together we overcome. In community we find support, In prayer
00:33:42
Speaker 5: we find power, and in God we find victory and blessing.
00:33:49
Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with the Isle
00:33:52
Speaker 1: Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
00:33:56
Speaker 1: dot Com app today. This Pray don't comproduction is only
00:34:00
Speaker 1: made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
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Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
00:34:09
Speaker 1: producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
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Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
00:34:18
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
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Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
00:34:27
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
00:34:31
Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
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Speaker 1: kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
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