Genesis 39 and a Lesson About the Tongue

“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow” (Proverbs 25:18).

In our Sunday night small group, we have been studying the Book of Genesis. Last night, we looked at Genesis 39, which is the narrative that records Joseph fleeing Potiphar’s wife after she repeatedly tried to seduce him. This is a common chapter to consider for equipping people for dealing with sexual temptation, and rightfully so. Joseph’s actions of fleeing Potiphar’s wife signify the appropriate action when sin is crouching at your door – get out as quick as you can! It is what David failed to do when he saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof (II Samuel 12).

Towards the end of our study, I asked the group to share lessons they have learned from the chapter that directly apply to their life.

One of our young moms had an insight about the passage that I had never noticed before in all the years of reading that chapter. In effect, she said it is a helpful lesson about the dangerous power of the tongue.

You see, Joseph’s integrity had been well-established before this incident with Potiphar’s wife. He was well-trusted. Potiphar had put him Joseph in charge of the entire estate, which shows the level of confidence Joseph had earned.

Following Joseph’s fleeing of Potiphar’s wife’s seduction attempt, and out of frustration, she went to other men in the house and turned the whole scenario inside out. She claimed Joseph tried to seduce her and she was able to escape him. She lied. Instead of taking personal responsibility for her failed attempt at getting Joseph to join her in bed, she said Joseph was the seducer and she was the innocent.

Thus, she slandered Joseph.

The result? Joseph was thrown into prison for actions he never committed. The very opposite of what he was accused for was what really happened.

The tongue is a dangerous tool. James said we can speak life or destruction with it (James 2). It takes steadfast patience to build a reputation, but it can be wiped away in an instant by an evil tongue seeking to harm or maim.

Perhaps this is why James says to be slow to speak (James 1:19). Measure your words before you speak them; they could mean someone’s hurt. Replace hurtful words for edifying words. Edifying words are words that give grace to those who hear.

How have you been using your tongue lately? To destroy or build up?