General Petraeus: Not a Modern Joseph
We’ve read about it for millennia. A man, handsome in form and appearance, ascends to one of the highest ranks within the government. While in a position of power he has the opportunity to sleep with a married woman. Up to this point, we could be speaking about either General Petraeus or Joseph. Both men seemingly had it all and both men made decisions that hindered their careers.
The Torah tells us that Joseph ran Potiphar’s household. Potiphar was the head of Pharaoh’s guard. Joseph, who was not married, rebuffs the advances of Potiphar’s wife. Joseph’s decision not to sleep with Potiphar’s wife costs Joseph his job and lands him in jail after Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph of trying to rape her. (Genesis 39:1-20.)
Joseph understood that Potiphar had treated Joseph as an equal and had given Joseph everything within Potiphar’s household – everything except Potiphar’s wife. In refusing to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, Joseph asked rhetorically, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9.)
