What Is Integrity? Continued

"You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage, only in the throne I will be greater than you" (Gen. 41:40).

Hey Gang:  Probably one of the greatest examples of a man of integrity that we have in the Bible is Joseph. Wow, I wonder where our leaders would rate on ‘the Joseph Scale of Integrity’today?  Even though his brothers treated him wrongly and sold him into slavery, he maintained his relationship with the Lord, and continued to walk in integrity.

It is these two characteristics that caused him to be raised from the lowest, to the highest position in Egypt, as Pharaoh's prime minister (Gen 41:40). Pharaoh saw the hand of God on Joseph's life, and saw in him someone with both wisdom and integrity; someone in whom Pharaoh could place his trust to do what was necessary.

Integrity was not a spur of the moment issue with Joseph.  He didn't suddenly wake up one morning and receive integrity as a gift from God when he needed it to serve Pharaoh; he lived in integrity throughout his life. We see examples of a life of integrity throughout the Biblical account of his life.

Is there a better example in the Bible, beside our Lord, of someone who went through a series of bad raps but kept his head and heart glued on right?  Sold into bondage by his brothers, but God had the right buyer in place to bail him out.  Potiphar saw something special in Joseph and soon moved him to the top of his administrative team.  He placed his entire household under Joseph's command.  "So he (Potiphar) left everything he owned in Joseph's charge and with him did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate" (Gen 39:6).

I suspect Satan knew he could not entice Joseph to do evil so he set up the devious plan to trap him.  Potiphar's wife was attracted to him and enticed him to "lie with her" (Gen 39:7). Not only did she do this once, but the Bible says she did this daily (Gen 39:10).

Joseph's response, "He refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master has total trust in me and has placed all under my command but you, HIS WIFE..... ⁹ Because you are his wife: how can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  (39:8-9).

Frustration!  The plot thickens! She lays a trap for Joseph. Clears the house of all the staff, to get him alone in the house. She was one determined lady. She grabbed him by his robe, ripping it off,  releasing him. He cut and ran!   He was so adamant about protecting his integrity, that he didn't let her hand on his clothing stop him. She literally tore his clothes off him in his escape.

There is often a price to be paid for maintaining our integrity in a sin filled world.  Although Joseph acted with integrity, it resulted in his return to the slammer. 

Soooo,  I suspect Joseph did not have opportunity to defend his integrity with Potiphar or perhaps he thought it in the best interest to remain silent.  Jesus, when accused did likewise.  There are times when we might feel the price of integrity is too high, but we will see the rest of the story in the next blog on how God did not leave or forsake Joseph, but rather prepared the way for what He really had in mind for Joseph.