Exposition
The demands of modern day living necessitates that we obtain some form of assistance from people in doing household chores or taking care of children, either on a part time or full time basis. These helpers could be family members or not. That notwithstanding, the helpers that we allow into our home should be carefully considered.
Potiphar brought Joseph into his home and left in his care his household and all he owned. Potiphar only concerned himself with what he ate. As time went by, Joseph caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife and she desired to have him. She tried to get intimate with Joseph, but he fled. Joseph knew that succumbing to Potiphar’s wife was a sin against God as well as his master. Joseph as a third party in Potiphar’s home feared God and knew his limit so he didn’t wreak havoc on his master’s home.
According to Genesis 16:1-5, Sarah gave her maid servant Hagar as wife to her husband. When she became pregnant, she began to despise her madam. Every couple must be careful with the people they bring into their homes and how much access they give them. Joseph was godly so he knew how to conduct himself but that couldn’t be said of Hagar.
The couple, especially the wife, must be like the Proverbs 31 woman, “she gets up while it is still dark, she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.” A woman must be in charge of her home, give directions and assign roles. The management of the home should not be left to these “helping hands” because they are reliable. If they continue to play key roles in the home, both husband and children are likely to become fond of them, thereby increasing the chances of the mother feeling despised like Sarah.