Joseph's Egyptian Wife

Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath -Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. Genesis 41:45, NIV

So much can be made of the story of Joseph, one of my most beloved stories in Genesis, and of the whole Bible. He is practically unique in that no sin is recorded against him. He is rather a victim who ends up with great honor and glory.

A pastor that I knew, and considered a friend, told me that he did not like Joseph, and thought that he "lorded it over his brothers". I was amazed because I thought he was very forgiving of those who had plotted to kill him.

There are enough similarities between his life and the story of Jesus that a book could be written about it, yet none has. He was beloved of his father. He foretold that some day they would bow down to him. They thought to kill him. He was sold for silver, left in a pit for three days even as Christ was in the tomb three days. Though rejected by his Jewish brothers, he was glorified by the Gentiles, just as Jesus is worshipped by his Gentile church.

It goes on and on, but it is his gentile bride of which I would like to speak. She was, of course, a pagan, a daughter of a pagan priest. But I am sure that, married to Joseph, she soon learned of the true faith.

Who is Asenath, but a type of the church? She began as a Gentile, then was married to a Jew who later became glorified. She was married to him during a time when his people thought of him as dead. Later their eyes were opened and they found that he was alive and in power among the Gentiles.

Such a blessed woman to have such a husband. The Gentiles received him, and he showed his bride the true way. I love the story of Joseph and of his Gentile bride.