We live in a fallen world that is filled with sin. At school or work the rumor mill runs. A friend may ask, “Did you hear about so and so?” This is an introduction into some juicy tidbit. The person passing on the information may or may not know if it is true. Gossips often delight in spreading rumors that could harm someone’s reputation. Gossip is one thing, but with social media we often see people being falsely accused in attempt to smear, discredit, or vilify them for another person’s gain. This false accusation is harmful and often the one accused may spend thousands trying to defend himself.
In our story. Joseph was falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife. What if you had been Joseph? What would you do? How can I have hope in the midst of being falsely accused?
10 Potiphar’s wife kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
13 When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14 she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.”
16 She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18 “But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!” 19 Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20 So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.[1]
When you are falsely accused you may not be able to convince anyone of your innocence. In addition, satan may tempt you with bitterness concerning your situation to further his attack on you. How can I have hope? We can look up to God. This is the opposite of what our sinful nature or the world would like to do. Our God wants justice and as children of God, we can turn over revenge to our heavenly Father. Romans 12: 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,“I will take revenge;I will pay them back,” says the Lord. By turning the situation over to God, we can also seek strength to forgive those who have accused us. We can also ask the Lord to take away any bitterness that may have given the enemy a foothold in our life.
The good news is the Lord is on our side. The Lord knows if we have been falsely accused and knows what it is like personally to be falsely accused. The author of Hebrews talks about this in Hebrews 4:14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. [2]
If you have been falsely accused, go boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
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https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-when-falsely-accused
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.