Joseph—false accusations
Our son Logan and I went to kindergarten the same year, you could say, although we were at different schools. I worked with special education students at a local elementary school for six years. I told a funny story about that job at the beginning of this post.
The “investigation”
Another season cut our campus to the core. A group of students made allegations of abuse to Child Protective Services, my former employer. Some of the teachers and staff were investigated. I was interviewed by the local police as a part of their parallel investigation.
The findings
About a month later, my principal handed me a letter from CPS, which revealed the results of their investigation of me—an investigation I knew nothing about. The investigator never contacted me, never told me I was under investigation, never told me what the allegations were, never told me her name, and never interviewed me. I was livid, to say the least. What was her determination, pray tell? The investigative “finding” was “unable to determine.” Fancy that. I called the CPS supervisor to complain. He didn’t care. The investigation was closed and he was done with it. I called a lawyer. My recourse? None—since I wasn’t technically declared guilty. Heavy sigh.
Two of my colleagues weren’t as fortunate as some of us. They were declared guilty and fired. They were good employees. I worked with them every day. And they were ruined. One had a master’s degree in child development. Everything she’d worked for and longed to do was now impossible. She went to work for an insurance company. My other coworker who was fired plunged into a very deep depression. I’ve never seen anyone that low, before or since.
More endings
What a horrible experience. It was so bad. We were traumatized and desperately needed emotional support from our principal. I’ll call him Mr. Haskell—first name Eddie. (He was a total suck-up to the higher-ups.) Unfortunately, Mr. Haskell treated those of us who were investigated like lepers. When he saw me coming down the hall, he’d turn around and walk the other way. I quit at the end of that school year. Good riddance.
False accusations are no joke. Get ready to read about my boss’s boss, a drug addict, an MMA fighter and much more.
Oops. I almost forgot something. What happened to Mr. Haskell, our elementary school principal? One night, the police caught him in the school parking lot having sex in his truck with the vice principal, who was also married. He got fired. She got promoted. Go figure.
Let’s get back to the story of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis.
Captain of the guard
Slave traders took 17-year-old Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the captain of the guard for Pharoah.
As the head of security for Egypt’s monarch, Potiphar held a very high-level position. Various experts describe his duties differently—as Pharoah’s personal bodyguard, supervisor of the entire security detail and/or head of the executioners. Any way you slice it, Potiphar was tight with Pharoah and was way-high-up in his administration. Pharoah chose him for a crucial position that carried an extremely high level of responsibility. Pharoah’s life and his family’s lives depended on Potiphar and his men.
What qualities would be required of someone like Potiphar? Discernment. Decisiveness. Strength. Courage. Wisdom. Discretion. Trustworthiness.
As captain of the guard, trust was a central matter
to Potiphar—who trusted him and who he could trust.
Rising to the top
Because Potiphar held such a high-level position, things at home needed to run smoothly—without unnecessary distractions. When Joseph arrived as a slave, he was given gradually-increasing responsibilities as he proved himself to be diligent, strong, wise, honorable and trustworthy. Also, he learned and mastered the now-extinct Egyptian language, spoken and written—no small task. Over time, Joseph rose to be Potiphar’s personal attendant and to be in charge of his entire home and property, including the field and any livestock.
Joseph passed others and rose to the top. These decisions were not made lightly or rashly. God was with Joseph and gave him great favor and success in everything he did. And Potiphar knew it. (See part 4.) He could trust Joseph with everything and everyone.
Hunter and hunted
Then something very disturbing began to happen:
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and she said, “Sleep with me.” But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he has into my care…. How then can I do such a great evil, and sin against God?” And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to sleep with her or to be with her.
Genesis 39:6b-8, 9b-10, New Heart English Bible
Two things
In addition to her social standing and wealth, we know two things about Potiphar’s wife. She was (1) sexually immoral and (2) unrelenting. Let’s call her Mrs. P., for short. She saw something she wanted; and by golly, she was going to have it. Besides, Joseph was a slave and she was the prima donna of the house. When she said “jump,” slaves asked “how high?” Notice that Mrs. P. didn’t ask Joseph to sleep with her; she told him to sleep with her. Hearing the word “no” was not an option, as far as she was concerned. Even after Joseph rightly called her intentions dishonorable to her husband, “a great evil” and a “sin against God,” Mrs. P. wouldn’t stop harassing him. What did she care about foreign concepts like honor and words like evil and sin? God wasn’t a part of the equation of her life—or her lust. She was in charge. Period.
Does the passage above teach us two things about Joseph’s character too? It sure does. He was (1) righteous and (2) courageous. He didn’t lie to Mrs. P. and make some lame excuse: “Sorry, I’m really busy;” “I have a girlfriend;” “I have an infection.” No. He spoke the truth to someone high above him in rank. “What you’re telling me to do is wrong and I won’t do it.”
Saying no
Have you ever had to say no to your boss? I sure have. One example was about gossip. Would I overtly participate? Would I silently agree? Or not.
When I worked for Child Protective Services, I had a petite, power-hungry program director—my boss’s boss. Let’s call her Priscilla. One day, when my boss and Priscilla and I were out to lunch, Priscilla bad-mouthed the lady I was working for on an out-of-town assignment. I corrected her and told her what an honorable person my out-of-town boss was. She didn’t like that. Priscilla preferred her own “I’m better than her” version of reality. You know—the Us vs. Them mentality. Being a Class-A Control Freak, she was dedicated to beating down the competition and “winning” at all costs. For her to be high—and properly worshiped—other people had to be low, don’t you know.
Punishing time
Did Mrs. P. stop harassing Joseph? Certainly not. She was the hunter and he was her prey. And that would not change.
Now it happened about this time that he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. She grabbed him by his garment, saying, “Sleep with me.” And he left his garment in her hand and ran outside. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had run outside, she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Look, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to sleep with me, and I cried with a loud voice. It happened, when he heard that I raised my voice and cried out, that he left his garment by me and ran outside.”
Genesis 39:11-15, New Heart English Bible
Punishing Time arrived with a vengeance.
From lies to prison
When Potiphar came home, Mrs. P. repeated her lies, keeping Joseph’s robe by her side as a potent visual aid. Potiphar was understandably furious.
Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in prison.
Genesis 39:20, New Heart English Bible
For the second time in his life, Joseph’s robe got him in big trouble. Hmmm. Not really. Other people’s evil got him in big trouble. In Egypt, Mrs. P.’s lust and lies landed him in prison. And back home, the sins of envy and jealousy resulted in hatred and violence—his 10 brothers plotting his murder, but opting to sell him instead—the selling being more financially lucrative.
Calling the hero a criminal
I’m reminded of the recent trial of Daniel Penny, a former Marine who saved people’s lives on a New York subway train when Jordan Neely—a homeless man high on drugs, released from jail 40-plus times—was threatening to kill people. Mr. Penny put Mr. Neely in a choke hold and he died later. The BLM crowd is freaking out that Daniel Penny was acquitted of manslaughter and they’re calling for attacks on white people. Jordan Neely’s father, who abandoned him in foster care as a child, filed a massive wrongful death civil suit against Daniel Penny. Apparently, the son he never wanted is now worth lots of money. That sounds like Joseph’s brothers.
Coverage
Watch Liz Wheeler’s excellent coverage of the jury’s verdict—from 9:36 to 22:45 of this podcast. Also, Brylan Riggs’ outstanding 12-minute podcast on the Daniel Penny case features an important explanation of Proverbs 21:15 and reminds us of this vital truth: Evil calls itself good and calls good evil.
Projection—yet again
Mrs. P. and the Manhattan prosecutors committed evil—and classic cases of projection. They accused someone else of doing what they were doing. And—true to form—they called evil good and good evil. Mrs. P. accused Joseph of attempted rape when she was chasing him. Joseph repeatedly said no, and never touched her. He was The Good Guy. The Manhattan DA’s office and justice system failed to protect the public from Jordan Neely—a drug addict with 42 prior arrests, including multiple assaults—and sought to convict and imprison Daniel Penny, the man who actually protected the public. Daniel Penny was The Good Guy. Actually, he was a hero.
The guilty parties love Punishing Time. They really do.
Departure attack
Professionally-speaking, I know a little bit about Punishing Time. Let’s step back in time to that peaceful hamlet of Dallas where I worked under Priscilla.
When high-level caseworkers decided to leave, Priscilla faithfully ensured professional punishing on the way out. In other words, “You may not leave unless I say you can leave. Because you’re being disloyal, I’ll make sure you leave with your tail between your legs, in disgrace. I will dog you out and humiliate you. I will solicit complaints against you.” And she did. She did it to several of my colleagues, and she did it to me. She was Priscilla, The Punisher. And she played to win. Period.
Punishing, punishing and more punishing.
Where did Priscilla go after Child Protective Services? She became a professor at the local women’s university. Yes, indeed. Where else could she groom her picture-perfect protégés? The petite, power-hungry program director with a personality disorder parlayed her professional prowess to unsuspecting students seeking a career in social work—supposedly to help people. Priscilla, The Punisher—who had no children—would lecture the next generation on how to help families and children. Lord, help us. Thankfully, she’s retired now. But she left her mark—just like Mrs. P. did.
False accusations, sexual misconduct—or not, and blackmail
What Mrs. P. did to Joseph, documented in the first book of the Bible, took place in the 1800s B.C. Women have been making false sexual harassment and assault accusations against men throughout the ages.
Nikita Hand vs. Conor McGregor
Consider some of the facts in the civil case lost last month by Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who was accused of raping Nikita Hand six years ago. (Source: The Candace Owens podcast listed below.)
1. The prosecutors’ investigation resulted in the decision not to prosecute Mr. McGregor criminally. There were too many inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s story, plus attempted tampering with evidence, etc.
2. Alleged victim Nikita Hand sent many texts and photos of herself to Mr. McGregor at a bar.
3. Ms. Hand partied with Mr. McGregor—consuming a heavy amount of alcohol and drugs.
4. Witnesses in the same hotel suite denied her allegations.
5. After Mr. McGregor left the hotel, camera footage showed Ms. Hand arm-in-arm with McGregor’s friend, who she also had sex with—after she was supposedly “brutally raped” by Mr. McGregor.
6. Ms. Hand asked people to delete her texts.
7. Throughout the night, Ms. Hand sent lengthy text messages to her boyfriend who was wondering where she was; yet she claimed to not remember having sex with the second man. (She accused him of rape too.)
“Nikita Hand basically said, ‘Well, I don’t remember; therefore it’s rape.’ What is that?” ~ Candace Owens (Episode 111)
Indeed. What is that? It’s an obvious case of “I behaved badly, so I’m going to punish you.”
Hairdresser Nikita Hand won her civil suit against Conor McGregor and walked away with her fat paycheck and her 15 seconds of fame; but in the process, she ruined someone’s life. That someone has a fiancé and four sons. Evil doesn’t care. Yes, everyone who partied and “hooked up” that day committed sins against themselves, others and God, and there are consequences for that. But the facts are the facts. Nikita Hand was the hunter, not the hunted. Shame on her and shame on that civil jury for ignoring the facts in this case and feeling sorry for the dramatic liar—I mean The Accuser.
Recommended podcasts
Candace Owens ~ Episode 111
False accusations of rape against Conor McGregor and his friend; the ridiculous $800 million award against President Trump in a civil defamation suit with no evidence.
Candace Owens ~ Episode 110
Attempted blackmail and extortion involving former Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz.
Megyn Kelly’s interview with Pete Hegseth
Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense—under fire for infidelity before he got saved. This appears to be a case of staged entrapment, which reminds me of the Tom Cruise movie The Firm, based on John Grisham’s novel.
Chris Williamson’s interview with Tulsi Gabbard
Trump’s Director of National Intelligence nominee addresses “Why the Left Can’t Handle Religious People.”
Candace Owens ~ Episode 69*
The drugging/raping/blackmailing ring run by P. Diddy; the government’s role as a drug cartel; pornography used as “a spiritual and a political weapon” against men—with logs kept and later used for blackmail.
*The content about Diddy is very disturbing. View with caution.
Recommended documentary
Created Equal…
Do you remember Clarence Thomas’s senate confirmation hearings for his Supreme Court nomination, and the sexual allegations made in front of God, the senate and everybody by Anita Hill? Guess who chaired those hearings? Senator Joe Biden. While I know The False Accusation Train left the station long before Justice Thomas’s 1991 confirmation hearings, this was the first time a public smear campaign caught my attention. It was dirty and it was a big deal.
One of my favorite documentaries, Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, tells the remarkable story of this true American patriot’s life. If you haven’t seen it, scoot it to the top of your Watch List. You’ll be enlightened and blessed. See the Documentaries page for more.
Truth or consequences
Back in the day, there was a game show called “Truth or Consequences.” Personally, I greatly prefer truth and consequences, especially where false accusations are concerned.
The Potiphar family
After hearing his wife’s lies, Potiphar put Joseph in prison. Since Joseph was the reason for God’s favor on that household, I wonder what happened when he was no longer there. I really do. God’s hand of blessing, favor and protection was lifted.
I believe there were consequences—for Mrs. P.’s lying, for Joseph’s imprisonment, for all of it.
Mainstream media
The angry propaganda pushers in the mainstream media mislead millions of people daily. Will there be a reckoning? Will some of them be imprisoned for their role in “the vaccine” push, the stolen 2020 election, Trump Derangement Syndrome, and ruining many, many people’s lives? Will they be held accountable in this lifetime?
Trustworthy
I trust God and his word.
Do not be deceived. God is not mocked,
for whatever a person sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:7, New Heart English Bible
For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me;
I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Hebrews 10:30, New Heart English Bible
Join me in praying for justice.
Your turn
False accusations can be very serious. There’s the childhood sibling stuff: “She did it! No, he did it!” We’ve all been there in one way or another—at home, at school, at a friend’s house, etc. And we’ve all lied.
But there are times when the lies get serious. And most of us tend to know where that line is.
Have you ever been falsely accused of something—an accusation that had a significant impact on you, your family, your relationships, someone you love, your reputation, your job or livelihood, your finances, your opportunities, your social standing, or something else? If so, get out your journal or a piece of paper and reflect on those times. List the incidents that come to mind. Who were the accusers? How would you describe them? How did each incident or season impact you? What were the end results? What did you learn? How did these incidents impact your relationship with God? Did you lean in? Did you ask for his help? Did your prayer life change? Do you see yourself differently now?
Changed
Dealing with years of lies told by relatives like Pam, The Punisher and Her Majesty changed me from a weak people-pleaser into a strong truth-seeker and truth-speaker. Years ago, my feelings got hurt easily. I often failed to say things that desperately needed to be said. Now I can see projections and other control tactics more clearly. I can say, when it’s appropriate: “That’s about you, not me.”
I give God all the glory for the many ways he’s taught me and strengthened me. He worked all things for my good.
In many ways, I’m like Joseph’s father Jacob. He needed a lot of work and so did I. The strengthening process took many years. (See part 3.)
As I look back, I can truthfully say: The pain was all worth it.
The turning point—again
Joseph was thrown in prison by the man he’d served faithfully for years. He was cast off—for the second time. What was that day like for him? What did he feel? What did he see? What did he hear? What did he say? Did he declare his innocence or did he walk in silence? What humiliation and scorn did he suffer? Was he struck or injured?
Due to false accusations, Joseph was thrust suddenly from one reality—slavery—into another reality—prison. I can’t begin to fathom that.
Coming next: We’ll explore Joseph’s experiences in prison. The Lord was with him.
Until next time, thanks for reading and for Choosing Peace.
Truth from The Word: Psalm 68:17-21
Song: Enjoy the original and new verses of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by Sovereign Grace. Beautiful.
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