Who were the priests of On? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest?
Genesis 41:1 - 57
ESV - 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile. 2 And behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Sandra Atueyi
First, it is clear that Joseph was "given" a wife by Pharaoh. Joseph had just come from prison to interpret a prophetic dream for Pharaoh. When the dream was interpreted, the king honored Joseph with a high-ranking office in Egypt and placed him in charge of preparing for a future famine. Joseph's rewards included a new position, a new Egyptian name ("Zaphenath-Paneah"), and an Egyptian wife. Joseph was not given a choice regarding whether to take Asenath as his wife.
Robert Madden
Adding, to what you just said Michael. Joseph no doubt won his wife over to the Hebrew faith, and as a result, the two children were raised in the Hebrew faith!
Danny Hickman
I bet there are many atheists with offspring who believe in Jesus. Being the offspring of a "pagan" doesn't make a person unwinnable to God. God saves! Being the son or daughter of a believer doesn't lead to salvation! This needs to be said everyday, all day! Also, being the son or daughter of a non-believer doesn't make it harder for God to save.
This attitude proves a point I harp on: people seem to think that they "get saved" some way other than how it happens. God saves!!
Danny Hickman
"Joseph no doubt won his wife over to the Hebrew faith." Really? No doubt? Why? Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Did Esau practice the same faith as Isaac and Jacob? Did anyone in the family "win" Esau over to the Hebrew faith? How about Abraham's son Ishmael, did Abraham "win" him over to the Hebrew faith?
God spoke to Ishmael's mother, Hagar. She blessed the Lord by calling him "the God who sees me." I don't see evidence that she practiced the Hebrew faith, or that she taught Ishmael anything about Jehovah.
We don't know what Joseph's wife believed, or who / how she worshipped. We read where Jacob's wife, Rachel stole her father Laban's idols when they left her father's house. What religion did she practice? Did Jacob "win" her over to the Hebrew faith, or did she continue that kind of idolatry? We are not told.
Why am I saying all of this? Because there's a tendency for many to believe that saving faith is communicable. IT ISN'T!! The bible is very clear about that. It is dismissed by the christian community, and people believe in error that a man's wife is redeemed by his faith, or vice versa. They think they can raise their children in church and they are automatically saved. It isn't true.
So what's the solution? The truth! Preach the word! Rely on the truth! Leave the rest to God! The Holy Spirit convicts sinners and repentance is made unto salvation. It's His call! It doesnt happen just because you get married to someone...