Falsely Targeted

Falsely Targeted

Now his master Potiphar saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. – Genesis 39:3

Psalms 1:1-3

 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.

 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

A Digital Nightmare: The Taylor’s Farm

Since 2002, the Taylor family in Kansas has endured a relentless and unjust nightmare. They have been treated like criminals, falsely accused of fraud, identity theft, spamming, and scamming; crimes they did not commit. Their home has become a revolving door for visits from FBI agents, federal marshals, IRS collectors, and local police officers.

The root of this ongoing torment lies in a technological glitch involving IP mapping. An IP, or Internet Protocol address, functions like a digital street address, uniquely identifying a device or its location to enable communication. While some IP addresses are tied to specific geographic locations, others lack precision and can only be mapped to a general area, such as a country.

A Massachusetts-based digital mapping company, MaxMind, sought to provide “IP intelligence” by identifying the geographic locations of computing devices. To address gaps in IP address specificity, MaxMind created default locations for cities, states, and entire countries. For IP addresses that could only be identified as being somewhere in the United States, MaxMind’s system pointed to the geographic center of the country.

This “center” is defined by the coordinates 38°N, 97°W, a location that happens to be in the front yard of Joyce Taylor’s house in northern Kansas, in Butler County. What began as a simple technical decision escalated into a nightmare. When law enforcement agencies request IP data from companies like Google or Facebook to track suspected criminals, the MaxMind locator directs them to the Taylor property. As a result, the Taylor Ranch has become the epicenter of a digital horror story, trapped in a digital hell.

Joseph: A Story of Triumph Through Adversity

The ordeal faced by the Taylor family mirrors the story of Joseph, a well-known figure in the Old Testament. Joseph, the great-grandson of Abraham, endured significant hardship because of the jealousy and hatred of his brothers. Their animosity drove them to ambush him, throw him into a pit, and ultimately sell him into slavery in Egypt.

Despite these early tragedies, Joseph’s life was marked by resilience and divine favor. He rose to prominence in Egypt, eventually becoming the nation’s prime minister. Through his wisdom and leadership, he not only saved Egypt from famine but also reconciled with the very brothers who had betrayed him.

Joseph’s story serves as a powerful reminder that adversity, although painful, can often be a catalyst for growth and transformation.

REFLECT & PRAY

Charles Stanley writes, “Joseph is a prime illustration of the truth that adversity is a setback from which we take our greatest leaps forward.”

Father, I do not seek an easy path free of challenges or obstacles. Instead, I ask that You be with me, guiding me through the winding roads and unforeseen turns that lie ahead, no matter where my journey leads.

INSIGHT

Joseph: A Life of Trust and Triumph

Joseph’s life serves as a powerful example of unwavering trust in the Father and overcoming adversity. As Wiersbe observes, Joseph embodies a child of the King who trusted God and thrived in the most challenging circumstances. What was the key to Joseph’s success, both in good times and bad? The answer is straightforward: The Father was with him (Genesis 39:2,21,23).

Genesis 39:3: “The LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.”

Success in Potiphar’s House

After being sold into slavery, Joseph became a servant in the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian official. Despite his circumstances, Joseph thrived because the Father was with him. Everything Joseph touched prospered, and Potiphar quickly recognized that Joseph’s God was the source of these blessings. Potiphar trusted Joseph to manage his entire household, and the blessings poured out on Joseph also benefited Potiphar and his family. This is clearly seen in Genesis 39. There was only one problem. Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph and kept trying to seduce him. This was not a one-time event but happened daily.

Genesis 39:1-6: Joseph’s success, however, was not without challenges. Potiphar’s wife became infatuated with him and persistently tried to seduce him. This was not a one-time temptation but a daily struggle.

Genesis 39:10-12: “She 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. One day, however, he found no one else around when he went in to do his work. 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.”

Falsely Accused and Imprisoned

Joseph’s refusal to succumb to temptation infuriated Potiphar’s wife. Determined to destroy him, she fabricated a story, using Joseph’s cloak as “evidence” to accuse him of attempted assault.

Genesis 39:13-15: “When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 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. When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.’”

Potiphar, furious at the accusation, had Joseph thrown into prison.

Genesis 39:16-20: “She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. Then she told him her story . . .. Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.”

God’s Faithfulness in Prison

Even in prison, the Father’s presence with Joseph was clear. God showed him faithful love and gave him favor with the prison warden. Joseph’s integrity and skills quickly raised him to a position of trust, where he became the warden’s right-hand man.

Genesis 39:21: “The LORD was with Joseph in prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD gave Joseph favor in the sight of the prison warden.”

While in prison, Joseph used his God-given gift of interpreting dreams to help fellow inmates. This gift would eventually lead to his release and rise to power.

From Prison to Palace

Pharaoh was troubled by dreams no one could interpret, and he learned about Joseph’s abilities from his cupbearer, a former prisoner Joseph had helped. Joseph was summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, which predicted seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:33: “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

Pharaoh, impressed by Joseph’s wisdom and the clear presence of God in his life, appointed him as second-in-command over all of Egypt.

Genesis 41:38-42: “So Pharaoh asked his officials, ‘Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.’ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.”

A Life That Pleased the Lord

Joseph’s life is a testament to the truth of Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s life pleases the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.”

Despite being falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned, Joseph’s unwavering trust in God and his integrity allowed him to overcome every challenge. His story serves as a reminder that even when we are blamed for things we did not do, God’s presence and faithfulness can turn adversity into triumph.

Joseph’s journey from the pit to the palace is a powerful example of how God’s plans prevail, even in the face of injustice and hardship.

This story illustrates the importance of resilience during difficult times. The Taylors encountered challenges with technology, while Joseph faced his own struggles. Both narratives remind us that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope for redemption and restoration.

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© Dr. H 2025