Last week we saw Judah leave his family (and his faith temporarily) and marry a Canaanite woman. This was strictly forbidden by the Lord (Gen. 28:1; Deut. 7:3). This was ultimately not a racial issue but a spiritual issue because all other nations worshiped idols and intermarriage could lead to idol worship (which it did). So God sets in motion His plan to protect Israel from intermarriage through the life of Joseph and the famine that drove Israel to Egypt. The Egyptians refused to intermarry with the Hebrew shepherds and so Egypt became the womb for the growth of the nation to some 2 million people over the 430 years of captivity.
Here in this chapter Joseph is an excellent example of how to overcome temptation. Let's take a look at how he did it. "The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household." It is said that power corrupts, but in Joseph's case his promotion to head steward did not lead to pride. As we see later, he remained humble both before his earthly master Potiphar and more so before God. "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."(Prov. 16:18) So like Joseph we must always remain humble regardless of our temporal success in the eyes of man.
"Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Potiphar's wife tried every approach from the direct demand to the daily pleading and Joseph simply refused her. Maybe she was saying what the adulteress says in Prov. 7:16-19: "I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey." But he did not debate with her or flatter her but quickly and firmly refused her. Convictions for obedience to God must be formed in advance, not in the heat of the moment.
"She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." Now she practically rapes him, trying to take him by force. And he runs. "Flee from sexual immorality." (1 Cor. 6:18) Joseph does exactly what Scripture calls us to do.
"Dedication to the calling of God will enable the servant of God to resist temptation." (Alan Ross – Creation and Blessing) Choose to make Jesus the Lord of your life. (Rom. 12:1-2) Although Scripture doesn't say it directly it seems that Joseph had not forgotten the dreams of leadership God had given him (God's call on his life) which was being confirmed by God's manifest presence in his role as Potiphar's head steward: "The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." This was such an extraordinary blessing that even Potiphar gave credit to God. As we faithfully serve the Lord in humble obedience and the people He sends us to, we will experience His presence and be encouraged to live out His call on our life. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)
In contrast to all the sexual sin seen in Chapter 38 we see Joseph flee from sexual sin because of his absolute commitment to God's call on his life. Saying a strong "Yes" to God's will, not just in the moment of temptation but as the very purpose of our life, makes saying "No" to sin much easier. "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law." (Prov. 29:18) It was Joseph's belief in God's call on his life, his destiny in God, that inspired him not to stoop to sin. (Note: I can e-mail you a very comprehensive teaching/exercise on discovering God's call for your life if you are interested.)
The reward for obedience to God may not come immediately but persevere in faith for the reward will come. "When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined." Our full reward for obedience only comes in heaven. "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised" (Heb. 11:39) "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."(Heb. 6:10)
Joseph is a great example of a man who was so committed to God's call on his life that he said "No" to the sins that would delay or prevent God's destiny for him. But more so, our far greatest example is our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was spoken of prophetically in Psalm 40 when He said: "Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart." (Psalm 40:7-8) And because of Jesus' joy in doing God's will we read this about Him. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16) Jesus is not only our greatest model for complete dedication to do God's will He is our means through which we do it. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)
Discussion Questions FOR APPLICATION OF GOD'S WORD
What did the Lord say to you through this message?
Discuss these points for overcoming temptation.
*"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov. 16:18) So like Joseph we must always remain humble regardless of our temporal success in the eyes of man.
*Convictions for obedience to God must be formed in advance, not in the heat of the moment.
*"Flee from sexual immorality." (1 Cor. 6:18) Joseph does exactly what Scripture calls us to do.
*"Dedication to the calling of God will enable the servant of God to resist temptation." (Alan Ross – Creation and Blessing) Choose to make Jesus the Lord of your life. (Rom. 12:1-2)
*As we faithfully serve the Lord in humble obedience and the people He sends us to, we will experience His presence and be encouraged to live out His call on our life. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (Luke 16:10)
*The reward for obedience to God may not come immediately but persevere in faith for the reward will come. (Heb. 11:39; 6:10)
* "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)
Scripture memory verse: "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law." (Prov. 29:18)