25 January 2024
Reading From Genesis 38-40
“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘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.
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 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.’”
–Genesis 39:6b-12
Joseph was a man of integrity who resisted the advances of Potiphar’s wife even when it cost him his position and landed him in prison. He gives me a fine example to follow in fending off temptation. When she persisted in her seduction, Joseph told her no at every turn. Scripture doesn’t say that he stopped to think about how he might indulge a little bit without getting caught. No. Joseph didn’t just walk away, he ran! Trouble, seasons of testing and temptations will come.[1] The Apostle James gave this helpful command, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”[2] When I give in to temptation, the wave of defeat washes over me and drags me into the muddy quicksand of guilt and shame. But when I resist my own sinful nature and the devil’s lies and schemes, what a rush of joy, strength and triumph!
What is temptation? According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is “the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wrong.”[3] Jesus Himself was tempted and yet was without sin. Temptation is not sin, but how I handle it can be. If I dwell on it, obsess over it, make plans of how to give in, or do the deed, then desire has led to sin. Even if I haven’t done anything outwardly, I have sinned in my heart and mind.[4] This is why the way Joseph handled himself is so helpful to me. When I’m faced with a desire to do or have something I know is unhealthy or wrong, I need to not even give it a second thought. In today’s culture, temptation seems to be everywhere I look. There are times when I don’t have the luxury of physically running from it. In those times, I need to be like Joseph and change the direction of the situation. I should distract myself with other healthy thoughts and pursuits. Put the mobile device away, turn the television or the radio off, change the subject, look away, or whatever it takes. What I feed will grow, what I starve will die.
“God, give me the strength I need to not give in to temptation. Help me to see that the way You’ve shown me how to live is better than anything else the world has to offer. Thank You that You provide a way out by always giving me the power of free will. I can choose not to sin. That choice is not easily made, so thank You for being with me every step of the way. You are ready to forgive, heal, restore, and help me try again when I mess up. I love You Jesus, Amen.”
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
–James 1:13-15
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
–Romans 13:13-14
[1] John 16:33
[2] James 4:7
[3] temptation noun – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
[4] Matthew 5:28
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