Genesis 39:7, And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."
8, But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
9, "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
10, So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
11, But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside,
12, that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
We have all heard or read this story, but I wonder how many of us apply this young man’s godly principles to our daily living? Joseph was a young man of 17 or 18 at this time, and he wasn‘t married. He was a slave in Potiphar’s household and he didn’t have the choice to leave. But for young people in today’s world, and for those of us who are married, or in a committed relationship, this young man, Joseph, shares with us some timeless wisdom.
Like Joseph we find ourselves in the world, and although we’d like to retreat, like him, that isn’t always an options. So we battle these daily temptations, or we grow callous to them. More times than not, it is the latter.
Joseph put up with these advances for quite a while. I’m sure she made herself very available. “Joseph, oh Joseph, I can do more for you than any other woman. You are so young and handsome, and you do everything just right.” This is how temptation comes. In the work place, or wherever our day may lead us, it rarely shows us the black, empty form of its true nature.
As women described in Proverbs 31:10-31, we must take this “armor” with us as we walk. Armor that gives us the feet to flee temptation, not to just grow callous to it.
Her husband’s heart is safe in her hands. He has no need to worry whether she is being faithful and true. He knows she is, and she will not bring him evil, but will bring him good all of her days.
Have you ever been in the work place, or some other social arena and have been inappropriately approached by the opposite sex? Do you say something cutesy because you don’t feel right offending that person? Do you find yourself even slightly flattered or intrigued by that attention? We’ve all been there at some time or another, and all too often we forget Joseph’s young wisdom.
Or, have you been a young person committed to Christ, but flattered by an unbeliever’s attention? Or have you felt pressured to give more than you should within an unmarried relationship?
It all fits into the same category as Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.
But what I want us to see are these two things. The first being that when this woman took hold of Joseph’s clothing, he took some very defined action. He ran, and he ran with enough force that his clothing tore off his back and was left in the woman’s clutches. He did not smile and say, “Hey, I’m flattered by your attention.” He didn’t makes excuses by saying, “ If your weren’t married, and this was a different place and time....well...fill in the blank... No, he took action. He ran away and did not allow himself to be in the midst of that temptation. He didn’t play those quaint chase games at all. He just left. He did not take on the arrogance to believe he could be in that situation and not fall. Or, as the saying goes, he did not believe he could play with fire and not get burned.
He took affirmative action. He closed the door to temptation. He put distance between himself and the vessel of temptation. He did not tarry. He did not try to work it through in his mind or heart. He got out of there as fast as his feet could take him. And, this is how we all should react to temptation. We should never take the time to weigh it all out. We should never extend the line of which we will not step over. God draws the line and when we put our big toe over that line, we flirt with disaster.
II Tim 2: 22: Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
I Cor. 6: 18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The second thing I want us to see is this. Even when we make the right choice, it does not mean that the immediate results will be favorable. And, I emphasize the word IMMEDIATE.
Genesis 39
13: And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14: That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16: And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17: And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19: And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20: And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Joseph did the right thing, but his tempter lied about him and he ended up in prison. No doubt he found this somewhat discouraging even though he trusted God's hand in all things.
And then we see that even within the weight of heavy circumstances, Romans 8:28 plays out.
21: But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22: And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23: The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
In our own life, we may not find immediate, favorable results. In fact, unfavorable results might linger for quite awhile. We are a creature designed to expect immediate praise for right-doing. We want that instant reward.
Mt:6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
But, our reward is greater than any immediate earthly pleasure...........
