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GENESIS 39:6-12

 

when joseph said "no!"

OR ... OVERCOMING TEMPTATION!

 

 A Preacher in his Study

 

 

 

"And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." Genesis 39:6-12

 

 

LESSON 1, VERSE 6:

The Lord tells us something about Joseph here in this opening verse that introduces the whole paragraph. "And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."

First of all, notice his name. "Joseph" (in Hebrew = "yoseph") means "Jehovah has added!" Why, this is the very epitome of growth and maturity and forward progress! In the Old Testament this name appears 214 times, proving he is a main character of Scripture. In many ways he is a Type of Christ, nearly a hundred some Preachers say!

The expression "goodly person" is represented by two Hebrew words, a noun and an adjective. In the Massoretic Text, from which the King James Bible is translated, they read: "yapheh-toar." The first word is the adjective and means handsome! In total, 50 verses use this term in Scripture. Twice we are told that Sarah was beautiful! Once that Rachel was too. So was David in 1st Samuel 16:21. And Abigail. And Tamar, daughter of David. Even Absalom! And Abishag. And Esther! Add Job's daughters according to Job 42:15. And even a city, Jerusalem! So is God's handiwork in Ecclesiastes 3:11. But Song of Solomon, a short book, is the main repository for "yapheh," using it 16 times!

Then comes "toar," which means something like our word "form" or even "figure." Its "root" verb, "taar," literally means "to delineate or to mark out or draw!" Hence, one's appearance or outline when viewed at a distance. Here's our word in Isaiah 52:14, speaking of Jesus on the Cross. "As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." Then Isaiah quickly 53:2 adds: "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."

Next we learn that Joseph was also "well favoured." Again we have a double expression, "yapheh mareh." Since we've just discussed "yapheh" go back two paragraphs and review it. But "mareh," appearing 103 times in the Bible, suggests "the act of seeing" or "a view," one's "appearance." Its first Bible occurrence is Genesis 2:9 --- "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

Again we are being told emphatically that Joseph was a handsome young man!

We are never told that of Paul!

Or Peter!

Or John!

But in this context we need to know such about our hero!

"And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."

Oh, I will say this to the Preachers reading here today. You do have beautiful feet! That is, if you really preach the Word! Using a different Hebrew term, but conveying the same meaning Isaiah says: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" Isaiah 52:7

Therefore we learn that even God has a pure and holy sense of beauty!

Yet beauty can have its drawbacks!

We shall see this soon.

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

LESSON 2, VERSE 7:

We do not know how long Joseph labored in his Master's house before it happened.

"And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me." Genesis 39:7

The underlined words in verse 7 do imply that some time has lapsed since his arrival.

During those days Joseph worked.

Here's another time indicator: "And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field."  Genesis 39:5

This "love" thing ... really a "lust" thing ... did not immediately begin with Potiphar's wife. It apparently gradually developed.

This "developmental" point is further proved by the opening words of verse 7: "It came to pass." They translate "hayah" and mean "to occur, to take place, to happen or TO COME INTO BEING!" In other words, "to be birthed" into existence. While not the main Hebrew verb for travail and delivery, "hayah" can support this meaning! This reminds me of James 1:15. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Such "coming into being" takes some time.

Next let's note the role her "eyes" played in the event. 1st John 2:16 mentions the "lust of the eyes" as one of Satan's tools.

"Potiphar's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph," this handsome godly young man.

The verb "cast" or "nasa" (in Hebrew) means "to lift up." The form this verb possesses here indicates continual action too! She could not keep her eyes off Joseph! And she indulged herself too!

If a person cannot control his or her eyes, eventually that individual WILL succumb to some form of visual stimuli and likely yield to temptation.

Here's how Job handled that situation in his godly life. "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" Job 31:1

Job just said that he would NOT stare at a pretty young lady! He would force his eyes elsewhere!

Sister Potiphar had not learned that lesson!

Neither had David that night on the roof!

Or Lot that day when he pitched his tent toward Sodom!

But Paul sure had ... keeping his eyes on Jesus!

Sin, once given an "inroad," always spreads!

Her eyes now participating in this "lust" project, she next engages her "mouth" as well!

Interesting!

Each of these two Hebrew words ... "eyes" ("ayin") and "mouth" ("peh") ... are characters (letters) in the Hebrew alphabet! God gave them quite a place of prominence, didn't He? They are so important to godly living!

If you're wondering how the word "mouth" got into this discussion, she "said" to Joseph ...!  Of course, we speak with our mouths.

To "say," which is "amar" in Hebrew, means to talk or speak (in this case) repeatedly. This continued day after day.

Here, while not being critical, I want to say something. If this continued for long, which it apparently did, Joseph may have been more tempted than we have thought!

He could have just refused to go to work any more!

He could have risked the whole situation and reported this developing scenario to Potiphar himself. 

What could have happened?

Jail?

It happened anyway.

He could have eaten garlic and onions (favorites in Egypt) each night, a lot of them!

Anyway, he didn't ... and time marched forward.

Now don't get upset. Yes, Joseph is a beautiful type of Christ. But he is human too! He was not perfect! If nothing else we know he married a Gentile bride. He was tempted. He had an old sin nature as does every human who ever lived. Only Jesus was sinless, having no such sinful nature!

"Lie with me!"

Those are her words?

Whatever happened to modesty?

Or to reserve and caution?

Letting the man be the initiator?

What she a feminist?

Let's examine the verb "lie." In Hebrew "shakab" means to rest or recline on the bed. It can simply mean to go to sleep. In fact, 48 times it is "sleep" in the King James Bible. But more often it means "to have sexual relations" with someone.

Now an atheistic psychologist would take this Text and ruin it! He would say that the woman was unfulfilled. That her husband was to blame. That her hormones were out of balance. That she was born with strong urges in this physical area. That she had a bad childhood. That her Father didn't love her. Or he'd come up with something else ... to remove her guilt!

But God says: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

She is proposing sin!

On the remote possibility that "lie" here means to recline on the bed, that's still a pretty stupid idea!

Rare is the MAN who could do that with a lovely woman and stay pure!

In fact, I suspect such afternoon "napping" would be a sin too!

Jesus said: "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:28

Compromise is not the answer!

Wonder what happens next?

More tomorrow, Lord willing, when we study verse eight.

                                                                                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

LESSON 3, VERSE 8:

When tempted to sin with Potiphar's wife, Joseph refused!

That's what the Bible says!

David with Bathsheba said "yes!"

Joseph with this woman said "no!"

"But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand." Genesis 39:8

The verb used here, "maen," just means to reject something. It is the first word in the Hebrew sentence that gives us verse eight. That means it holds great priority and importance in the thought being advanced. God wants us to understand that Joseph did not commit this sin!

Also "maen" is an intensive verb, being in the Piel stem. Joseph REALLY said no emphatically! No doubt about his refusal!

He "said" ("amar" in Hebrew) certain things to the woman in rejecting her brazen advances. This verb is framed to show that the action being depicted is on-going and durative. He kept on saying no!  Again and again apparently! Until one day he finally had to vacate the premises! He ran out the door!

To "wot" in Hebrew is spelled "yada" and just means "to know" something.

The first reason Joseph used to repel her wicked desires was to mention others!

Particularly her husband!

"Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand."

If David had only thought so kindly about Uriah!

That's a good idea!

When a man is tempted in this area of life, it might be a good defense to start calling out loud the names of his wife and children and pastor and Christian friends and others who might hold him to accountability!

To commit such sexual sins, or any other kind for that matter, one had to "block out" certain thoughts or people or even the consciousness of the Lord Himself!

It's good here to remember that we have responsibilities to others!

Paul, in Romans 14:7, said "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."

Joseph is in charge of his lord's house! He is Potiphar's steward! He will not take that job lightly!

Dad, you are in charge of your house too!

Don't sin against your family!

Jesus said something in John 17 that applies here.

Speaking of His followers, His disciples, he prayed: "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:19

Jesus kept Himself pure for the sakes of his own little spiritual children!

Men, we should too!

The verb "commit" translates "nathan," to give!

Potiphar had given Joseph so much!

He would NOT in turn steal from His master!

How about us?

Responsibility had been placed in Joseph's "hand!" That noun is spelled "yad" in Hebrew.

He would not then handle sinful things with his hands, sensual things!

He wants clean hands!

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands ... and a pure heart." Psalm 24:3-4

This verse is just filled with armament to use in the fight against temptation, especially the kind Joseph faced here!

                                                                                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

P. S. --- "Yad," the noun for hand, also gives us "yadah" or Judah, which means "praise!" I suspect dirty hands, sexually defiled hands, will rob a man (or woman) of his (or her) praise too! Praise to God! The pleasure is just NOT worth the price!

 

 

LESSON 4, VERSE 9:

The godly Patriarch Joseph loved the Lord. He also lived a godly life. Once, when being tempted by a seductress, his supervisor's wife, he valiantly refused!

Here's one of the Bible verses that records his response: "There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9

Notice three things.

Joseph kept himself mindful of his position! "There is none greater in this house than I." He was the steward of the whole compound! He was trusted by Potiphar! He handled all the cash, ordered all the supplies and oversaw all the other employees! He would NOT jeopardize his prestigious standing!

It would have been good if more ex-preachers had pursued that line of thought! They discarded their whole ministry for an hour of "fun." And a large number of "husbands" have done the same, crushing the love and emotions of the "wife of their youth!" And how many "Daddys" have ruined their children's lives by an ungodly fling of passion?

Then Joseph remembered all the other blessing, the perks, the fringe benefits God had placed in his life!  "Neither hath he kept back any thing from me." These things, while perhaps not all that important individually, were indeed a substantive part of a slave's life, one in a foreign country! Joseph was just not willing to sacrifice his whole world-view and lifestyle for a moment of sin!

Next he respected the boundaries of marriage! "Thou art his wife!" If a person has morally and spiritually sunk so low that he will ignore the seventh commandment, the "do not commit adultery" one, anything is possible. But if, in the moment of temptation, he will remember God's sanction upon marriage ... his sin might be avoided! Look! "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away." Proverbs 6:32-33

Also Joseph evaluated or "weighed" the degree of sin to which he was being tempted! Adultery for her! Fornication for him! Then the man said: "How then can I do this great wickedness?" While any sin should be avoided, no matter how so-called large or small, adultery is a giant! There is ample evidence that a person never fully gets over it! The noun for wickedness here is "ra" in Hebrew and indicates a serious spreading deadly spiritual malady! A moral cancer! Plus the adjective "great" ("gadol") means large in magnitude and extent!

But ... most importantly of all, Joseph fled from this sin because if offended Almighty God!

Yes, this wicked deed would have hurt Potiphar, the very seductress herself, Joseph too, and maybe even the whole Jewish nation when the famine came ... but most of all ... God would have been belittled!

Even David finally realized this! Speaking to God he lamented over his adultery: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest." Psalm 51:4

God is grieved at sin!

Today's verse alone ought to wipe out adultery in the Christian faith from this time forward! What mental and moral armament the Holy Spirit has just given us!

No wonder Paul, speaking of the Old Testament Scriptures said: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." 1st Corinthians 10:11

                                                                                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

LESSON 5, VERSE 10:

There are some little "hints" in this tenth verse that help in interpreting the whole event.

"And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her." Genesis 39:10

The expression "day by day" is adverbial in nature, revealing to us how often these advances came!

A pattern had developed!

Sexual indiscretions and sins and trespasses become habitual! They are addictive!

Joseph had better hope that the words to a hymn not yet written are true. "Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin ... Each victory will help you some other to win." I personally don't know if Scripture supports that theory or not! It looks to me like the best idea is to escape such temptation the first time it comes if possible! Not to allow it day by day.

Notice that the little beauty queen "spake" to Joseph each day. This verb, "dabar," does not necessarily emphasize what she said, but how she said it! Vine's Hebrew Dictionary suggests it focuses on the time and circumstances of what is said! Like Proverbs 7:16-20 where the immoral woman says to her victim: "I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed."

Such invitations are deadly!

They must be avoided!

Then observe that she proposed two courses of action.

One, she wished him "to lie by her."

Just that!

Joseph, let's take a nap together!

Just to rest a bit!

That would have been a compromising situation!

Again Proverbs asks: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" Proverbs 6:27

The answer is "no!"

Sounds like Pharaoh, doesn't it?

Go, but say nearby! Exodus 8:25

Go, but don't take the family! Exodus 8:25

Go, but leave the livestock! Exodus 10:24

Yet Moses said, "Not one hoof would be left behind." Exodus 10:26

Then Joseph's temptress brazenly proposed that He: "be with her."

This is a Hebrew euphemism for having a sexual relationship, the act itself.

How bold sin can be!

Think of the devil actually saying to Jesus: "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:8-9

These are powerful allurements, some which few men could reject!

But, praise God, Joseph did!

"He hearkened not unto her." Genesis 39:10

The verb for hearken is "shama" and means to hear, to listen or to obey!

The time action in this Qal perfect 3rd person singular form shows us that Joseph made up his mind and never changed it!

He listened not to her ... and that was it!

He was resolved!

He, like Daniel, "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself!" Daniel 1:8

What strength and moral character and holiness of life he possessed!

Once Jesus said of the devil: "For the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." John 14:30

There was just nothing in Jesus that Satan could reach or hold or mislead! Jesus was sinless, both intrinsically and extrinsically! He was impeccable!

But while Joseph was certainly capable of sin ... he did not do so here!

Look!

Observe!

Here is the very opposite of today's entertainment media and literature and culture ... a man who rejected sexual overtures!

From an apparently attractive and willing woman!

His GOD meant more to him than anything or anyone!

And His God requires moral purity!

Let us thank God today that alongside the David and Bathsheba story, sordid and dark ... Scripture places the Joseph and Potiphar's wife story, brilliant and holy!

There is victory in the Lord!

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

LESSON 6, VERSE 11:

The narrative continues.

"And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within." Genesis 39:11
 

Joseph faithfully goes to "work" every day. The noun "time" is based upon the Hebrew word "yom," usually translated "day." It's "day" 2,008 times in the King James Bible and "time" in only 64 verses. "Yom" comes from the root verb that means "to be hot!" Every day brought another sunrise and much "heat" in Israel!

The verb "went" (just "bo" in Hebrew) means to come and to go, access and egress. Regular on-the-job activities are here being described.

The way Joseph approached his work is interesting too! The verb "to do" his business is "asah" and means to fashion (as if an artist), to make (as a manufacturer), to produce, to prepare or to do! Joseph's job was a gift from God and he planned to do his best, his creative best, with his responsibilities! No loafer was he! The verb is also in the Piel stem, indicating aggressive intensive fervent activity!

Even the noun "business" ("melakah") is rendered as "workmanship" 5 times in the Scriptures!

But ... on this day, no men were present in the house!

What a lesson this presents. One way to avoid sensual temptation with a woman is to keep a crowd around you! Stay busy with others! Too many preachers void this rule and counsel with women alone! That's pretty stupid behavior!

This sly woman may have given all the men the day off! It is possible! Seductresses know how to scheme!

Maybe it was just one of those unusual days, an Egyptian holiday or something!

Joseph, had He been as wise as our Lord, would have avoided that situation like the plague! But of course, He is not just like our Lord. Jesus is God!

The absence of every man on the payroll also might have been a temporary situation. A man or two perhaps would have returned in a hour so so. But it does not take too long to ruin a life! To surrender one's moral and purity! "Windows of opportunity" can be rather small sometimes!

Therefore we may draw this conclusion: if the opportunity to sin can be brief and fleeting ... the strength to say "no" surely could also be summoned for that quick amount of time!

Yes, verse 11 is short, but filled with meaning!

Beware, brethren!

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

LESSON 7, VERSE 12:

The end of this temptation narrative relates one of the highest pinnacles of Old Testament godly living!

We are assuredly told: "And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." Genesis 39:12

The temptress has forsaken her quiet and subtle ways! She now brazenly pursues her target!

The verb "caught" is spelled "taphas" and means "to lay hold of, to seize, to grasp, to capture, or even to arrest!"

It is used 65 times in the Bible.

It is also the first main word (excluding a one letter conjunction) in the Hebrew sentence, indicating priority and emphasis!

It expresses incomplete action too! She grabbed and kept on grabbing Joseph's clothing!

I will now give you a few Bible instances of "taphas," underlining the words it supports.

Here's the first time it appears in Scripture. "And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." Genesis 4:21

Moses breaking the Tablets of Stone: "And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes." Deuteronomy 9:17

It is twice used here: "And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there." 1st Kings 18:40

"Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them." Isaiah 36:1

Listen to how sinful things had become in Jeremiah's day! "The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit." Jeremiah 2:8

You get the idea I'm sure.

The noun for garment translates "beged" and can mean anything from an outer coat to the whole wardrobe!

Additionally, her words "Lie with me" are framed as a command! An imperative, "shakab," to lay down with someone either to seep or rest or to be involved sexually. It's not difficult to discern the meaning here.

But, thank God, Joseph "left" the scene, running right out of his garment! The verb "left, "in Hebrew "azab," means to depart, to abandon, to forsake, to desert or just to let loose." It also implies incomplete action!

The longer that old gal grabbed ... the more Joseph headed for the door!

Her hands were filled, all right!

With Joseph's clothes!

Empty clothes I might add!

I can think of another time all the devil had remaining was some empty clothes, at Christ's vacant Tomb!

But that's not all!

Joseph fled!

He must have known that some day the Holy Spirit would have Paul write these words: "Flee also youthful lusts." 2nd Timothy 2:22

Or "Flee fornication." 1st Corinthians 6:18

The verb "fled" is "nus" and means to take flight, to escape, to disappear! There's no telling how long and how far Joseph ran before ever looking back!

Then, as if further emphasis were needed, "Got him out" is a powerfully constructed clause with double wording!

"Got out" translates "yatzsah," which means to exit!

But then the nearly redundant word "out" appears! It, "chutzs," means outside in a separate place! It's root verb is "to sever" one from another!

Joseph demonstrated moral purity here in one of the Bible's clearest examples of such holiness!

Victory!

Oh, yes!

Joseph was falsely accused and lies were told about him and his character! But they were lies!

He was removed from his job ... only to get a better one later!

He was imprisoned ... but that resulted in his saving a nation from famine!

He suffered for doing right ... and God blessed Him immeasurably!

And That is the Same God Who is still on the Throne today!

David struck out when his moral test came!

Joseph hit a home run!

Thank God for this example!

When I was in teh first grade, we learned to read by meeting a little boy named Dick, his sister Jane, their dog Spot and cat Puff.

I can remember to this day the lesson we had when we learned to recognize these words: "Run!"

"Run, Dick, run!"

"Run, Jane, run!"

"Run, Spot, run!"

And run, Puff, run!"

"Run, run, run!"

I sure hope I have this word in my memory by now! How to read it and how to practice it when sensual temptations come!

Run, Preacher, run!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

CONCLUSION ... SOME ADDITIONAL "GLEANINGS" FROM OUR TEXT:

I did not use these thoughts in the Lessons we've just studied. However, they may be of help to some preacher or teacher at some future point in time.

I have recorded these notes from various sources as I did research on this Passage of Scripture.

Potiphar's wife's eyes got her into moral trouble. She "cast them" on Joseph, a handsome young man! Remember, Eve also "saw!" As did Lot and Achan and David!

To see God's view of adultery, read Genesis 20 and its account of Abimelech and Sarah. This particular sin could have carried the death sentence! "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife." Adultery is serious in God's View! Then ... this wickedness is somehow particularly directed against the Lord! "And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her." Did you see that? "Sinning against God!" Furthermore, God can help a man overcome such sin! The verb "withheld" translates "chasak" and means to keep back, refrain or hinder!

Genesis 38 records the immorality of Judah! Then Genesis 39 records the purity of Joseph!

Now explain this! "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance." (Psalm 105:17-21) In some marvelous way God was in control of it all, even Joseph's temptation! Jesus also used the Word of the Lord to defeat the enemy! That verb "tried" ("tzsaraph") means to refine or purify like a goldsmith or silversmith burns away the dross from his metals!

Joseph apparently inherited his Mother Rachel's good looks!

Joseph asked his temptress: "How then can I do this wickedness?" Notice that he did not say he would not do it! He said "I cannot do it!"

Adam, in Genesis 3:12, used the weakest of all excuses for his sin: "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." He blamed Eve! Joseph rose far above that! He would let no woman tempt him to sin, nor would he yield to her! Hence, he would never have to blame her either!

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Proverbs 1:10

Joseph was 17 years old just before being sold to the Ishmaelites. And he was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, after his imprisonment. Therefore we can safely conclude that he was a young man when he was tempted. Likely around 25-27 years of age!

He remained pure even away from the presence of his Father Jacob and Grandfather Isaac. His holiness was not a mater of latitude and longitude!

Keep in mind Joseph's earlier dreams about leadership over his brothers, dreams about the stars and the sheaves! Such hope could have placed lofty goals in his mind and heart, goals he was not willing to compromise!

There was no "YES" in the "NO" Joseph uttered!

After great spiritual victories ... may come great trials of faith also! They certainly did in Joseph's case!

To Joseph sin existed in levels of intensity or degrees of depravity! This thing with Potiphar's wife was indeed a "great" wickedness! He asked her: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9

Thank God for Joseph's life!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

BY NOW WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED SOME VITAL STEPS ON "HOW TO CONQUER TEMPTATION." THIS HAS BEEN A BIBLE COURSE ESSENTIALLY TAUGHT BY JOSEPH, THE SON OF JACOB.

 

 

 

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