Genesis 39:9  “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?”

The story of Joseph has such amazing twists and turns.  He’s a young man of 17 loved by his father Jacob, who gave him a richly ornamented robe as a sign of his love.  This provoked hatred in his brothers because they saw that Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved them.  Then Joseph received the two dreams in which it appeared that his family was bowing before him.  This made his brothers hate him even more.

Shortly thereafter, the brothers sold him into slavery, instead of killing him.  Once in Egypt he was purchased by Potiphar, captain of the guard for Pharaoh.  God proceeded to bless Joseph in everything he did and Potiphar recognized it.  So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and everything he owned.  Everything Joseph did was being blessed.

Into this success came serious temptation in the form Potiphar’s wife, who was attracted to this handsome young man.  Day after day, she repeatedly tried to get Joseph to sleep with her.  Joseph recognized the temptation for what it was and is – a wicked thing; a betrayal of Potiphar’s trust; and a sin against God.  When she finally grabbed his cloak to get him to come to bed with her, he fled and ran out of the house.  He refused to yield to sin.

What an example for us!  In Christ, we have the opportunity to be a blessing to all around us.  But in the midst of it, temptations will come.  Pray that we have the eyes to see them, as Joseph did – and also the firm resolve to resist them, no matter what.  Sin is sin.  The enemy of our souls wants us to sin against God – who allows the temptations to come.  God wants to see us stand firm against them – and flee if need be, in order to affirm who we are in Him – to demonstrate the quality of His workmanship in us.