A Righteous Response to Temptation — Genesis 39:6-12
The Word: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (v.9).
The Breakdown: Day after day Joseph was tempted by the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. She continually commanded him to have sex with her, but Joseph recognized that if he committed such an act then he would disrespect and betray his master (v.8) and sin against God. His greatest reason for not committing sexual sin wasn’t that it would probably get him in trouble by getting caught, but it was that he would be sinning against God. Although he would have wronged others, such as his master, he knew that the ultimate crime is to sin against God, which David also confessed (Psalm 51:4). Joseph resisted temptation by considering the worth of God.
Activate: Joseph considered God to be more valuable and pleasing than a promiscuous affair with Potiphar’s wife, who was extremely seductive and probably very attractive. He knew that it would cause more pain to sin against God than to experience the passing pleasure of sin.
A Thought: Memorize Joseph’s response, for it will give you a proper perspective of the wickedness of sin and provide you with encouragement to flee and run from sin (v.12) during times of temptation. When temptation arises, let your response be the same as Joseph’s!
