Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Bible Reading:  Genesis 39: 8 -20

Memory Verse:  1 Thessalonians 5:22  “Reject every kind of evil.”

Devo

Once I saw a beautiful telescope in a store.  I thought it would be so much fun to see the moon up close.  Then I checked the little white tag.  The price was just too high to pay for the fun I would get.

Joseph had been sold as a slave to Potiphar. Potiphar, a captain of the Pharaoh’s guards, soon noticed that Joseph was his best worker. So good, that he put him in charge of his entire household.

Potiphar’s wife also noticed Joseph. She told Joseph she wanted him to be her boyfriend. Joseph knew that it was wrong to be the boyfriend of a married woman. The Bible calls this adultery, so he refused.

He said, “Potiphar has held back nothing from me except you, because you’re his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

She didn’t stop but tried to tempt him day after day. Finally, he just ran away from her.  She grabbed his coat and showed it to Potiphar.  She accused Joseph of trying to commit adultery and Potiphar threw him in jail.

What does Joseph teach us about escaping sin? His first thought wasn’t Potiphar or himself.  He didn’t want to sin against God.  The cost was too high. God was most important to Him.

Sin has other prices too.  Stealing might be tempting, but if you get caught, the store could call your parents.  People don’t trust you. Even if you don’t get caught, you kill part of your soul. And God still sees.

Joseph was humble. He didn’t say, “I’m too strong to be tempted.” He ran away.  Sometimes you need to stand strong where you are.  Sometimes, the best thing to do is run away. Joseph teaches us to get away quickly when we’re in a place that tempts us to fall.

Joseph had a good strategy when it came to sin. He looked at the price and ran for the door.

How about you?

Do you have a sin that keeps reappearing?

How can you use Joseph’s strategy to face temptation?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you know the sins in my heart that are the most difficult.  Help me to stand strong and to know when to run. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.