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Bible Studies
By Adam Bartlett
Resisting Temptation
Genesis 39
1: And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2: And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3: And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4: And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5: 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.
6: And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Joseph's favor with the Egyptians and the resulting blessing upon all he did and his master's household were because of God's hand. God honored Joseph's faithfulness and obedience even in slavery. Joseph could have sung the blues and given up but he did not lose sight of the promise God made to him. How many times would we today look at it with the same outlook if we were put through what Joseph was and knowing what God had told us? We would be finding a way to force it to happen or we would just give up and believe that we never really understood that vision to be for us.
7: And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8: 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;
9: 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?
10: 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.
11: 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.
12: 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.
Even with God's favor and blessings it does not stop the attacks of the enemy to cause you grief and to give up. In fact if you are doing God's work you can count on the enemy to bring about much resistance. The enemy will not sit back and leave you alone just because you are getting blessings at the time. In fact he cannot stand to see you in God's favor so he will work even harder to cause you to fall. The key is to recognize as Joseph does in vs.9 that if you do give into the enemy it is sinning against God.
David understood this concept, read Psalm 51. It is so important for Christians to understand the enemy's tactics as Joseph did.
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.
If the enemy cannot get you to give into his devices he will try to cerate false witness against you. Just as the Jewish leaders did with Jesus, so it was with Joseph and so it will be with you if you are walking with the Lord. In fact Timothy says "all those that live godly will suffer persecution." I have always said that this is the one gauge you can use to measure your spiritual walk. If the enemy is not bothering you then you must not be bothering him.
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.
God will make a way and will turn even bad situations around for good and to accomplish an even greater purpose if we are faithful. Even when we see absolutely no way for any good to come out of a situation if we remain faithful to what we know God is calling us to do, it will happen. In His time.
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