Adultery was unthinkable. Despite daily solicitations, he maintained sexual purity and integrity. But the temptation was very real for a young single man in his prime, far from home.
Joseph, we are told in Genesis 39, was blessed with success by the Lord. Although he had been sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, God's hand was upon him and even caused him to be elevated to the head of his master's house. And it was then that his troubles began:
"Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. It came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?" As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her." (Genesis 39:6-10)
Joseph's ethical standard would be viewed today as overly puritanical and outdated. Perhaps it would even be assumed that a virile young man and a lonely housewife in these circumstances would engage in a love affair. But Joseph's integrity is clearly seen in his response: "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?"
There was no rationalizing with Joseph. Rather than thinking of his own desires and considering how the affair could be kept secret, he instead saw it clearly for what it was: a great evil and a sin against God.
Our respect for Joseph's character grows as we read, "As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her." He was daily confronted with sexual enticement and yet refused to yield.
Countless lives and marriages have been damaged and destroyed through yielding to that which Joseph resolutely refused. Few temptations are more pervasive and damaging than the temptation to sexual sin. And no sin is comparable to sexual sin, according to 1 Corinthians 6:
"Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18 )
For that reason, the Apostle Paul reminds us: "do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Thorough familiarity with God's word and standards and unswerving love and devotion to Him will build within us the same conviction as Joseph when we are faced with sexual or any other sin temptation. As the Psalmist says,
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:9,11)
May we live lives of purity and integrity as we get into God's word and allow it to truly get into our lives.
Steve
Joseph, we are told in Genesis 39, was blessed with success by the Lord. Although he had been sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, God's hand was upon him and even caused him to be elevated to the head of his master's house. And it was then that his troubles began:
"Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. It came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. "There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?" As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her." (Genesis 39:6-10)
Joseph's ethical standard would be viewed today as overly puritanical and outdated. Perhaps it would even be assumed that a virile young man and a lonely housewife in these circumstances would engage in a love affair. But Joseph's integrity is clearly seen in his response: "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?"
There was no rationalizing with Joseph. Rather than thinking of his own desires and considering how the affair could be kept secret, he instead saw it clearly for what it was: a great evil and a sin against God.
Our respect for Joseph's character grows as we read, "As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her." He was daily confronted with sexual enticement and yet refused to yield.
Countless lives and marriages have been damaged and destroyed through yielding to that which Joseph resolutely refused. Few temptations are more pervasive and damaging than the temptation to sexual sin. And no sin is comparable to sexual sin, according to 1 Corinthians 6:
"Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18 )
For that reason, the Apostle Paul reminds us: "do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Thorough familiarity with God's word and standards and unswerving love and devotion to Him will build within us the same conviction as Joseph when we are faced with sexual or any other sin temptation. As the Psalmist says,
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:9,11)
May we live lives of purity and integrity as we get into God's word and allow it to truly get into our lives.
Steve
posted by steve @ 10:27 AM
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