Page 10 - Living Light 90

Wednesday September 3 - Temptation strikes
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s
wife took notice and said, “Come to bed with me!” Genesis 39:6-7
Joseph has been doing well despite his unwanted change in circumstances, but now a new complication emerges. Potiphar’s wife takes a shine to Joseph, deciding it’s within her rights to amuse herself by using him. This was a real test for Joseph, because besides any physical temptation there may have been for him, the temptation to curry favour with the mistress of the household would surely have been great. If Joseph became her favourite and had her protection, his power and status within Potiphar’s home could grow even greater. Conversely, if he upset her by saying no, she could make trouble for him, and he could lose what power and status he did have. Giving in to this temptation would have seemed like the easy choice for Joseph. Yes, he would have been betraying his master, but as a slave he could say he had no choice but to do whatever was required of him and claim his innocence.
Temptation often works this way. We’ll be doing well with the tasks assigned to us, and then one day a new issue confronts us, tempting us away from our right path into things we know are wrong. But because it either looks like a shortcut to where we want to go or we fear trouble if we say no, it’s easy to give in, hoping we can pass the blame if caught.
Lord God, help me to see temptation for what it is – a path leading away from you. Amen.
Thursday September 4 - Temptation loses But he refused. Genesis 39:8
When Potiphar’s wife propositioned Joseph, she was probably expecting his eager acquiescence. What she was met with, however, was a reasoned, faith-filled explanation for why he couldn’t and wouldn’t do what she asked. His master trusted him to do what was right and if he betrayed that trust, he would be doing a wicked thing and sinning against God.
Joseph’s resolve was further put to the test as Potiphar’s wife wasn’t satisfied with that and instead ‘spoke to Joseph day after day’ about it until one day she caught him on his own and took hold of him by his cloak. Now she wasn’t just using words but was actually tugging at him to follow her into what he had so far refused to do. This time Joseph didn’t just say “No” though, but, leaving his cloak behind in her hand, he ran away.
Joseph was determined to honour God through his words and actions, whatever the consequences. Rather than be put into a compromising position, he escaped. Even with all he’d been through, Joseph still gave God’s ways and God’s opinion of him the most important place in his life. Joseph is a great example to us because he stayed faithful to God despite all the temptation to turn aside into sin. We know that for Joseph, worse was yet to come, but we also know that so much good was to come later.
Father God, no matter how great the temptation, help me to always put you first. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
8
PRAYER FOR TODAY