Genesis 39:7-23
A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, “I can sleep when the wind blows.” This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm.
They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly. The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well. The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man’s words, “I can sleep when the wind blows.” Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So, when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.
The story about the young farmhand illustrates a principle that we would do well to learn. There was nothing dramatic or sensational in the young farmhand’s preparations. He just faithfully did what was needed each day. Consequently, peace was his, even in a storm. A short poem expresses this principle as it pertains to your life.
It isn’t the things you do,
It’s the things you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache,
At the setting of the sun.
When the sun sat each day on Joseph’s life, he could rest easy because he had been faithful. When he was home with his father Jacob, he had been a faithful son. When he minded his Father’s flocks, he had been a faithful worker. When he was sold to Potiphar, he proved to be a faithful servant. Because he had been faithful, the Lord blessed everything he did.
In this passage, we are allowed to see the faithfulness of Joseph very clearly. He remains faithful to His God and himself in the face of some problems that would cause many others to fail.
Of course, there is a word here for our lives today. As we pass through this life, many situations will arise that have the potential to throw us off course. The world, the flesh, and the devil will all conspire to get us to quit on God. They will do everything in their power to cause us to drop out or to fall far short of our potential.
God wants us to be faithful. He wants us to stay the course and run the race for His glory until He calls us home. Joseph teaches us how to be faithful despite what we may face in this life. I want to preach on The Power Of A Faithful Life and show you the areas in which Joseph was faithful to the Lord. He expects no less from you and me! Let us not disappoint Him.
I. v. 7-12 FAITHFUL DESPITE TEMPTATIONS
A. Ill. The Context – Joseph was a good-looking young man, v. 6. Not that I would know, but beauty must bring with it its own set of problems.
As Joseph ministered in Potiphar’s house, he caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife. She began to flirt with him, v. 7. After a short time, she became downright brazen in her approach, asking Joseph to “lie.” with her. He refused her advances, but she persisted, v. 10. Then, on a certain day, she was in the house alone, and when Joseph came in. She grabbed him by his outer garments and said, “Lie with me,” v. 11-12. Joseph left his garment in her hand and ran away. In this “trial by fire,” he remained absolutely faithful to the Lord.
B. There are several features of this temptation that would have made it very attractive to any young man.
· It was a temptation to fulfill a natural and legitimate need – The offer from Potiphar’s wife was for sex, pure and simple. God made us sexual creatures and many people believe they have the right to satisfy their sexual desires in any fashion they choose.
God has a different opinion. Any sexual expression that takes place outside the boundaries of the marriage relationship is either fornication or adultery. Either one is a sin against God, your spouse, your future spouse, or yourself, Ill. V. 9; 1 Cor. 6:18-20. Joseph’s response to Potiphar’s wife was a response we should all adopt when dealing with sexual sin, v. 12; 2 Tim. 2:22.
· Joseph was a long way from home in a strange land – Some people might have adopted the motto: “When in Rome, do as the Romans.” Many people live like that. A salesperson will do things on the road that he will not do at home. A young person will do things at a party they will not do at home. Joseph did not care where he was; he was determined to do the right thing.
He refused to violate the trust of his master, v. 9, and of his God, v. 9. His family would have never known. Potiphar might have never known, but Joseph knew that God in Heaven would know. And, that knowledge was enough to keep him pure. Ill. Pro. 15:3; Heb. 4:13.
· Mrs. Potiphar was surely a beautiful woman – Egyptian women were renowned in that day for their physical beauty. Undoubtedly, she would have appealed to the male in Joseph. Nowhere in this text does it say that her appearance repulsed him. Nowhere does it suggest that she was an unattractive woman. Had he given in to her advances, there can be little doubt that it would have been an enjoyable experience.
However, Joseph was interested in more than simply gratifying his flesh. He was determined to be faithful to God regardless of the personal cost. It was a decision he made long before he arrived in Egypt, and it was a decision he was determined to stand by.
Joseph had some conviction, and he had drawn himself some boundaries. Then, when temptation comes our way, there is no choice in the matter; we have already decided what we will do! We need to do the same thing.
· It came on the heels of a big promotion – Many people would assume that they had arrived. After all, Joseph had the Midas touch. He had the favor of Potiphar. He was the king of the roost at the big house. He did as he pleased. Some people might have concluded, “I can do no wrong. I might as well enjoy the fruits of my labors.” But, not Joseph!
It would do us well to remember that we are never more vulnerable to temptation than when we have just enjoyed a great victory. When we have been part of a great victory, we seem to feel like we can do anything. In those moments, temptation and failure are more real than ever, 1 Cor. 10:12.
· It came at the perfect time and opportunity – Potiphar’s wife caught Joseph when there was no physical reason why they should not and could not commit adultery. The only thing that stopped them was Joseph’s integrity. He stood his ground, determined to do what was right regardless of the cost.
We need to remember that our enemy is a master of setting things up. He will put us in just the right places at just the right times. He will make sin look so innocent and easy. He will make it seem that we are fools to refuse him. I would remind you that “all Satan’s apples have worms.” I would also remind you that the opportunities he gives you to sin will lead to disappointment, disillusionment, discouragement, and possibly death, Pro. 13:15.
C. Let me make a statement or two about this matter of temptation.
1. Temptation is never from God – James 1:13
2. Temptation is always from within – James 1:14-15
3. There is always a way out of Temptation – 1 Cor. 10:13 (How?)
a. Deal with it Immediately – Nip it in the bud!
b. Deal with it Realistically – Get away from it at all costs.
c. Deal with it Ruthlessly – Do whatever it takes to avoid it.
d. Deal with it Consistently – Learn to be consistent in your resistance.
e. Deal with it Confidently – We have the Lord’s great promise in 1 Cor. 10:13. God will make a way of escape; be sure you look for it! (Ill. The word “escape” means “egress, or way out.” It was used in ancient Greece to refer to a landing place for a ship. God will give us a way out of the rough sea of temptation. Those temptations that we cannot escape He will enable us to “bear.” them. God’s promise to us is that while temptations will come our way, He will enable us to land safely on the other side.)
D. The Joseph was able to remain faithful in the day of salvation because he saw sin for what it really was. He did not see it as a few moments of pleasure. He did not see it as his right. He did not see it as even an option. Joseph saw sin as an affront to the Almighty God, v. 9.
If you want to navigate the troubled waters of temptation successfully, then learn to see sin for what it really is. It is not a mistake; it is wickedness. It is not an affair; it is adultery. It is not an alternate lifestyle; it is an abomination. It is not a slip of the tongue; it is blasphemy. It is not abortion; it is murder! Sin is a shame in any life; that is especially true when it is in the life of a Christian!
Joseph was faithful despite temptations. I do not know about you, but I want to finish well! I want to be able to say what Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” 2 Tim. 4:7.
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