When I first studied Genesis 39 and the story of Joseph and Potophar’s wife, I thought initially that I would “tone down” the sexual content of this chapter. The story provided in this passage details Joseph’s vivid encounter with a seductive woman, and his victory as he literally runs out of her arms. I thought that perhaps I would preach on “victory over temptation” and generalize the principles found in this chapter that provided victory for Joseph, compared to the failure of Judah in the previous chapter. But generalizing this chapter is not the right thing to do.
God has given us a text that deals directly, openly and vividly with the one temptation that has destroyed more lives than any other. We are tempted to “down play” the reality of sexual temptation because of sensitivity to our audience. Frankly, it is very difficult to address the subject. As a pastor, I worry about crossing the line of appropriate discussion. All the while, there are men and women in every congregation facing daily sexual temptation. Some are healing from the wounds caused by a husband or wife’s sexual sin. Others are trapped in a loveless marriage due to the sexual misbehavior of a spouse. Still other in large number are tempted by pornography and its easy availability through the internet.
When sexual sin tempts us, we do not see the dangerous consequences that come with it. Solomon warns his son that giving in to the seducer will cost him his life. "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. " "All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose " "till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life." Proverbs 7:21–23
We can LEARN from the life of JOSEPH, whose story is in direct contradiction to JUDAH.
Genesis 38 describes JUDAH’S FAILURE when was seduced by his disguised daughter-in-lar, Tamar.
Genesis 39 give the story of JOSEPH’S INTEGRITY when he was seduced by his bosses wife.
This sermon will examine the following:
JOSEPH’S CIRCUMSTANCES - FIVE SEDUCTIONS THAT RUIN LIVES, and
JOSEPH’S VICTORY - SIX SAFEGUARDS THAT SAVE LIVES
Let’s examine the circumstances of Joseph’s encounter with Potophar’s wife. His experience represents for us five common sources of temptation that make us prime for sin. The awesome thing is that Joseph faced all of these common temptations and walked away with victory! If we want to have victory, we should study Joseph’s strategy and make every effort to respond to temptation in the same way that he did.
I. JOSEPH’S CIRCUMSTANCES - FIVE SEDUCTIONS THAT RUIN LIVES
1. The Seduction of SUCCESS
The seduction from Potophar’s wife came at a time when Joseph’s life had turned from tragedy to success. After being hated by his brothers, he is not top dog in a large and important household. Success is often the ruin of an individual. We can easily let down our guard and believe that our success entitles us to enjoy certain privileges that were formerly forbidden. I call this The Seduction of SUCCESS.
Cindy Adam’s is attributed with saying, “Success has made failures of many men.” (www.quotegarden.com)
The book of Proverbs draws this truth out in the following passages:
Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 18:12 "Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor."
Proverbs 29:23 "A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor."
In the story of JOSEPH, Joseph quickly rises to power. He is put in charge of Potiphar’s household. Potophar is blessed on account of Joseph. The details are explained in Genesis 39:2–6. Notice the words, “blessing” and “success” in this passage. "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,"
Theme of SUCCESS continues in Genesis 39:23 "The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."
Although Joseph was successful, he did not allow that success to go to his head. He recognized his obedience to God could not be compromised.
2. The Seduction of OPPORTUNITY.
Joseph had control of EVERYTHING. Genesis 39:4 "Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned."
He had total FREEDOM. Genesis 39:6 "So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,"
He had every opportunity to take advantage of the seduction of Potophar’s wife. Someone wisely said, “Your character is defined by what you would do if you knew that no one would every find out”
Joseph had CLOUT. He possessed Good looks and a great physique! Genesis 39:6 reminds us that “Joseph was well-built and handsome,"
He could have anything his flesh desired, and he had the opportunity to make it happen. A weaker man would have given in when the opportunity arose, but Joseph was a man under God’s control and the opportunity to sin did not create an instant affirmation to engage in sin, just because he could.
3. The Seduction of INVITATION.
It’s not as if Joseph simply had the opportunity. He was hotly pursued by a seductive woman! Genesis 39:7 "and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”"
Note that it says, “after a while.” Potophar’s wife was long in plotting how she might have Joseph. Seduction does not come “all at once.” It takes time to break down our defenses. Weaker men would say, “I couldn’t help it.” Joseph did not give in just because a tempting woman provided an invitation. There was no rationalizing in Joseph’s mind. His behavior was guided by something much deeper than the availability of an aggressive woman.
4. The Seduction of FATIGUE.
Genesis 39:10 "And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."
This woman did not give up! It wasn’t enough that Joseph had to have victory once. He faced the lure of temptation day after day!
Satan will not leave you alone after one victory! Even if you have been victorious once, you must be prepared to continue to fight a battle for your heart and mind.
5. The Seduction of ISOLATION.
If there is one deception that weakens many at this point, it is the deception that “no one will know.” This is a particular problem in the temptation for pornography. Here in Potophar’s house, the seductive wife finds Joseph alone. He might have been tempted to think , “no one will ever know.” But Joseph was a stronger man than that. He was guided by principle, not opportunity. Genesis 39:11–12 "One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. " "She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house."
Joseph’s victory reminds us that all of us need accountability. We should not think that we will be strong enough to overcome every temptation. We need to know that someone else cares about our obedience and that we will give an answer regarding our behavior.
Now you may ask, “How was Joseph able to withstand these five dangerous circumstances?” What allowed him to be victorious when the previous chapter describes his older brother’s failure in a similar temptation?
In order to be like Joseph, we must learn from his victory.
II. JOSEPH’S VICTORY - SIX SAFEGUARDS THAT SAVE LIVES
Billy Graham said,
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost.
When health is lost, something is lost.
When character is lost, everything is lost.
(Life Wisdom from Billy Graham
Page 142)
JOSEPH’s reply to Potiphar’s wife reveals the first three of these six important safeguards:
Genesis 39:8–10 "But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."
SAFEGUARD 1. CONTENTMENT.
Joseph was CONTENT with God’s provision for him.
Joseph Accepted His Accountability Potiphar. “My master does not concern himself with anything in the house.” (39:8)
He knew that he had no right to Potiphar’s wife. This recognition spared him from the idea that he could violate the sanctity of the marriage between Potiphar and his wife.
SAFEGUARD 2. HONOR.
Joseph HONORED Potophar and Potiphar’s Wife. “My master has withheld nothing from me except you...” (39:9)
Joseph did not OBJECTIFY people or sex
Potophar’s wife was not an object to fulfill his desires
He had more honor for her than she did for herself!
SAFEGUARD 3. WORSHIP.
Above all, Joseph honored GOD!
He says, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (39:9)
Joseph recognized in advance what David only recognized AFTER he had sinned. Psalm 51:4 "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
SAFEGUARD 4. VIGILANCE.
Joseph Ran from Temptation!
Genesis 39:10 "And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."
Genesis 39:12 "She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house."
Joseph’s reaction to temptation is one of the best examples in the Bible of the principle taught in the New Testament:
1 Corinthians 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."
2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
From “Every Man’s Battle; ‘Winning the war on Sexual Temptation…’ The authors make the following observation…” Sexual impurity has become rampant in the church because we’ve ignored the costly work of obedience to God’s standards as individuals, asking too often, “How far can I go and still be called a Christian?” We’ve crafted an image and may even seem sexually pure while permitting our eyes to play freely when no one is around, avoiding the hard work of being sexually pure”
SAFEGUARD 5. DILIGENCE.
Joseph gave NO OPPORTUNITY for the flesh.
Genesis 39:10 "And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."
Like Job, Joseph was a man of integrity who committed that he would obey God instead of following the desires of his flesh. Job 31:1 "“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl."
SAFEGUARD 6. DISCERNMENT. Joseph was wise to the advances of a seducer.
Notice the description of the seductive woman given in Proverbs 7:6–27 "At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. " "So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death."
In this passage, the temptation comes from a prostitute. But the dynamic of the temptation applies to ANY form of sexual temptation.
The SEDUCER can be...
A woman
A man
An image
A lustful desire
The RESULT in Joseph’s life was not what we might expect! Rather than being promoted, he is once again cast off, this time ending up in prison! But God was still at work in Joesph’s life, preparing the way to save his father and brothers. By bringing the family down to Egypt, God allowed the nation of Israel to begin in the incubator of safety found in Egypt. Safe from annihilation by the Canaanites, Amorites and Philistines, Israel would grow into a large population that would ultimately be delivered back to the land that God promised. All of this would have been forfeited had Joseph responded to temptation in the same way that his brother Judah responded.
Notice that the text declares four times, “The Lord was with Joseph...”
Genesis 39:2 "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master."
Genesis 39:3 "When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,"
Genesis 39:21 "the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden."
Genesis 39:23 "The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."
Are you JOSEPH or JACOB?
Don’t fool yourself.
Don’t go it alone.
Don’t hide your sin.
Job 31:1 "“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl."
James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Seek God’s forgiveness from sexual sin.
Seek accountability if you are weak.
Commit your life to God and worship Him.
He give you something far better than the temporary pleasures of sexual immorality.
He will satisfy your life through a godly husband or wife.
He will meet your every need and provide you with joy.
