July 10, 2023

Genesis 39: 6-12 . . . his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. . . . And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. . . . But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. (NIV)

Many of the things that go wrong surprise us by turning out all right.*

Joseph was a handsome young foreigner, in charge of the household of an Egyptian official named Potiphar. When Potiphar’s wife noticed him and tried to entice him into her bed, Joseph demonstrated his loyalty to his master and to God by: 

• Refusing. Twice he refused her advances (verses eight and ten). 
• Resisting. After telling her firmly that he couldn’t – wouldn’t – betray his master, he proceeded to avoid her. Until he couldn’t. 
• Running. It was impossible to avoid her forever, and so he fled. 

Someone has called this a "good formula for handling attempted seduction.”* It is a formula that we might apply when we are faced with any temptation. We don’t know if Joseph was actually tempted by Mrs. Potiphar’s coaxing, but he demonstrated an astute determination to avoid even the appearance of sinful behavior. 

We also learn that doing the right thing is not always properly rewarded. Joseph was fired because Potiphar chose to believe his wife’s false accusations. But the bad things that happen to us can also be a part of God’s plan, and Joseph shows us the godly perspective to adopt in those instances when he later says to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but Got intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.” 

Refuse. Resist. Run. No matter the consequences. And let God use you to accomplish his purposes.

He delights to weave the adversity of our experience into his beautiful plan for our lives.*