I could write many articles covering the life of Joseph, but this week included Genesis 39 which is a snapshot of Joseph that is revealing. As a reminder, Joseph had some dreams that he shared with his brothers and it created jealousy (on top of his father’s doting that already sparked jealousy). They conspired against him, sold him into slavery, and told their father that he was dead. Now, we find him in service to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. We see in verse 2 that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success. This was recognized and he rose to a position of prominence in Potiphar’s house so that the only part of the household not under his care and authority was Potiphar’s wife. Not only did Joseph prosper, but so did his master since Joseph was laboring for his benefit.
Verse 6 fills in a little more of the story. Joseph was handsome and he caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife. She was not a faithful wife. She is exposed as being lustful (with the intent of being adulterous) and a liar. As she begins to pursue Joseph, he is faced with a fork in the road kind of decision. He could lie with her and enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin, or he could refuse, keeping his morality and being faithful to God. You’ve read the story, so you know the answer. But what I would like us all to realize is that we face that same decision many, many times in our lives. It may not be as life altering as it was for Joseph but we still face it in one way or another. We all face temptations, perhaps day in and day out like Joseph. Holding one’s resolve under relentless assault can be exhausting.
I don’t know how long this went on, but on the first occasion, Joseph stated, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (verse 9). He cared for his master and his responsibility to him, but he cared even more about his responsibility to God. And so, day after day, he refused her proposition. That is, until one day, it was intense enough that Joseph RUNS from the house and leaves a garment behind and she uses that against him. If he was not going to do what she wanted, she was going to get rid of him. Making the righteous choice was costly. Again, we can relate. Sometimes there is a cost to making righteous choices today, too. We must be willing to endure even at great personal cost!
You have probably read the story of Joseph multiple times and how all of this ends up. God was with Joseph. Joseph was faithful to God. And so God accomplished much through Joseph and sets the stage for some important future events (of which Joseph had some knowledge, Hebrews 11:22).
What kind of challenges to your faith have you faced? Have they come with heavy costs? Do not lose hope. Be faithful unto the end and receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).