TEMPTATION (GEN. 39)
A man was riding in a taxi and after going several miles he realized that his wallet was missing.
He didn’t have any money with him.
This
man said to the taxi driver, “Stop. I’ve
lost a $500 dollar bill in the laundry matt on
“I can’t go back there because of an appt. but I can call my wife & ask her to go look for the money.”
“Would you please wait for me while I call her?”
The taxi driver stopped and the man got out of the cab.
He told the driver, “I’ll be right back. Wait for me.”
As soon as the cab driver got rid of his passenger he sped off.
He
raced towards the laundry matt on
I suspect you have a pretty good idea where that cab driver was going.
THE
TAXI DRIVER WAS TEMPTED BY GREED AND HE GAVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION. THE MAN WITHOUT HIS WALLET WAS ALSO
TEMPTED. HE WAS TEMPTED TO LIE TO AND
STEAL FROM THE TAXI DRIVER AND HE GAVE IN TO BOTH OF THESE TEMPTATIONS.
a) In the Bible we read about a young man who was tempted. This young man was Joseph.
b) According to the text Joseph was a man who was physically attractive.
c) We are also told that Potiphar’s wife was interested him.
d) Potiphar’s wife tempted him to commit fornication with her (39:7).
e) Most of us know this part of the story but there is an additional detail in Gen. 39:10.
f) How often did Potiphar’s wife tempt Joseph? The text says, day by day.
g) There are some similarities as well as some differences between Joseph and the men in the taxi.
h) Let’s start with the similarities.
i) The people I have described were all exposed to a strong temptation.
j) The level of susceptibility was high.
k) Think of the man in the taxi.
i) The passenger didn’t have any money with him.
ii) I called a local taxi company and inquired about this type of situation.
iii) I asked a representative from Ace cab, “What happens when someone cannot pay for the ride?”
iv) The lady I spoke with said, “One of two things occurs.”
v) The person can give us collateral and then pay in a couple of days or we call the police.”
vi) The man in the taxi saw that he had a problem, he was tempted to lie, and he did.
vii) He was tempted to deceive the taxi driver and he did.
l) What about Joseph?
m) Is it not true that this young man was also very susceptible to temptation?
i) He was a young man (17 years old, Gen. 37:2) who was far away from home.
ii) In the minds of young people there can be this lingering thought: “no one is watching me.
iii) Mom and dad are far away. There is no one around here who knows me.
iv) “If I do that no one will know.”
v) This can increase the temptation to engage in wrongdoing.
vi) The temptation faced by Joseph was intensified by some other things.
vii) Think of his age. He was 17.
viii) A woman was physically attracted to him and said, “Come with me.”
ix) Any red blooded 17 year old male with hormones raging is thinking about the opposite sex.
x) Potiphar’s wife may have been older but I am not persuaded that she was ugly.
xi) Men who are powerful and influential frequently marry physically attractive women.
xii) The temptation of Joseph was increased by something else.
xiii) Joseph was in Egypt. The Egyptians were governed by a different system of morality.
xiv) The Biblical standard of morality was definitely not the standard that was used.
xv) Do we remember Ex. 1?
xvi) If male children were born to the Hebrew women they were to be killed.
xvii) These babies were not being aborted while in the womb.
(a) After the children were born the babies were destroyed.
(b) The standard of morality in Egypt was not the one given by God.
(c) Thus, would the Egyptians have objected to a housewife sleeping with the slaves?
(d) I know of no evidence which says that this was rare or frowned upon.
(e) Potiphar’s wife may have actually been surprised at Joseph’s refusal.
(f) Others in the household may have already done this or viewed this as acceptable.
2) WHEN WE LOOK AT JOSEPH WE FIND THAT THE TEMPTATION HE FACED (DAY BY DAY) WAS VERY STRONG BUT HE DIDN’T GIVE IN. HE SAID NO.
a) What caused this young man to withstand the temptations that were put to him?
i) The answer is found in Gen. 39:8-9.
ii) Joseph “refused” this woman’s request (8a) for three reasons:
iii) First, what this woman wanted was a wicked act (9b).
iv) What this woman wanted was a “sin against God (9c).
v) In verses 8-9a we learn that the act would have been a sin against Potiphar.
vi) Joseph essentially said, “I have been given a trust.
vii) “What my master has is in my hands. I am responsible for everything but you.”
viii) “How can I violate that trust?”
ix) Potiphar’s wife didn’t care about Joseph’s God, the young man’s trust, or anything else.
x) An old commentary on Genesis (by Leupold) calls Potiphar’s wife a shameless hussy.
xi) I like that description.
xii)
Joseph listed reasons why he would not do what this
woman suggested but notice her
response.
xiii) Verse 10.
xiv) It was after Joseph gave his reasons that we learn he was approached day by day.
3) We will probably not be in a situation that is exactly parallel to Gen. 39.
4) However, there will be times when we are tempted day after day to sin.
5) The temptation that is put before us may be strong.
a) Most of us have heard the recent news stories about the spy case.
b) Robert Hanssen has been charged with spying for the Russians.
c) This man was tempted, more than once, and he succumbed.
d) In the world and in the church we find those who give in to temptations.
e) Some temptations come with a very heavy price.
f) In the case of Mr. Hanssen there is the possibility that he could be executed.
g) In the spiritual realm the Bible uses expressions like eternal death and everlasting punishment.
h) When we study about Joseph we learn some things about temptation.
i) One of the things to learn is how temptations can be avoided.
ii) When we look at people in the world we see varying degrees of willpower.
iii) Some might suggest that Joseph resisted Potiphar’s wife because he had strong willpower.
iv) A person with a weak will might say, “I cannot be like Joseph. My will is weak.”
v) “I am someone who easily gives in to things.”
vi) There are people with weak wills. There are people who give in when they shouldn’t.
vii) Look at the battered spouses who stay in abusive relationships.
viii) Many of them do not have the willpower to leave.
ix) I want to propose that Joseph’s willpower was irrelevant to his resistance.
x) There is a force in this world that surpasses human willpower.
xi) This force is described in Gal. 2:20.
xii) Paul decided to follow Jesus Christ. He turned his life over to God.
xiii) He surrendered himself to do the bidding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
xiv)
This submission to God (which is sometimes described by
the word slave) overrides our
wants.
xv) Suppose that a female slave wants to get married and have a baby.
xvi) This young lady really wants a husband and a child.
xvii) Her master says, absolutely not. Under no circumstances will get married or have a child.
xviii) What will the slave do? Though her will may be incredibly strong it will be set aside.
xix) The will of her owner will be fulfilled.
xx) This is what happened in the life of Paul.
xxi) This is what happened in the life of Joseph.
xxii) Remember what Joseph said? How can I sin against God?
xxiii) There is an old story about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.
xxiv) After Joseph made this statement it is said that Potiphar’s wife lifted up her skirt.
xxv) The lifted skirt was used to cover an idol and this woman said, “God doesn’t see us.”
xxvi)
Joseph said (as the tale goes), “The God of heaven is
still watching. How can I sin against
Him?”
xxvii) When someone is addicted to something or they are struggling with temptation,
xxviii) Saying that more willpower is needed may or may not work.
6) A Bible solution is to teach that Christians surrender their lives to God.
7) Christians need to view themselves as slaves to God.
8) As slaves we may want things that are inconsistent with God’s will.
9) If and when these times come there is no need to think twice about what we will do.
10) It seems pretty clear that Joseph didn’t need to sit down and ask, “Should I accept her offer?”
11) He was a servant of God, he knew God’s will about this matter, and that closed the case.
12) This principle will help us hundreds of time in life if we will apply it.
13) IF WE USE THE TECHNIQUE USED BY JOSEPH WE WILL BE BLESSED.
a) Potiphar’s wife was angry when she was spurned.
b) She turned on the young man who rejected her and alleged he had attacked her.
c) Sometimes when we turn down a temptation we too may be condemned.
d) If we do not do what others do we may be mocked, chastised, or ill treated.
e) The Bible shows that God smiles upon those who resist and He blesses those who are faithful to Him.
f) Joseph finally got some relief from the woman who hounded him.
g) He went to prison, but this did get him away from a bad situation.
h) While in prison God insured that Joseph received special treatment – 39:21-23.
i) I have met many who have told me how they were tempted, gave in, and then suffered.
j) I cannot recall a single instance of someone who said, “I was tempted, didn’t give in, & regret it.”
k) No one has ever told me, “I was tempted to drink and drive but didn’t. I regret that.
l) I really missed out on something.”
m) Neither have I heard, “I have been faithful to my mate for all my marriage & that disappoints me.”
n) “I failed to use illegal drugs and damage my body. My life is incomplete.” I haven’t heard that either.
o) God blesses those who withstand temptation.
p) Listen to Jas. 1:12.
q) Each one here can become a Christian and withstand the temptations of life.
r) This is possible when we surrender ourselves to God.
s) The Lord is a wonderful master; have we and are we submitting to Him?