The Lord is With You (2)
A Sermon Series on the Life of
Joseph
Gen 39:7-23
In his
book “The Problem of Pain,” C.S. Lewis says, “God whispers in our pleasures,
speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”
We have
two choices, either we become bitter and
unproductive or we can use
difficulties to grow up, find hope and trust God.
As we did
in the Armenian sermon, we will be following the outline below:
A- God
blesses Joseph in Potiphar’s house (1-6) (in the
Armenian Sermon)
B- Potiphar’s
wife seduces Joseph (7-10)
C- Potiphar’s
wife grabs Joseph’s coat (11-12)
B- Photiphar’s
wife accuses Joseph (13-20)
A- God
blesses Joseph in prison (21-23)
We move
to the next stage:
B- Potiphar’s wife seduces Joseph (7-10)
It is interesting how roles are changed. This time Potiphar’s wife is taking the initiative to start an
affair.
Anyone who thinks he will not be tempted, is wrong.
We are all going to be tempted.
We read in 1Cor 10:12-13 “12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you
don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common
to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you
can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it.”
Here are
the two important points from this verse:
a-
Everyone
will be tempted
b-
God
will protect you so that your temptation has a limit. You can overcome
temptation, and this is good news.
-Jesus was tempted by Satan. Satan is
clever. He tempted Jesus in the desert. Satan knows the timing. Jesus overcame
the temptation by quoting from scripture.
WARNING! “When the devil had finished all
this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke (4:13)
This
means that temptation will visit us often, externally or internally.
In the
same way for Joseph, the seduction of the woman did not stop. It went on.
-In verse
8-9, how did Joseph handle temptation?
Notice!
Joseph did not entertain the temptation.
He immediately resisted it by explaining to the woman that he wanted to be
loyal to his master. His master gave him all authority to govern his household,
not his wife. So, Joseph not only defended his case, but also condemned her
wrong action. She was violating a trust given to him.
“And though she spoke to Joseph day
after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.” (10)
What a
tragedy that Joseph’s words did not make any impact on the woman; she kept
insisting and expressing her desire.
As I said
before, Satan left Jesus for a while only to tempt him again later.
This
woman was insisting. The temptation was there every day.
I lately read
an article which stated that affairs which destroy marriages mostly begin at
work. Joseph was tempted at his workplace.
Unfortunately, many relationships start as emotional affairs as people look for
someone to talk to at work. Then these develop into physical affairs, which
destroy marriages and families, and eventually people’s lives.
I know a
friend who whenever goes on a business trip, takes along his wife’s picture. He
puts her picture next to his bed wherever he sleeps. It is an interesting way
to resist temptation.
According
to this verse, Joseph did two things:
-He
refused to have an affair
-He did
not stay where she was; he fled from her.
C- Potiphar’s wife grabs Joseph’s coat (11-12)
B- Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph (13-20)
Finally Potiphar’s wife found a way to put Joseph in a big problem.
Please notice that this woman was insisting on this
temptation. She was focusing only on this thing. And let me tell you something,
when you focus only on one thing, you will lose your perspective.
She did not care; she was ready to do anything to satisfy her desire.
Looking at and gazing on one thing is not healthy.
-Eve was gazing only on the forbidden fruit.
“When the woman saw
that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye…” (Gen
3:6)
-David lost his perspective when he saw
Beersheba bathing.
Flee from
temptation. Joseph did.
1 Cor
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.”
When I go
to Costco, I walk quickly away from the section of flat TV’s.
We cannot
get away with the sin that is not confessed or dealt with. We think if we are not
caught, everything will be smooth; no one will know.
This is
very childish. Children think that way. Let us not put our heads in the sand. (Bedouin’s
date illustration)
God knows
our lives. God exposes our sin eventually. We cannot hide from God.
Let me remind you how Joseph dealt
with temptation:
- He fled
from temptation by focusing on God. He had a priority. He had standards of
ethical choices.
-He
refused to listen to her.
-He kept
himself as pure as possible.
Unfortunately,
Potiphar’s wife got hold of Joseph’s garment in her
hand. She used it as “evidence.”
False
accusation and betrayal.
Now notice please that the penalty of such action was
death. The Bible does not say why Potiphar did not
put Joseph to death. I wonder, if he liked Joseph. I wonder if he knew his
wife. I see God’s hand in protecting Joseph. Again we see Joseph in the “pit”,
betrayed and falsely accused. Think about Joseph. What did I do wrong? Why am I
back in the “pit”? What is going on God?
A-God blessed Joseph in the prison
(39:21-23)
Back to the
prison- a new “school” for Joseph to be trained, a new place where he became
the chief of the prisoners. In Potiphar’s house, he learned leadership. Most likely he met
the important leaders of Egypt. Now in jail, he learned further how to become a
leader. Again, the narrator reminds that God is in control. He is the one who
is charge helping Joseph to be successful. Joseph rises again to top, even in
jail.
Remember,
we read again, “ the Lord is with Joseph and showed MERCY to him”. The word in
Hebrew is Hasad. An important characteristic of God showing kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, mercy. Do you see hand of God on Joseph, preparing him for latter
years?
What can
we conclude?
As I
watch the stock market going down, I find not only in the US but the whole world
in an economic crisis, and I am reminded one more time how fragile the world is.
I see corruption and temptations all over. Greed is another great temptation we
face. I could not believe that some will never learn. The AIG insurance
company, after receiving all the aid from the government, (your and my tax
money) the top chief executives went to high luxurious hotels in CA to have
their meetings, spending thousands of dollars at the sauna and for entertainment.
Temptations
are around us. God will help those who
give their life to Him. God promised us that He will help us to go through
these, and He will give us a way to conquer them. But those who trust in God. Those
who believe in Jesus Christ as personal savior.
Do not
play with fire. Joseph fled from temptation, as much as he could. Do not
entertain “temptation”; it will fire back at you.
Joseph trusted God is his
decisions. And God was with him in every action.
Let us learn from the story that devil does not have the final word or the
first. God has the first and the final word.
The economy
is bad. Things are going worse, but for those who trust in the Lord, God has
the final word. So, let us go with this promise.
Amen