Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, December 28, 2016
“From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.” (Genesis 39:5–12, NLT).
Oftentimes, when we have gone through great trials, and then begin to see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, the enemy barges into our situation, and sets roadblocks. If we are not fully submitted to the Lord, those roadblocks will create our demise.
Joseph’s life was looking up! Although he was not free to leave Egypt, he had the sweetest assignment any bondservant could possibly want. He was responsible for everything that went on inside or outside of the Egyptian officer, Potiphar’s house. This was an incredible honor that the Lord blessed by causing all that Joseph did, to prosper. To say that Potiphar was pleased, would be a gross understatement.
Here comes the enemy, now! The Bible says that Joseph was a well-built, great looking specimen of a man. Now, when we say things like, “This person or that, is beautiful,” beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. But, when God says this of someone in inspired writing, we had better pay attention. Joseph was very attractive, just like his mommy. Remember, that is part of the reason Jacob served another seven years after he was hoodwinked into marrying Rachel’s ugly elder sister (the Bible said that, not me). It’s no wonder, then why Mrs. Potiphar noticed him. Here’s a free note to the men: Unsanctified women are dangerous! I would tell you in what ways, but that is not the nature of today’s thought. Dangerous, unsanctified Mrs. Potiphar repeatedly made sexual advances to Joseph. It is important to note that strapping, young Joseph was not, I repeat, not a eunuch (look that up). All of him was in tact, and his testosterone was at appropriate levels. So, it would have been humanly impossible for the virgin, young man, who was repeatedly accosted, not to give in. They had all of the makings for a secret liaison: Privacy, a sexually charged and wealthy woman, multiple opportunities, and human nature. However, what overruled all of those was the Holy Spirit of God! As the Bible has already demonstrated, the Lord was with Joseph. Therefore, He not only resisted the woman; he told her that he honored her husband’s trust, and refused to commit this horrible sin against God. Oh, my! This is one of the greatest examples of submission to God I have ever read, given the circumstances. But, it did not stop there: When Mrs. Potiphar continued clawing at young Joseph with her cougar-like sexual intentions, and grabbed his clothes, no doubt to take from Joseph what he was not willing to give, he ran! That’s right, friends! Joseph demonstrated the following verse, exactly. The Bible says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the...
