Picking up the story with Joseph, we find that Joseph has been sold into slavery to Potiphar's house. Potiphar was the captain of the palace guard which meant that he would be in charge of the guys that were bodyguards and guards of the palace and the prison guards, since it was near the palace. Now we see that God was with Joseph and blessed everything that he touched basically. Potiphar took notice of that and eventually, Joseph worked his way up to being Potiphar's right hand man. Potiphar basically said that he trusted Joseph and what he says goes in all of Potiphar's dealings. The only thing held back from Joseph was Potiphar's wife, everything else was fair game!
Now, this scenario sounds pretty familiar. Someone given all the freedom to do whatever, with one thing to stay away from...hmmm. Oh wait I know! Wow! Funny how this story parallels Adam and Eve. We even have Joseph being tempted with that one thing. And yet this story has a different outcome. Rather than Joseph taking Potiphar's wife just as Adam and Eve took the fruit, he runs. He gets out as soon as possible! Now the immediate outcome stinks for Joseph, but we see God blessing everything he does wherever he goes. But just look for a second how different the outcome was for Joseph as opposed to Adam and Eve.
We talk alot about temptation. We know about it. We fall to it day after day. Many times we think that it isn't possible to win against the temptation. Joseph showed us how. He didn't stay there and try to resist Potiphar's wife. He didn't try to argue with her. He didn't try to have a debate with her. He got out of there! He left the situation, because he knew that is the best strategy with temptation...look for the way out, and take it!
Have you been battling temptation? Maybe you've been arguing with it or debating it. It hasn't been working, has it? Maybe we need to take the lesson from Joseph and try his strategy - run. Try it the next time you are facing temptation. Don't stay there. You'll lose. Just get out. Have a great day guys!
Ron Foster
Now, this scenario sounds pretty familiar. Someone given all the freedom to do whatever, with one thing to stay away from...hmmm. Oh wait I know! Wow! Funny how this story parallels Adam and Eve. We even have Joseph being tempted with that one thing. And yet this story has a different outcome. Rather than Joseph taking Potiphar's wife just as Adam and Eve took the fruit, he runs. He gets out as soon as possible! Now the immediate outcome stinks for Joseph, but we see God blessing everything he does wherever he goes. But just look for a second how different the outcome was for Joseph as opposed to Adam and Eve.
We talk alot about temptation. We know about it. We fall to it day after day. Many times we think that it isn't possible to win against the temptation. Joseph showed us how. He didn't stay there and try to resist Potiphar's wife. He didn't try to argue with her. He didn't try to have a debate with her. He got out of there! He left the situation, because he knew that is the best strategy with temptation...look for the way out, and take it!
Have you been battling temptation? Maybe you've been arguing with it or debating it. It hasn't been working, has it? Maybe we need to take the lesson from Joseph and try his strategy - run. Try it the next time you are facing temptation. Don't stay there. You'll lose. Just get out. Have a great day guys!
Ron Foster
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