FLEEING TEMPTATION

Gen. 39: 11-12 One day, however, no one else was around when he was doing his work inside the house. She came and grabbed him by his shirt, demanding, "Sleep with me!" Joseph tore himself away, but as he did, his shirt came off. She was left holding it as he ran from the house.

Potiphar's wife had been lusting after Joseph for awhile. He was a handsome young man and she imagined what it would be like to sleep with him. She had a sinful heart and was not satisfed with the life she shared with Potiphar. She tried several times to seduce him, but to no avail. Then the day came when she had her chance to be alone with Joseph and she put on the pressure.

Most young, single men, would have a hard time resisting the temptation. No one else was in the house, no one would ever know. In the face of such aggression, I am sure Joseph's hormones would have been raging. Yet, Joseph was not like most young men. He did not see his situation as an opportunity to enjoy sin's pleasures; he saw it as an opportunity to sin against God. He loved the Lord and daily sought to please Him and Joseph knew that such an act would not please God at all. In fact, being with Potiphar's wife would bring him much guilt and shame before God. For Joseph, the price was way too steep. He would rather do what is right before God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.

Joseph did not stay around to discuss the issue or reason things out. He knew he had to flee his temptation and do it now. He ran from Potiphar's wife, leaving his shirt behind him. She did not take this rejection lightly and immediately spread lies about Joseph, claiming he had tried to seduce her and ran when she screamed for help.

The time to determine to do what is right before God is before we are tempted, not when we are being tempted. We need to resolve in our hearts and minds that we are not going to sin against God and mean it. Understanding that sin's momentary pleasures sets us at odds with God ought to cause us to want to not to sin. Determine in your heart today that you will not sin against God and flee from that which tempts you. You will be blessed by God and glad you did.