September 1, 2015
Scripture Reading: Genesis 39:6b-20a
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
8But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.9No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.12She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
13When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
16She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
19When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
Questions for Reflection:
Joseph worked diligently for Potiphar. He rose to a position of authority in the process. However, Joseph did not just get the attention of Potiphar. He also drew the attention of Potiphar’s wife. How did Joseph respond to her advances? How often did he respond this way? When he found himself in a compromising situation, how did he respond?
In the marketplace, there will be times that we are tempted to compromise our integrity either for personal fulfillment or quick gains. Don’t allow the temptation for short-term happiness allow you to lose your character. Follow Joseph’s example. Allow your faith to be an anchor in the decisions you face. Seek to honor God in every aspect of your life.