Joseph is now in Egypt as a slave who has been sold to one of Pharaoh’s officials Potiphar the captain of the guard. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. (Genesis 39:2-3 NLT) After a difficult time in his life, Joseph seems to be doing well. But then a new a dangerous challenge comes into his life. Temptation!
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 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.” 10 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. Genesis 39:6-10, The Message
Temptation can come when we least expect it and often comes when we are tired and have let our guard down. If I am tempted, what are some steps I can take?
1. Pray as Jesus taught, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
When the disciples kept yielding to sleep while Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told them to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41) Apart from God, we have no hope of resisting temptation. This is why humbling ourselves in prayer is so important. Praying as Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer is praying that God would help deliver us from even facing temptation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you are struggling with temptation, you should not only pray but ask others to pray for you.
2. Rest
When we are tired we are much easier prey for the enemy than if we are well rested. Being well rested and spiritually alert are keys in not falling into the traps of the enemy.
3. God always gives a way of escape
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor. 10:13 The Message
Although there is no perfect five step process to avoid temptation, the key is finding what works for you. Know yourself and how the Lord works with you. Pray and ask the Lord to help you form a plan.
What temptation are you facing? What is the Lord telling you to do to resist and overcome the situation?
Listen to our podcast to hear more about the story of Joseph. https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-joseph/false-accusations
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 39:6–10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (1 Co 10:13). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.