Joseph, Potiphar's Wife, and the Dangers of Sexual Sin
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If you are unfamiliar with the Old Testament story of Joseph, take time to read it in Genesis chapters 37 and 39-47. A great deal of attention is given to the story of this young man: the great grandson of Abraham, grandson of Isaac, and son of Jacob. Most of us know the story of the favored teenage boy who was given a coat of many colors by his father. Jacob’s favoritism caused Joseph’s brothers to throw him into a cistern and then sell him into slavery. This landed Joseph in the land of Egypt, far from his home in Canaan.
In time, Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, purchased him from the Ishmaelites, and so Joseph came to live in Potiphar’s house. God’s favor was with Joseph and soon Potiphar put him in charge of the entire household. Now Joseph was young, successful, and very physically attractive, and it wasn’t long before Potiphar’s wife took notice of him and attempted to seduce him.
“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’” (Genesis 39:1-7).
Sexual Sin Still Tempts Us
Fast forward to our world today. Men are failing all around us. Celebrities, entertainers and TV personalities (secular and Christian alike) are losing their jobs and going to jail for sexual harassment, manipulation, and misuse of women. Pastors, priests and spiritual leaders are being charged with sexual molestation and abuse.
An entire movement and hashtag (#metoo) have been created to collect the thoughts, stories, grievances, laments, and accusations of women and men all over the globe who have been sexually assaulted and mistreated. According to a 2019 United Nations report, “human trafficking is on the rise and taking on ‘horrific dimensions’, with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver.” Moral failure is widespread. It has literally gone viral. Its effects are devastating.
Why Does Joseph Refuse?
“But he [Joseph] 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. No 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?’ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her” (Genesis 39:7-10).
Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife even after multiple advances, day after day. He refused to even be around her. Joseph’s reasons for not sleeping with Potiphar’s wife are found in Genesis 39:8-9.
- Potiphar trusted him, giving him charge over everything he owned.
- Potiphar withheld nothing from Joseph, except his wife.
- Committing adultery with Potiphar’s wife would have been wicked and a sin against God.
Scripture’s Command: Flee!
Ultimately, Potiphar’s wife became so aggressive in her advances that Joseph had to run!
“One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She 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” (Genesis 39:11-12).
Scripture actually gives this very advice:
“Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness…” (2 Timothy 2:22).
When faced with sexual temptation, the Word of God says to FLEE! RUN! GET OUT OF THERE! Remove yourself from the situation.
Often though, we do the opposite. We stay. We continue to look at those websites, stare at those images, watch those movies, build that emotional relationship with someone other than our spouse, etc. King David made the same choice. He stayed.
“But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her” (2 Samuel 11:1-4).
David stayed, he stared, and then he sinned, and that sin with Bathsheba was costly. There were grievous consequences.
How Did Joseph Resist?
So what made Joseph resist temptation? Why was Joseph’s story different than David’s? Potiphar’s wife was actively seductive. The temptation for Joseph was arguably greater than it was for David in that Potiphar’s wife was literally asking for it.
Joseph had something in common with another Old Testament character: Daniel. In Daniel 1:8 it tells us that “Daniel resolved not to defile himself…” Joseph was also resolved not to defile himself. He was resolved because he was convinced of four things:
- Joseph was convinced that his relationship with God mattered most.
- Joseph was convinced that God’s standards existed for his good.
- Joseph was convinced that sin’s pleasures are fleeting.
- Joseph was convinced that a greater reward lay ahead of him.
Moses was another Old Testament character who resisted sin.
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Scripture is full of accounts of real men and women who failed morally, but it is also full of success stories, like Joseph’s. We need both. We can learn from the failures of others, but we can also be inspired by the courage, strength, and faith of those who have gone before us (read Hebrews 11). It is possible to resist temptation, and it is worth it!
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
There is always a way of escape. Put your eyes on Jesus and run toward Him!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/crossstudio
Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 19 years working with CrossWay International Baptist Church. She is the author of three books: Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ, Convinced: Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices, and Big Picture: 66 Books, 1 Message.