Daily Devotions
Genesis
"A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion." Psalm 112:5
Text: Genesis 39:1-23
ATTEMPT AT SEDUCTION
Joseph must have been glad that he had faith in God. This great God he worshipped was with him! Everything he touched was blessed and thus prospered. He probably didn’t expect that his master’s wife would attempt to seduce him.
“Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife
cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’
GENESIS 39:6f-7
Potiphar’s wife must have noticed the good fortune that had come to the family. She at once realized that her husband’s new found wealth was due to Joseph’s skill in managing the family business. She was determined that Joseph obeyed her every whim and fancy! She tried to seduce Joseph.
RESOLUTE REJECTION
Joseph knew better than to sleep with his master’s wife! Bravely and resolutely, he turned her down.
“But he refused and said to his master’s wife,
‘Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house,
and he has committed all that he has to my hand,
there is no one greater in this house than I,
nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
because you are his wife. How then can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God?’
GENESIS 39:8-9
Reason and faith taught Joseph how he should conduct himself in Potiphar’s household. He had become a man of great integrity. He rejected all advances made to him!
PERSISTENT ATTEMPTS
Potiphar’s wife was rebuffed. But that seemed to make Joseph appear even more attractive. She refused to take “No” for an answer.
“So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day,
that he did not heed her, to lie with her, or to be with her.
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house
to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside,
that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me,’
But he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside.”
GENESIS 39:10-13
Joseph fled! Every instinct told him to flee from her clutches!