Session 11 Tempted God is honored when we are faithful to Him and His standards. GENESIS 39:3-12,19-21 When Harry was born, his parents wanted his middle name to honor one of his grandfathers. But which grandfather s name should they use? Whichever they selected, the other grandfather almost certainly would be offended. The paternal grandfather s name was Sharpe; the maternal grandfather s name was Solomon. The baby s parents resolved their problem with a Solomon-like decision. They gave their son the letter S for a middle name. Both families were honored when Harry S. Truman became president of the United States. What are some ways people honor other people? How do you honor God? 100 Date of My Bible Study:
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT GENESIS 38:16 39:23 Genesis 38 abruptly interrupts the narrative of Joseph. Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, left home and started a new life in Adullam, the home of the Canaanite people. He married, had three sons, and eventually a daughter-in-law (38:1-5). But tragedy struck. His eldest son died, leaving his wife, Tamar, without a husband. An ancient custom known as levirate marriage governed behavior in this circumstance. If a man died childless, his brother was obligated to marry his widow. Their firstborn son thereafter would be reared legally as the offspring of the deceased man. So Judah gave Er s widow, Tamar, in levirate marriage to his second born son, Onan. When that son deliberately circumvented his responsibilities in levirate marriage, he also died. When Tamar again invoked her right as a childless widow, Judah delayed compliance (38:6-11). A few years later, Judah s wife died. Taking matters into her own hands, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute. She tricked Judah into sleeping with her, leaving his personal ring as guarantee that he would pay her for her services. When Judah realized his daughter-inlaw was pregnant, he brought her out for execution. Tamar revealed Judah was the father by providing his ring as evidence. Tamar gave birth to twin boys (38:12-30). Chapter 38 provides a sharp contrast to chapter 39. Judah traveled freely while Joseph traveled as a slave. Judah forsook his God, while Joseph remained true to God. Judah engaged in an adulterous relationship, while Joseph remained celibate. Judah plunged headlong into sin, while Joseph judiciously avoided sin. Judah experienced heartbreaking loss, while Joseph found success. Joseph was in God s will, and as a result, God s blessings were on his life. Being a slave in a foreign country, he could have abandoned God, letting sin ruin his future. Instead, Joseph showed incredible restraint and commitment as he honored God with his life. Read Genesis 38:16 39:23 and observe the different ways God showed His favor to Joseph. What is the relationship between faithfulness and God s favor? Session 11 : Tempted 101
EXPLORE THE TEXT SUCCESSFUL (GEN. 39:3-6a) 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, 4 Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority. 5 From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian s house because of Joseph. The Lord s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields. 6 He left all that he owned under Joseph s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. VERSES 3-4 Forced into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself in Egypt, a slave at Potiphar s house. He could have become bitter, angry, and resentful, plotting revenge on his spiteful brothers. He could have cursed God for not fulfilling the two divine dreams. Despising his slavery, Joseph could have resisted his owner, making life miserable for everyone. Instead, Joseph threw away the excuses and made the best out of his situation, honoring God regardless of life s adversities. Potiphar, an officer and captain of the guard for the Pharaoh of Egypt, was a person of position and power (Gen. 39:1). He was a demanding man who had little concern for slaves. Moreover, a cultural and spiritual divide existed between Joseph and his slave owner. Joseph was a Hebrew who worshiped Yahweh, and Potiphar was an Egyptian who worshiped multiple gods. In spite of their differences, Potiphar could see something special in Joseph. God s hand was on Joseph s life, everything he did was successful. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would bless other nations (12:1-3), and Joseph fulfilled that promise in Egypt. His master couldn t help but recognize the source of Joseph s success. Being a conscientious worker, Joseph rose through the ranks at Potiphar s house, moving from a lowly personal attendant to a supervisor of Potiphar s entire estate, giving him the highest authority over everyone except his master. Joseph made the best of his circumstances in Egypt while staying faithful to God, and God 102 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
blessed him for it. For a man who could have forgotten God and believed God had forgotten him, Joseph had confidence in God s promises and committed his ways to the Lord. VERSES 5-6a With Joseph in charge, Potiphar prospered, including all that he owned, in his house, and in his fields. Notice Potiphar didn t have just one field, but many fields, meaning he had a vast array of resources, people, land holdings, slaves, and equipment. Managing such a large enterprise was probably a huge headache, but the headache quickly disappeared the moment Joseph arrived. No longer concerned with management, bookkeeping, and logistics, Potiphar could focus his attention on other matters. Without any accountability in return, he turned all of his household and business responsibilities over to Joseph, indicating he trusted Joseph completely. The Lord blessed the Egyptian s house for Joseph s sake, just as God had blessed Laban s house because of Jacob. Honoring God makes us a success in His eyes the only eyes that really matter. The work at Potiphar s house was important preparation for Joseph, giving him several years of experience that would help him handle the business affairs of an entire nation. Had Joseph stayed home, he might not have developed the kind of character that comes from hard work and obeying orders. The promotions of God come after we prove ourselves faithful (Matt. 25:21). Because Joseph honored God, God blessed him. Regardless of whether blessings come in this lifetime or the next, God expects allegiance. Honoring God makes us a success in His eyes the only eyes that really matter. How does a person s approach to work serve as a means to honor God? How can a person s approach to work dishonor God? Session 11 : Tempted 103
TEMPTED (GEN. 39:6b-12) 6 Now Joseph was well-built and handsome. 7 After some time his master s wife looked longingly at Joseph and said, Sleep with me. 8 But he refused. Look, he said to his master s wife, with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has put all that he owns under my authority. 9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do this immense evil, and how could I sin against God? 10 Although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her. 11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. 12 She grabbed him by his garment and said, Sleep with me! But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. VERSES 6b-7 Before becoming the second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph was tested repeatedly. The first test was the test of his personal integrity. Having proved himself faithful with Potiphar s household and business responsibilities, he was ready for his second test, the test of his personal purity. Being a handsome young man, probably in his mid-twenties and extremely successful, Joseph caught the eye of his master s wife. She tempted Joseph sexually. Alone, with no family and in the prime of life, Joseph could have relented, reasoning that he was deserving or that no one would find out. Besides, isn t a slave supposed to comply with the demands of his owners? Although our excuses may seem reasonable at the time, sin is still sin. Satan will always make sure excuses accompany his temptations, making sin appear less sinful. Although our excuses may seem reasonable at the time, sin is still sin. Countless passages warn against sex outside of marriage (Ex. 20:14; Prov. 6:20-35; 7:10-20; Matt. 5:27-28; and 2 Tim. 2:22). As believers, we cannot stop temptation from knocking on our heart s door, but that doesn t mean that we should open the door when there is a knock. 104 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
How do temptations reveal a person s character? How can facing temptation develop a person s character? VERSES 8-9 Shocked by the woman s shameless assertiveness, Joseph tried reasoning with her, providing three reasons for not succumbing to her demands. First, Joseph cited his responsibility to Potiphar. His master trusted him, giving him authority and oversight over everything. Joseph refused to violate that trust. Second, he would not encroach upon his master s marriage; she was his wife. Third, Joseph would not sin against God, considering adultery a great evil in God s sight. Nothing could justify transgression against the One who had given Joseph his divine dreams, protected him, and blessed him. In this land of many gods, Joseph s relationship with the true God was the key to his victory over temptation. While all sin grieves God, adulterous relationships are especially heinous. They not only weaken and destroy marriages, but they pollute the image God paints of His relationship with the church. No matter how much people try to defend sex outside of marriage, the experience is wrong, sinful, and demeaning, bringing hurt into the lives of those affected by it. Just as Joseph would not sacrifice his purity for the sake of his master s wife, believers must remember that God expects the same from us. Sexual sin never delivers what it promises. VERSES 10-12 Joseph fought off the sexual advances of Potiphar s wife day after day. Probably arranged by the woman, Joseph found himself alone with her one day when he went about his duties. She grabbed him by his garment and said, Sleep with me! Joseph fled, leaving his garment in her hand. For the second time in his life, Joseph lost a coat, but he still had his integrity. Self-control is an important factor in building character. Unlike Samson, who gratified his own pleasures, Joseph remained sexually pure. In the end, Samson ended Session 11 : Tempted 105
his life buried in a pile of rubble (Judg. 16:23-31), while Joseph saved the lives of two nations. Sexual sin never delivers what it promises. Adultery leaves behind broken hearts, homes, dreams, and lives. Learning from Joseph s example, immediately flee anything that hints of sin. The consequences are never worth the momentary pleasure. Remaining pure is the only option that honors God and that God honors. KEY DOCTRINE: Family Marriage is God s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race (Eph. 5:21-33). FAVORED (GEN. 39:19-21) 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him These are the things your slave did to me he was furious 20 and had him thrown into prison, where the king s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. VERSE 19 Humiliated, the woman fabricated a lie, bent on preserving what little perverted dignity she had left. With Joseph s coat as the alleged evidence, Potiphar s wife played the role of the victim. Being sold as a slave was bad enough. Now Joseph was branded as an attempted rapist. Potiphar became hot with anger. The word translated furious means to blaze or burn in anger. Potiphar was angry that his entire household had been drawn into the episode, giving the appearance that he could not rule his home. Plus, he was angry over losing the best business manager he ever had. No evidence exists that Joseph protested or that Potiphar gave him opportunity. Joseph s fate was sealed; nothing could undo the damage that had been done. Joseph could only trust God to be his defender. 106 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
VERSES 20-21 Joseph s punishment would be imprisonment. Prisons in Joseph s day were grim places with dreadful conditions where prisoners were guilty until proven innocent. With no right of a speedy trial, many prisoners never made a court appearance because trials were held at the whim of the ruler. Because Joseph was a slave to the captain of the guard, he was in a prison where the king s prisoners were confined. Although not much is known about this type of prison, Joseph would later call it a dungeon (40:15). Far from home, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned in a dungeon, Joseph was never far from God s presence and mercy, demonstrated by the fact that God granted him favor with the prison warden. In a place of punishment, Joseph experienced grace, receiving a position of trust and authority. Joseph remained loyal to God, avoiding both temptation and despair. His prison would be a school where he would learn the value of waiting on the Lord s vindication and the fulfillment of His dreams. Joseph would discover that God s delays were not God s denials but simply an avenue that would build his character, strengthen his faith, and prepare him for what was ahead. How does God s showing His grace in bad situations motivate you to remain faithful to Him? How does God s promise of His presence motivate you to remain faithful? BIBLE SKILL: Use a passage of Scripture to understand and illustrate another Bible Passage. Romans 8:28 is an often-quoted verse. Joseph s story confirms the accuracy of this New Testament passage. This verse assures believers that all of life s experiences work together for our ultimate good. On one side of a vertical line, list the different experiences that occurred in Joseph s life. On the other side of the line identify the good that came from that experience. Session 11 : Tempted 107
IN MY CONTEXT Believers are to seek to honor God in all they do. Believers are to resist sin, remembering God s standards and the joy of honoring Him. Believers can be assured that God abides with those who seek to honor Him. How can you honor God at home, work, church, and in your community? List specific ways for each. Discuss as a group the joys believers experience when they abide by God s standards. How can the group help each other focus on the joys of following God s standards? Record ideas shared. Reflect on Genesis 39:21. Substitute your name for Joseph s name and role of a person to whom you answer for the prison warden. How does that change how you relate to that person? Memorize Genesis 39:21. Prayer Needs 108 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide