2. The Pitfall of Temptation
Question 1:
What food or treat
do you have a hard time resisting?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
“That’s really tempting.”
Enticing objects flash before our eyes and we feel the urge to respond. A second helping of chocolate cake. An ad for an item we don’t need and can’t afford. Temptation lies around every corner.
We often pull back from temptation when someone is looking over our shoulder and says, “Don’t eat that” or “You really don’t need that.” Someone is watching over our shoulder: God!
In today’s study, Joseph modeled what it means to live with that truth in mind: God is watching our every move. Joseph’s aim was to keep himself clean in the midst of a dirty culture.
You may not be tempted in the same way Joseph was, but you will face temptation. We all do. Many of us are tempted to …
… love money and try to find security in it.
… cultivate a relationship that could destroy a marriage.
… envy a colleague who is experiencing great success.
Joseph’s approach to temptation can help all of us.
THE POINT
Remembering what is at stake
helps us overcome temptation.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Genesis 39:1-7
1 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. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 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. 5 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. 6 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, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
At the end of our last session, Joseph was being hauled off to Egypt with a broken heart. Disowned and sold into slavery by his own brothers, he had little hope that the dreams he once shared would ever come true. Rather than seethe with anger and seek revenge, however, he chose to bloom where he was planted and to trust God to see him through. As he experienced success, he also would face new temptations and new challenges.
Question 2:
What are some dangers we face when things are going well for us?
In spite of Joseph’s circumstances, God was at work in his life. The Lord Himself was the warrior fighting Joseph’s battles. The young man could not take credit for the continual success he experienced. In addition to Joseph’s good works, he was also blessed with good looks. “Joseph was well-built and handsome.” He may have favored his mother because a similar description was used to describe Rachel (Gen. 29:17). So, why did the biblical writer include such detail in describing Joseph’s advantages in life? The answer clearly lies in the pitfalls that accompany success. This young man had the hand of God upon him, and he had looks that caused a crowded room to part like the Red Sea! Yet these very blessings also could present challenges and temptation.
At least one temptation came through Potiphar’s wife. She had fixed her eyes on Joseph, and she was probably used to getting whatever she wanted. Would Joseph sacrifice his integrity for whatever momentary pleasure she could offer? This moment of decision would define his life forever.
Joseph could have rationalized giving into the offer from Potiphar’s wife; after all, he had been taken from his own family and country; now he was a slave whom many might think deserved getting something back for all that had happened to him. But we’ll see that Joseph chose a different path.
Genesis 39:8-10
8 But 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. 9 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?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
Adam and Eve faced forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, and now Joseph faced his own forbidden fruit: the wife of a powerful man! Joseph would not take the bait, though; in fact, he tried to talk sense to the immoral woman, calling attention to the blessings her husband had given to him. She was off limits and Joseph knew it. Joseph even reminded her why she was off limits: “You are his wife.” She was “forbidden fruit” that he should not—and would not—pursue. He knew what was at stake, and one wrong move would mean disaster. Joseph refused to fall under her spell and shielded himself from her arrows.
How did Joseph muster the inner strength to refuse? How did he stand firm when so many other men fell into the trap of sexual temptation? Joseph’s “secret” was that he made a decision long before that day—a decision to pursue God above all things. He had already determined to please God with his life. What was foremost in Joseph’s mind was not how Potiphar would react, but how God would.
When it comes to temptation, it’s impossible to avoid every image that the world brings to our eyes. But we don’t just need to watch out for sexual temptation; we are tempted in many ways. Keeping a clean conscience before God is so critical to life. Joseph was committed to keeping his life and his conscience pure and we must be too.
Many Christians live as if they never will have to deal with temptation and trials. They think they are immune to the attacks of the enemy. This is not reality. Sadly, King David could testify to that. He was in a successful season of life when he let down his guard and sinned against God. David gave in to temptation with another man’s wife, placing pleasure above purity and destroying numerous lives in the process (2 Sam. 11).
Countless people have committed the same mistake. Is there grace for our failures? Of course. But the consequences can be intensely painful. The wise course is to “pre-decide” what you will do when temptation appears. God’s Word provides the guide. Set your standards high and commit to them now. Like Joseph, your faith-stretching seasons are on schedule, but be resolved to trust the Lord courageously.
Question 3:
What core convictions do you lean on during times of Temptation?
Genesis 39:11-12
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 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.
Joseph may have been a slave, but he lived and worked in an enviable position as a slave. Yet, as Potiphar’s wife grabbed hold of Joseph, he knew that his situation was over if he didn’t sprint out the door. She had made similar advances before—in fact, “day after day,” (v. 10)—but perhaps others were in the house on those occasions. It appeared this occasion was different, so that Joseph sensed only one option: run! In an aggressive moment, his cloak was ripped from his body, and he escaped to safety, “he left his cloak in her hand.” Joseph fled immorality.
Question 4:
What lies might hinder us from fleeing temptation?
The apostle Paul may have had this story in mind centuries later as he challenged the loose lifestyle of the church in Corinth: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body” (1 Cor. 6:18). Those who plunge into sexual immorality will have to deal with the baggage that comes with it. This is why Joseph provides such a vivid picture of the Christian response to pornography, adultery, and all forms of lustful fantasy. Little sins lead to bigger sins, so run from the first hint of it just as Joseph did.
Running from temptation is a key to our survival when facing spiritual warfare. If we focus too heavily on this topic, however, we could miss the forest for the trees. More important than running away from sin is the daily decision to walk closely with Jesus. Jesus came to earth so that we could walk near to Him. As Jesus prepared to complete the task for which He came—being the sacrifice for our salvation—He assured His disciples that His going would mean the Spirit’s coming—and this would prove to be far better. God is with us at all times, and His Holy Spirit leads us into the truth. We should not simply focus on what we’re running from but on what we’re running toward. The pursuit of God is a far more appealing goal than the mere avoidance of sin.
Question 5:
What strategies have you found helpful in overcoming temptation?
TEMPTED!
Use the acronym below to record situations and circumstances you experience that often lead to temptation. An example has been provided. Then write a prayer asking God to help you overcome.
T oo much time
E
M
P
T
E
D
My Prayer:
_______________________________
“You cannot keep birds from flying in the air over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair.”
MARTIN LUTHER
LIVE IT OUT
Remembering what is at stake helps us overcome temptation. Choose one of the following applications:
- Take stock. Do you find it difficult to walk away from certain temptations? Ask God to help you form a plan to fight repeating temptations in your life.
- Partner up. Sometimes the best gift God can give us in the face of temptation is a godly friend. Reach out to a friend this week and ask if they will hold you accountable to a specific temptation you are trying to avoid.
- Begin a fast. One of the ways to overcome temptation is to train our minds using a spiritual discipline like fasting. This week, choose to devote TV time to devotional reading, developing friendships, or taking prayer walks.
As we say no to the little temptations, we grow in our ability to say no to the larger things also. Let’s say no to the flesh and seek the Holy Spirit so we can grow closer to Christ!
Teacher's Notes:
1. The
Pitfall of Betrayal, Temptation, Injustice, Hard
Times, Bitterness, Guilt & Grudges
What
advice would you give a young person about how to avoid giving in to
temptation?
The
Point: Remembering what is at stake helps us overcome temptation.
Sin
can seem so enticing and compelling on the front end, but afterward, as we deal
with the consequences of having given in to the temptation, we see sin from a
different perspective. Full of regret, we ask ourselves, “Why did I do what I
did? What caused me to give in?”
Joseph
was sold by the merchants to a high-ranking Egyptian named Potiphar and
eventually became the supervisor of Potiphar’s household. In Genesis 39 we read
of how Joseph excelled at his duties, became one of Potiphar’s most trusted
servants, and was put in charge of his household. Potiphar could see that,
whatever Joseph did, God looked favorably on him, and he prospered in all that
he did. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph. Joseph
consistently refused her advances, showing honor for the master who had
entrusted him with so much and saying that it would be "a wicked thing and
a sin against God" for him to go to bed with Potiphar’s wife (Genesis
39:9). One day Potiphar’s wife caught Joseph by the cloak and again made sexual
advances. Joseph fled, leaving his cloak in her hand. In anger, she falsely
accused Joseph of attempted rape, and Potiphar put him in prison (Genesis
39:7–20).
The
Passages: Genesis 39:1-12
What
are some temptation dangers we face when things are going well for us?
What
core convictions do you lean on during times of Temptation?
What
lies might hinder us from fleeing temptation?
What
strategies have you found helpful in overcoming temptation?
Genesis
39:1-7
How
can recognizing God’s work in our lives help us resist temptation?
Genesis
39:8-10
How
would you summarize Joseph’s argument for resisting temptation?
Genesis
39:11-12
What
temptations do we need to run from in our daily lives?
What
difference has it made in your life to know that the Lord is with you? What are
some specific ways His presence has brought blessing to your life?
Joseph
provided a good model of what to do with standards. When Potiphar’s wife made
advances to him, he stood his ground. And when standing his ground wasn’t
enough, he ran away (Gen. 39:1-20). From Joseph’s life, I draw three
principles:
1. Have
standards in place before you’re ever tempted.
2. Stand
your ground—no matter what.
3. Run
away! Remove yourself from the place where you are tempted.
Let me
add a fourth principle straight from Jesus. He taught us to pray, “And do not
bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13), so
the fourth principle is
4. You
can’t do this alone. Lean on Jesus.
I am
ever thankful to God for revealing Himself through Scripture and giving us the
standards by which to live life. My practice has been to spend time in God’s
Word. Every. Day. The strength of His Word and His Presence is the only way I
can stand.
“I
have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you” (Ps.
119:11).
One
definition of temptation is “to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by
enticement to sin.” It reminds us that being tempted is not a sin, it is an
invitation to sin. The Scripture passage reveals us that we have a God who is
with us, not only to help us overcome trying circumstances, but to help us
overcome temptation.
Having
been sold by his brothers to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:28) and believed to be dead
by his father (Gen. 37:29-35), Joseph is now in Egypt, a slave of a man called Potiphar
(Gen. 39:1). But the God who worked to save Joseph from the pit, is the same God
who is with him in Potiphar’s house. A change in location does not change God’s
promise to “never leave us nor forsake us” (Deut. 31:6).
1. The
Blessings of Success (vv. 1-6)
Joseph
was successful because the Lord was with him. But success does not come without
hard work. This is where God’s faithfulness and human responsibility intersect.
We cannot be successful without God, nor can we succeed without hard work.
Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph through Joseph’s work, and Potiphar
put Joseph in charge of everything. As a result, everything he owned ended up
being blessed.
Jesus
said that if we are faithful over a few things, He will put us in charge of many
things (Matt. 25:23). No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in and no
matter how menial the task, we should do “everything for the glory of God” (1
Cor. 10:31). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said: “If a man is called to be a
street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or
Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets
so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a
great street sweeper who did his job well.’”
The
success of being blessed is when we are a blessing to others!
2. The
Seduction of Success (vv.7-10)
There’s
a saying: “For every level, there’s another devil.” While success brings incredible
blessings, it also comes with intense temptations. Joseph faced a particular
type of temptation—seduction. Seduction is especially the enticement of a
person to engage in illicit sexual activity. Temptation is inviting, but not enticing,
unless it’s tempting. Joseph didn’t refuse because he wasn’t tempted.
Joseph
refused for three reasons:
1) It
would mean committing adultery.
2) It would
mean violating his master’s trust.
3) It
would mean sinning against God.
The
last reason was the greatest reason. Joseph may have been able to justify sleeping
with Potiphar’s wife because it appears Potiphar did not pay much attention to
her (v. 6). Joseph did have authority over everything Potiphar owned and may
have even justified it to include Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar only withheld her
from Joseph, not because he loved her, but simply because she was his wife (v.
9), and Joseph may have justified sleeping with her because she was in a loveless
marriage. But no one can justify sinning against God.
Joseph
refused to sin against Potiphar, his wife, and God (vv. 8-9). But none of those
reasons deterred Potiphar’s wife (v. 10).
3. The
Fleeing from Seduction (v. 11-12)
First
Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee sexual immorality!” It appears that this is the first
time Joseph and Potiphar’s wife are alone. Joseph being accompanied by others
may have been one of the ways he resisted temptation. Hebrews 10:23-25 calls
upon us to provoke one another to love and good works by not neglecting the
gathering of ourselves together. One of the reasons going to church is
important is because there is strength in numbers and people of like minds
encouraging one another. Fellowship helps us to resist temptation.
Perhaps
Joseph flees because the temptation is overwhelming. But God is with him to
deliver him. “No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity.
But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may
be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Oliver
Goldsmith said, “He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day; but
he who is battle slain can never rise to fight again.” It is better to retreat from
temptation than continue to fight and fall.
Conclusion: Success
is being faithful to God. However, being faithful doesn’t always look
successful. Joseph not only loses his position, but he also ends up in prison
(vv. 19-20). But God is still with him, and God is still at work (vv. 21-23).
If success is being faithful to God, then we can still be successful in
less-than-ideal circumstances, knowing that “all things work together for the
good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans
8:28).
Many
lessons can be learned from the story of Joseph and Potiphar. First, God is
with us no matter our life situation. At various stages of his life, Joseph was
a slave, a prisoner, and a national leader. Wherever Joseph was, God was at
work in his life in ways Joseph could not have understood at the time.
Second,
God calls His people to live pure lives. Joseph refused to join in an
adulterous relationship with his master’s wife. Though Joseph’s integrity led
to prison rather than a promotion, God later honored Joseph’s faithfulness in a
far greater way. In the end, Potiphar would have been servant to Joseph!
