- Scripture: Genesis 39:1–23
- The Anchor: “But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. … How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?'” – Genesis 39:8–9 (ESV)
After being sold to the Ishmaelite merchants, Joseph wound up in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar was an officer of Pharaoh and he was possibly a eunuch (a man who was castrated). God was with Joseph in that house and He made Joseph successful in his work. Potiphar promoted him even to the point of putting him in charge of his entire household. God blessed Potiphar’s house through Joseph. Joseph was apparently handsome, and Potiphar’s wife was not faithful to her husband, so she tried to seduce Joseph. Yet, Joseph stayed strong in God and resisted the temptation. He told her that he has been blessed with success and he has been given charge over everything except for her, since she is Potiphar’s wife. He saw this as wickedness against God.
One day, Potiphar’s wife grabbed him by his garments to seduce him again, but Joseph left his garments with her and fled. Potiphar’s wife told Potiphar a fake story about how Joseph slept with her and then left his garment with her after she cried out for help. Potiphar sent Joseph to prison, but God still remained with him there, where he was trusted by the keeper of the prison and he succeeded.
Joseph was given success by God. This wasn’t the worldly success that we seek, but this was true success given by God. Godly success is like aligning ourselves with God and living like Him. We see today that Joseph was true to God, he resisted temptations, and he was true in his worldly work as well. Through his gift of godly success, Joseph was also blessed with worldly success as well. He was promoted to the overseer of Potiphar’s things. I really look up to Joseph in how Joseph’s godliness blessed Potiphar’s household. That’s a whole nother level of faith and godliness: being godly enough to bless people around us. Joseph stayed in Potiphar’s house for 11 years, and he was faithful through all of them. Later, when he was held as a prisoner, he was also blessed with success from God.
Additionally, Joseph fled when he was faced with temptations of lust. Potiphar was possibly a eunuch, which means he may have been castrated and unable to have sex with his wife. Maybe that wasn’t the biggest problem for him, but Potiphar’s wife wouldn’t have had her worldly sexual needs fulfilled by her husband if this was the case. Maybe that’s why Potiphar’s wife targeted Joseph with her seductions. However, she should not have done this. She was a married woman who was supposed to be true to her husband. Joseph showed godliness in how he resisted temptation, but also in how he fled from lust. The Bible tells us to do both. 1 Corinthians 6:18 literally addresses this exact sin, saying, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” I look up to Joseph for this too. Even though he was tempted, he didn’t give in to temptations and he stayed strong in his loyalty to God.
Reflecting on myself, I want to be like Joseph, who was a blessing to those around him. I want to be the light and the godliness wherever I go. Joseph did this when he was both at Potiphar’s place and when he was in the prison. The godliness showed through him wherever he went. I also want to be stronger in resisting temptation. Not the same sexual temptations that Joseph had, but I am often tempted with other things like my phone to waste my time and leave me worse than I was before. I think all of this really just comes from daily discipline and truly making God the center of my life. I think I see my life clearer now. It’s coming together more clearly.
Reflection
- You defined true, godly success as aligning yourself with God and living like Him, which naturally flows out to bless the people and households around you. Whether you are hanging out at church or talking with friends, how can you intentionally carry yourself so that your daily behavior acts as a blessing to others?
- While Joseph faced a heavy trial of lust, you noted that your own daily temptations often look like picking up your phone to waste time. To build the daily discipline needed to keep God at the center, what is one practical boundary you can set with your screen time today?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that true success is found in aligning my life with You, and that You remain with me whether I am experiencing worldly favor or facing a difficult trial. Forgive me for the times I give in to daily temptations and allow my phone or distractions to pull me away from Your presence. Give me the strength to flee from things that waste my time, the discipline to keep You at the center, and the grace to be a light to everyone around me. Amen