#106 Captive while Free Genesis 39

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "lie with me." 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. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "see, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, "the Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my boice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." Genesis 39: 7-18 ESV

Alexander MacLaren, in a sermon entitled “Faith Tested and Crowned,” distinguished between being tempted and being tested or tried.  He said that “the former word conveys the idea of appealing to the worst part of man, with the wish that he may yield and do the wrong.  The latter means an appeal to the better part of man, with the desire that he should stand. Temptation says, ‘Do this pleasant thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is wrong.’  Trial or proving says, ‘Do this right and noble thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is painful.’ The one is a sweet, beguiling [enticing] melody, breathing soft indulgence and relaxation over the soul; the other is a pealing trumpet-call to high achievements.”

            Every hardship of life holds the possibility of being a temptation and a trial. By resisting all suggestions we know are wrong and accepting all circumstances as opportunities for growth, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in His sanctifying work in us. We move toward that desired goal of being “perfect and entire, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). – D.J.D.

Joseph's situation is not ideal and there is that thing in all of us that could justify, for ourselves, an ethic, based upon the current circumstance. The invitations are there: his brothers sold him into slavery, Joseph's response is to serve his master as unto God, to rise to the occasion. 

His master elevates him to the head of the house, he could grasp hold, as many do, to that which invites us to see ourselves more highly than we ought. "Look what I have accomplished, look what I have done." Joseph knows what he has done, and could in secret entertain more, but unlike his brother Judah, Joseph serves the God who sees. He remains an open book and when temptation calls, he refuses to listen. 

There is still temptation, even in the act of refusing the one it is easy for men to trust in the righteousness that is not by faith. I use to pat myself on the back for a great number of things that I did not do, and as the list grew smaller with time and practice, the more I prized these few things. It is not until very recently in my life, that I viewed myself as a hypocrite, and as I search for the Author's intent I also ask Him to reveal to me my own. I should like to run like Joseph, and refuse to dance. I should no longer be satisfied with the view from the ledge, but glorify the One Who would lead me to higher ground. 

Hebrews 4:15New International Version (NIV)

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

…12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. ! Corinthians 10:12&13