GENESIS 39 GENESIS 39 From the Pit to the Prison

Why do good people suffer? How do I deal with temptation? How does God work in my life?

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

The Story of Joseph’s trials right after the story of Judah—a coincidence? Gen 38:1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down… Gen 39:1 Now Joseph had been taken down

The names and their meanings Joseph = “God will increase” Pharaoh = “great house” Potiphar = “devoted to the sun”

The names and their meanings Joseph = “God will increase” Pharaoh = “great house” Potiphar = “devoted to the sun” An officer of Pharaoh = saris

2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.

henotheism

And it was so, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land."

Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Send there one of the priests whom you brought from there; let him go and dwell there, and let him teach them the rituals of the God of the land." 2 Kings 17:25-27

So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?"

So he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid. Jonah 1:6-10

Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. 1 Kings 20:23

Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, "Thus says the LORD: `Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys," therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" 1 Kings 20:28

4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. Genesis 29:16-17

7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."

8 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. 9 "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?"

Joseph’s Three Lines of Reasoning 1. the abuse of trust 2. an offense against her husband 3. a sin against God

Compare these two attitudes: A Peccadillo with “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

How to have victory over temptation When you’re tempted, focus on the evil of the sin, not on its pleasure. Sins are committed against God Himself

“When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin a trifle; but when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought that God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so, and sought my good.”Charles Spurgeon

10 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.

Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Proverbs 5:7-8

How to have victory over temptation When you’re tempted, focus on the evil of the sin, not on its pleasure. Sins are committed against God Himself Stay far away from temptation!

11 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, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

Joseph came from a dysfunctional family. Joseph was sold into slavery; he had seemingly been abandoned. Joseph’s brothers Reuben and Judah were immoral. Joseph was a young man with hormones in full force. Potiphar’s wife had authority. Joseph’s family would never know. The Egyptian culture was filled with sexual immorality.

How to have victory over temptation When you’re tempted, focus on the evil of the sin, not on its pleasure. Sins are committed against God Himself Stay far away from temptation! Don’t let your mind try to justify the sin

Two kinds of temptation Natural: temptations which result from natural bodily needs (e.g. thirst, hunger) Carnal: temptations which result from the fallen nature (e.g. greed, envy)

Two Key Verses For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Two Latin Terms petuit non peccare able to not sin non petuit peccare not able to sin

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. James 1:13

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Two Definitions of πειράζω To test To entice to sin

Putting it all together Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him… Matthew 4:1-3

Putting it all together Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him… Matthew 4:1-3

Putting it all together Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him… Matthew 4:1-3

The Point to Remember! Jesus can relate to our natural needs He cannot relate to us in our proclivity to sin

The Three Sources of Temptation In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Eph 2:2-3

The Three Sources of Temptation In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Eph 2:2-3

The Three Sources of Temptation In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Eph 2:2-3

The Three Sources of Temptation In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Eph 2:2-3

How to deal with the world And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

How to deal with the devil Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

How to deal with the flesh (specifically sexual temptations) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Cor 6:18 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Tim 2:22

How to have victory over temptation When you’re tempted, focus on the evil of the sin, not on its pleasure. Sins are committed against God Himself Stay far away from temptation! Don’t let your mind try to justify the sin

How to have victory over temptation When you’re tempted, focus on the evil of the sin, not on its pleasure. Sins are committed against God Himself Stay far away from temptation! = FLEE!!! Don’t let your mind try to justify the sin

Before I came to Christ I was… non petuit non peccare After coming to Christ I now am… petuit non peccare Someday, my days will end on earth and I will be… non petuit peccare

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The shameless hussy was not in the least impressed by any of the higher considerations.