Gen 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Genesis 39 is about Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was sold into Egypt and worked in the house of a man called Potiphar. Joseph did his job well and was promoted to the position of overseer of his master’s house. Potiphar put him in charge of everything in his house (v.1-6). Joseph was young and handsome. His master’s wife took a liking on him. She tried many times to seduce Joseph to go to bed with her. Each time Joseph rejected her advances (v.7-10). One day while they were alone in the house, she caught hold of Joseph’s garment and forced him to go to bed with her. Joseph left his coat and fled out of the house. Furious, she accused Joseph before her husband that Joseph had tried to rape her. Potiphar put Joseph in prison (v.11-23). Joseph was a young man, long way from home, presumed dead by his father, and betrayed by his brethren; he had every reason to give up on God and give himself wholly to his fleshly desires. He had nothing to lose by sleeping with his master’s wife. But he said: “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (v.9). What can we learn from his answer to Potiphar’s wife? 1. He was a Grateful person.  “Neither hath he kept back any thing from me.” Potiphar had treated him very well; he could not betray him. He would not return evil for good. Gratitude means we return good for the good we have received. And, the persons we owe the most in this world are our parents. Parents never fall out with their children; only children fall out with their parents. They are the ungrateful ones who cause pain and sorrow to their parents. Filial Piety is a repayment of our love to our parents: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother” (Ephesians 4:1, 2a). 2. He was an Upright person. “Because thou art his wife.” Joseph understood that he was in charge of everything in the house except his master’s wife. He knew it was a sin to covet a neighbour’s wife long before the Ten Commandments were given. Be like Joseph: “That woman is someone else’s wife; I must not touch her.” Paul wrote: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, ………. shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10). 3. He was a Godly person. “How can I do this wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph knew it was a sin and God didn’t like it. Many will continue to do wickedness even when they know God hates what they are doing (Romans 1:18-32). The homosexuals, the fornicators, adulterers, drunkards, gamblers, thieves, and many others, know what they are doing are sinful but they will not repent. Why? The answer: They don’t have God. Joseph reverend God. He knows there is a God in heaven who is looking down and He sees everything. He does not want to do anything that God hates. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6). It is hard to find a person like Joseph these days. Joseph is an example for us to follow. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11, 12). When tempted, think of Joseph.