Saying No . . . When Others Say Yes

Temptation successfully resisted. may not bring expected results. I mean right about now you want to say, okay Lord, bless this guy. 17 years? Turning down this woman?

17 years of uprightness and character, now's the time to step into his role as prime minister. Not yet. In fact, as a result of successfully resisting temptation, Joseph is now thrown in prison. And I can imagine him sitting there in a heap saying, Lord, thanks. A lot.

Our battle with temptation is hard enough. But it's really hard to say no to sin when people all around you are saying yes. Maybe you find yourself struggling with temptation. Maybe you have people in your life who even encourage you to do things that dishonor God. Today's message is for you.

This is Wisdom for the Heart. Stephen Davey continues his series through the life of Joseph. He's called this message, saying no. when others say yes. We're going to talk about a subject that everyone faces sooner or later in life.

And often sooner. It makes itself available to the young and to the old, to the spiritually immature, to the spiritually mature. It is the subject of temptation. And no one better than Joseph gives us some principles on how to say no when everyone else is saying yes.

So let's dig right in. Genesis chapter 39. And let's begin with verse 1.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt where Joseph's brothers have sold him to the Midianites for a contemporary value of about $50. Each of the brothers got about $4.50 out of the sale, but it was fine with them as long as they were rid of this dreamer because they hated, they were incensed with his dreams for one reason. They knew his dreams were going to come true. and they were not about to bow at his feet. and they were incensed that God had in effect chosen him rather than them.

It says that Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. I think it would help us, men and women, if we took a look at Egypt for just a brief moment, because we're talking about a faraway country that we know little about. Historians tell us that Joseph went to Egypt during the 15th dynasty. There were 31 dynasties in all. This was the Hyksos, or the 15th dynasty, which means that Egypt is a 1,000-year-old power.

They are the dominating force. They are the wealthiest nation in the known world. Egypt was astounding its contemporaries with their architecture as they had already built the pyramids of Gaiza. They were astounding everyone with their creativity because the Sphinx had already been carved by the time Joseph arrives in Egypt. They were astounding mathematically, architecturally, and in medicine.

They were the marvel. I can't help but imagine what it must have been like for Joseph, who was a wanderer, the son of a nomad, living his life in a tent, now being introduced to this magnificent civilization. This developed culture as Egypt. When he was taken by Potiphar, the colorful words of one expositor I think would be helpful, F. B.

Meyer, writes these words. Hadaphar was an Egyptian grandee, a member of a proud aristocracy, high in office and in court favor. Joseph would no doubt live in a splendid palace, covered with hieroglyphs and filled with slaves. the young captive must have trembled as he passed up the pillared avenue, through sphinx guarded gates, into the recesses of that vast Egyptian palace where they spoke a language of which he could not understand a word, and where all was so new and so strange. While I can't imagine it, I have certainly tried.

I think it would help us a little bit more to understand who Potiphar is. You probably know the text says that he was the captain of the bodyguard. What this means is that he was perhaps the most trusted man to Pharaoh, he was the individual responsible for his livelihood. And he was the captain, which meant that he had somehow reached the top of the heap. A very wealthy man.

A man whom Pharaoh had entrusted with great wealth, So here was a man with incredible power, with authority, perhaps ranking up there among the very top, and Joseph that's elected by him. And all in this, you, I think, can see the hand of God.

So let me lead you now to the temptation that he is facing. Let's look at verse 2. And the Lord was with Joseph. You want to underline that phrase in your text because it occurs seven times. It's a theme that runs throughout this chapter.

The Lord was with Joseph.

So he became a successful man. Did you get that first? He was successful with God before the scriptures would record he was a successful man. And he was in the house of his master.

Now this is a little confusing because we miss uh the chronology. He became successful. Up until this point, Joseph was probably sleeping and quartering with all of the rest of the slaves. But he became successful. He distinguished himself as a slave of great promise.

And so Potiphar, according to the text, somewhere in there, moves him into his house. Know what happens next. Verse 3.

Now his master saw that the Lord was with him. interesting that the master saw. circle or underline that because Joseph didn't tell him that the Lord was with him. I don't think he knocked on his door and he said, I want you to know that I am the servant of the living God. No.

He in effect lived in such a distinguishing life that sooner or later Potiphar took note that this man was led by his God. And perhaps in there somewhere Joseph was able to explain to him What had happened and how the Lord caused all that he did last part of verse 3 to prosper in his hand So verse 4, Joseph found favor in his sight, and he became his personal servant. Here again is another promotion. He moves out of the slave quarters into the home of Potiphar, and now, among all the servants there in that home, he is now the personal. slave, the personal attendant.

to Potiphar himself. That's not all. Potiphar made him an overseer, or could be translated in the Septuagint, steward over his house. And all that he owned he put in his charge.

Now, I have to stop here because the same thing happened when we studied the life of Daniel. You remember, as I said, that Daniel and Joseph are the only two individuals that the Bible records nothing negative. about their lives. both of them similar in their lifestyles, taken from their homes, in a very pagan, immoral society, and yet they both live such lives that God prospers them. But what I find fascinating is that both Joseph and Daniel had every reason in the world to chuck their jobs.

They had every reason in the world to do all kinds of little sabotage. You know, to try to bring down this pagan kingdom. If I had been Joseph, I would probably be tunneling out. Creating some way to escape maybe back home, but Somewhere in all of this, Joseph resigned himself that this was God's plan. And rather than be the slave that's sloughed off, Rather than be the servant than worked at getting out of work.

Have you ever worked around someone like that? Joseph was determined to be diligent. And as a result, his master Took him and promoted him. And note verse 5: And it came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptians' house on account of Joseph. We know behind the scenes that God's responsible.

Thus the Lord's blessing was upon all that Potiphar owned in the house and in the field. As soon as he gives him the promotion, his cattle reproduce more rapidly. The crops are bumper crops. This is great, he thinks.

So, verse 6, Potiphar's no dummy. He left everything he owned in Joseph's charge. And with him, note this, he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.

Now the text is about to set us up. Look at the next phrase.

Now Joseph was handsome in form. and appearance. That's the biblical way of saying Joseph was handsome and well-built. He was handsome in form. That is, this man was.

Good lucking. and well built. There's nothing wrong with being good-looking and well-built. It's just not fair. But this was Joseph?

This guy had it made! We begin to cringe because we think of what may happen next.

Now let's stop here for just a moment. Let me give you what one commentator has given is very helpful. Three kinds of temptations that you and I face. You could categorize these, I doubt this is comprehensive, but most of what we face in our daily lives comes from one of these three categories. The first is material.

That is a lust for things. And that can be a lust for something as small as a ring, to something as large as a new home. But there is the flame that burns. It is a lust. It is a desire to have more.

thing. And we all feel it. We all face it. The second kind of temptation would be what we could call personal. Temptation.

And this is a lust for fame, for prestige, for honor, for position. And this kind of individual will make sure that he shakes the right hands, he's seen with the right people, he does everything possible to somehow claw and scratch his way to the top of the heath, because that's where I want to be. A lust. for preeminence. We battle with that too, don't we?

to have our way. There is a third, and that is the sensual. temptation. And that is gratification. of physical desires.

lusting after someone else. As I tried to apply this To Joseph, I found that it matched in all three counts. Joseph is a man who is facing perhaps the material temptation. Because you remember what it was like back with the old people there tending the sheep. There wasn't anything nice, there was rarely anything fancy, why it was just plain, old living, comfortable yes, but a fluid no.

And now he is taken from that and deposited in this wealthy, civilized world with all kinds of luxuries. Perhaps he faced the temptation of wanting. desiring to have what these Egyptians had. Personal? Oh yes, I am sure that he was perhaps a bit heady at times when Potiphar calls him in and says, Joseph, I want to promote you.

You don't live with the rest of the slaves, now you live in my home. And then He gives him the elevated position of steward, and I can imagine Joseph looking in the mirror and saying, You are really something. You're coming up fast. Quite a guy. He's human.

And in the sensual, the gratification of physical desires is about to knock at its door. Let's see how he handles it. Verse 7. And it came about after these events. Pause just a moment.

This has been now 17 years. He will be, I believe, 32 years of age when this happens. No longer a teenager, he's a grown man.

Now, after these things, after all of these promotions, that his master's wife doesn't even give her name, looked with desire. Joseph. And she said, lie with me.

Now, this attack makes me blush to even preach this text. She has no scruples, but you'll notice at the end of her comment, there's just a period.

Now, if you'll note down at verse 12, you should have an exclamation point. And I think that's significant because the first is something more like a suggestion. The latter one is an imperative, it's a command.

Well, the first time she approaches him, she probably, although the text doesn't tell us, But he refused. It gives us the nature of his refusal.

Now you'll note that this time he stands and he talks with her, perhaps because she approaches him without that demanding that will come later. And so he basically gives her three reasons, and I love this, why he will not sin. The first, if you're taking notes, he basically says, I would break the trust. of my master. I would violate or break the trust of my master.

Look, he says in verse 8, He refused, and said to his master's wife, Behold, or look, with me here my master does not concern himself with anything in the house. And he's put all that he owns in my charge. That is, he's left everything up to me, he's given me great responsibility. I can't violate the trust of this man in my life. He had professional integrity.

That is incredibly rare. But he doesn't stop there. He says, Not only would I violate my master's trust, I would also violate my character. Look at verse 9. I love this.

There is no one greater in this house than I. I think this could be translated, there is no one with greater responsibility than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil? You notice that? How then could I do This great evil.

One man wrote that he is about to lose his coat, but he will keep his character. Not like that. He would not violate his character and do this great thing. compromise. Fudge a little bit.

You know, start a romantic affair. An alternate lifestyle? No. While our society today gives all kinds of clever little phrases, about things that go on. Joseph nails it down.

He says, this great evil. And he says, I cannot violate my character. It is worth more to me than you. He goes on to say, I think the third and the most powerful element in this refusal. He says, Let's begin with verse 9.

There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and, number three, sin against God? In other words, I would forfeit my fellowship with God. I would violate the trust of my master, I would violate the nature of my character, and I would violate or forfeit the fellowship with my God. And I think it's interesting that seven times you hear the phrase, his God was with him somehow, some way.

He lived with the sense that God was involved in his life. And I think that strikes at the very core of personal purity, saying no to temptation. That is, having a relationship with God that we fear more than anything else we would violate. Plato used to tell a story to his students of a shepherd boy who discovered a ring. out in the field.

And when he'd slipped that ring on, it would make him unknown or unrecognizable to anyone in his village.

So he was given anonymity. And the shepherd prior to this discovery was a very moral young man. an upstanding, hard worker. But he began slipping that ring on, and soon Plato says he became a terrible wicked sinner. With that thought in mind, I have thought of Joseph, who has been given anonymity.

Nobody knows him in Egypt. Nobody. If there is a perfect time to sin, it's now. No one recognizes him. All of his family's back, way over there somewhere.

He doesn't think he'll ever go back. And listen. I can come up with some good reasons why I should do this. I'm young, single. God has, it seems, abandoned me.

This is the lifestyle. This is accepted. And no one will know. And yet, even in the light of anonymity, Joseph says no.

Well, you come to the last part of that verse and you kind of go, wow. Bad. Glad that's over with.

Next verse. And it came about as she spoke to Joseph, Day. After Day. A man. What a woman.

that he did not listen to her. to lie beside her or note this be with her He makes it clear now that he's going to try to steer clear of this woman because every time he sees her, it's another proposition.

So he tries to stay away. He tries to steer clear. It doesn't work very well because it says she spoke to him every day.

So, somewhere along the line, she corners him. You know, in terms of a woman who doesn't know God, Joseph had every reason to be attractive to her. Handsome, young, moral, upright, hardworking, Joseph was a catch. And it's interesting if you study Proverbs chapter 6 and 7, who does the temptress or the tempter seek after? It is the what?

The precious life. It's people like you. It's the one who is seeking to glorify God. It is the individual who is seeking to live an upright life. That's The kind of person that's attractive to a needy in a lost world that has no moral bearing.

you're a very attractive person. to the world system. Finally, Verse 11, she sets the stage.

Now it happened one day, and I think she planned it, the little rascal, that he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the household were there inside. In other words, she'd gotten rid of all of the servants. No one was inside. And she caught him by the garment this time, saying, Exclamation point, lie with me. It was a demand.

And I've tried to understand why she felt she had the right to demand. And I think if you go back into that culture, You have to remember he's still a slave. She feels like she owns him. She felt like she had race. And I imagine that Satan could whisper in his ear, she does have rights.

She owns you. He may have been a slave, but She didn't known as Saul. And he left his garment in her hand, and fled and went outside. The Hebrew indicates literally to the street. He left the garment in her hand and ran out into the street.

I've often wondered what he did out there. He probably just stood there waiting for he knows what would happen. Because of what she'll do next. I like the King James here. He fled.

He got himself out. It's like nobody else will get me out of here, so I'll get myself out of here. And he ran out into the street. She's not finished. When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, She begins literally to scream.

Verse 14, she called to the men of her household and said to them, See, he came into me to lie with me, and I screamed. And it came about when he heard that I raised my voice and screamed, that he left his garment beside me and fled. And he's out there in the street.

So she left his garment beside her until his master, her husband, came home. Then she spoke to him with these words The Hebrew slave whom you brought to us came in to me to make sport of me, and it happened as I raised my voice and screamed that he left his garment beside me and fled outside.

Now it came about when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him. That his anger burns. burned. You know what's missing? Who is his anger burning against?

Here is, let me conjecture with you for just a moment, that his anger is not at Joseph. Because he is the chief executioner. And if this young slave has attempted rape, he's dead. But you know what he does? He took him, verse 20, and put him into jail.

Whose jail? The place where the king's prisoners were confined. In other words, he puts him into the prison that he is responsible for. He puts him in with Those in bonds that he oversees. He allows them to live.

I think if we could pull back the pages of history and observe that occasion, that Potiphar was very angry with himself. I have no doubt that he knew his wife well. In fact, she indicates in verse 14 her disrespect of him when she says, See, he has brought in a Hebrew slave, this husband of mine. an indication that there were problems. He's also angry at her.

But he allows them to live. Note what happens, verse 21, but the LORD was with Joseph, and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. And the chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail.

so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him. It's like he gave him a keyring and he said, Joseph, You look over everything and make sure everything is in order.

So God promotes him. Even there. And whatever the last part of verse 23 he did, the Lord made him. to prosper. What a story.

familiar and yet so applicable. In fact, let me give you two. Let's take an honest look at temptation. any kind, whether it's material, Whether you are struggling with something you want to purchase, you want to have, or personal. Perhaps you feel God isn't dealing you the right deck, and so you're going to scrape your way to get just a notch higher.

Perhaps it's sensual. It is struggling with the gratification of physical desires. Let's take an honest look. Let me give you two things. First of all, from this story, we learn temptation once resisted.

may not immediately disappear. That's why I said an honest look, because I don't really like that. We'd like to think that if we resisted once, God goes poop and God. Phew, took care of that one. I'll never face that again in my life.

No, it does not immediately disappear. In fact, with Joseph, it was a reoccurring theme for perhaps 15 years. Secondly, Temptation successfully resisted. may not bring expected results. That's obvious.

I mean, right about now you want to say, okay, Lord, man, bless this guy. Seventeen years? Turning down this woman? 17 years of uprightness and character?

Now's the time to grease the skids. It's now time to step into his role as Prime Minister. Not yet. In fact, as a result of successfully resisting temptation, Joseph is now thrown in prison. And I can imagine him sitting there in a heap saying, Lord, thanks.

A lot? You see, we're built that way. We like to think that if we find $1,000 in a wallet and we return the wallet, they're going to split it with us as a reward. We're going to get a thank you. I read recently of a young fellow who was writing in his paper route and he discovered a sack that had somehow fallen off or gotten lost, I have no idea how, but a brink armored car.

And in it was something like $60,000. And this guy returned it. But a guy. And they gave him $500. And the paper quoted him saying, I wish I had kept it all.

I think I would have too. I know what I would have done, I'd have called them on the phone and said, look, I'll return this if you, you know, and then give them a figure. We would like to think that when we resist, God rewards us. It's time for thanks. And Joseph feels the dampness of a prison cell.

surrounded by legitimate criminals, One phrase makes it worth it all. He doesn't know this right now, by the way, but you and I can read it. Look back at verse 21. But the Lord was with the Lord. Joseph.

He'll discover it very soon, but look back at verse 2. And the Lord was with Joseph, that is, as a successful servant, rising the ranks. Being a steward and responsible for all that his master has, God was with him, and we say, That's obvious, God's with them. But, verse 21. God was with him.

in the prison cell. You and I can in no way resist. The constant bombardment of temptation, apart from that phrase, the Lord was with him. That is the cultivation of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And I trust that you can say.

The Lord is with me. He is giving me the strength. when others say yes. to say no. Thanks for joining us today.

Here on Wisdom for the Heart. This daily broadcast features the Bible teaching ministry of Stephen Davy. Stephen is the President of Wisdom International and the pastor of the Shepherds Church in Cary, North Carolina. I encourage you to install the Wisdom International app to your phone.

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