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,
Joseph had risen from slave to steward in an Egyptian officer's house. On this ordinary day he went in to work and found himself alone with the woman who kept pressing him to sin.
A snare inside the place of blessing
Joseph's trouble grew out of his success. When hardship failed to break him, the attack simply changed shape.
Hamilton SmithWe should not expect the devil to leave alone a life that is beautiful in the sight of God and man. Devotion to the Lord exposes Joseph to the hatred of the devil. The devil had completely failed to overcome Joseph by the world's disapproval and by hard circumstances. So he changes his tactics and tries to overcome Joseph by the pleasures of sin. In Potiphar's wife he has a ready tool to tempt Joseph, and the circumstances favour her evil plans. As it turned out, the temptation only served to bring out the moral excellence of Joseph.
Caught on duty, not in idleness
He was not loitering where he had no business; his work took him there. And going to Potiphar would have solved nothing.
L. M. GrantWhen Potiphar's wife kept urging Joseph to commit adultery with her, what could he do but firmly refuse? If he reported it to Potiphar, she would accuse him of lying, and probably say that Joseph had tried to seduce her. Finally the day came when no one else was present. Joseph had to go into the house to take care of his work. She caught him by his garment and demanded again that he commit adultery with her.
No human help in the room
Nobody was there to see, and nobody was there to advise him. What held him back came from somewhere else.
William KellyJoseph had no father near to counsel him when the temptation arose, and it came again and again through his master's wife. But he utterly refused her shameless flattery, as one who sees the Unseen. The ten commandments had not yet been spoken; but he feared God, and he was jealous for his master's honour.
Escape by running
Joseph did not argue or test his own strength; he ran. One writer makes that the rule for everyone.
F. W. GrantOur prayer can never be, "Lead us into temptation," and therefore we are never to act as if this were our prayer. In every case where escape is possible without disloyalty, we are to flee rather than face it. "Flee youthful passions." "Abstain from the passions of the flesh." Flee, as Joseph fled; and there was, perhaps, no bolder man.
The thought that saved him
The sin would have wronged three people, yet a fourth name held Joseph back.
F. B. HoleHere the testing met him day after day. Nothing preserved him but his fear of God, and his sense of the great wickedness of the seduction placed before him. Whether young or old, as we pass through this defiling world, we do well to keep this question in our hearts: "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Had he complied, he would have sinned against the woman, against Potiphar, and against himself. But the controlling and saving thought was "against God."
The price of a clear conscience
Refusal did not end the attack; it changed its form. The same woman who wanted him now wanted him destroyed.
Hamilton SmithHaving failed as the tempter, the devil now becomes the persecutor. The woman who had earlier cast her evil eyes on Joseph now bears false witness against him with a lying tongue. As an old writer said, "Those who have broken the bonds of modesty will never be held by the bonds of truth." … In the end Joseph escapes from a bad woman and keeps a good conscience. But keeping a good conscience may cost much. Joseph has to exchange the comfort of Potiphar's house for the hardships of Pharaoh's prison.
A shadow of Christ
Joseph suffered though he had done right. One writer sees a likeness to Christ here, but marks its limit.
William KellyHere we see the holy young man resisting the tempter, enduring grief, suffering wrongfully. And this is grace in the day of trial. … Joseph could be no real picture of the atonement; but of Christ's suffering unjustly and in grace he was a blessed foreshadow.
Summary
- Alone in blessing. Prosperity and trust did not shield Joseph; they drew the attack.
- Alone on duty. His work took him into that house. Doing your duty can walk you straight into the test.
- Alone with God. No father was there to counsel him, so he acted as one who sees the Unseen.
- Alone, so he ran. Where escape is possible without disloyalty, run — as Joseph ran. What held him was the thought of sinning "against God."
- Alone, and accused. The tempter turned persecutor. Joseph kept a good conscience and lost his comfort — suffering wrongly, as Christ later would.