The Key Question

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge. It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the Lord’s blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field. So he left everything he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. 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 sin against God?’” 
Genesis 39:2-9

When you are in the middle of the heat of temptation, are you thinking clearly, or are you focusing on the object of your temptation? A wise person will prepare for temptation because it is an everyday experience of life.

When facing temptation, bring yourself into check long enough to ask yourself these questions:
1. Is this temptation a violation of the Scriptures?
2. What have been the consequences in the lives of other people who yielded to this sin?
3. If I yield to this sin, how will it affect me?
4. Am I willing to pay the consequences of yielding to this temptation?
5. Will yielding to this temptation satisfy me or only stir up stronger desires?
6. Is yielding to this temptation a wise decision or a foolish one?
7. How can I do this great evil and sin against God?

These questions defuse the bomb of temptation in the life of the child of God who chooses to live in obedience to the will of God, the Father.

“...How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9