HOME top. Recalling his brothers' treat ment, it had been a long, rugged climb. For ten years he had worked as a slave in Egypt. Nothing was heard from home or friends. On his own he had been industrious and now had a valued position in the house of Potiphar. As a keen businessman he was given a com pletely free hand to run his mas ter's house. The temptation to sexual adven ture came from Potiphar's wife. Human nature might have urged him to remember that it would make sense to stay in good with the boss's wife. She could do a great deal to further his career see ing that more promotions came.. Joseph was shrewd enough to real ize that "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." To turn down her advances would make her look cheap and dirty. Since she was the wife of his employer, she could give him a pay envelope full of trouble. In a situation like this, it would be hard to convince most men that purity pays. He could have taken this oppor tunity to please his employer's wife
By DR. HADDON W. ROBINSON Associate Professor of Practical Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary in secret for there were no servants anywhere in the house. Joseph could win her favor and no one would ever know. One of the su preme tests of your character is what you will do if you are abso lutely certain no one will ever find out! The temptation was persistent as the woman spoke to Joseph day- after-day. She urged him continu ally to sin. Finally, in desperation, she grabbed hold of him so that the deed might be consumated. Many men of the Bible, as well as today, have fallen before such ad vances. Some who have been vic tors in open battle have been vic tims to this continued guerrilla warfare of the enemy. Joseph, however, saw the temp tation for what it really was. The destroyer had attacked in disguise. He saw it as "this great crime" and "sin against God." You see, adul tery is not merely sin because of the Ten Commandments, or be cause preachers today condemn it. Condemnation does not make it wrong. If sexual looseness is wrong we cannot make it right by calling Page 11
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