Shalom brothers and sisters.
Today’s Bible Verse: Genesis 39:7-9
Verse Text: [Genesis 39:7-9 NKJV] 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what [is] with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 "[There is] no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you [are] his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
Lust is an immensely powerful temptation. Believe me, I know because I have fallen to it many times in life. There is no doubt that Joseph was a handsome man and that is why Potiphar’s wife was attracted to him.
Now, there is another argument in that Potiphar may have been a eunuch. Potiphar was the chief of Pharaoh’s guards and described as an officer of Pharaoh’s court. The word officer in Hebrew is sä·res' and can also be translated as eunuch.
[Genesis 37:36 KJV] 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, [and] captain of the guard.
This is born out in the KJV if we look at officer it is Strong’s H5631; sä·res'; it is seen that the prevalent usage is eunuch.
This gives Potiphar’s wife a stronger urge to lust for Joseph. Regardless, she was still Potiphar’s wife and not Joseph’s and Joseph was bound by Torah to not commit adultery.
[Exodus 20:17 NKJV] 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that [is] your neighbor's."
Covet is Strong’s H2530; khä·mad'. One of the Hebrew uses is lust.
Exodus 20:17 says that you, speaking of the male in a patriarchal society, should not lust after your neighbor’s wife, being the wife of your male neighbor. The reciprocal is also true; that is, the wife should not lust after her male neighbor.
[Genesis 39:9 NKJV] 9 "[There is] no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you [are] his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
When it comes down to it, Joseph recognized the sin situation and did his best to communicate this to Potiphar’s wife. He was doing the correct thing.
While on the subject of lust:
[Matthew 5:28 NKJV] 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[1 Corinthians 6:18-19 NKJV] 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
This brings us to pornography which is definitely sexual immorality. This is an exceedingly difficult subject because it has touched the lives of many, and it can be very embarrassing. Additionally, our society, particularly in the United States, has had sex pushed on us in just about every type of media there is. Regardless, pornography is still a form of lust and is a sinful thing to be involved with.
There is hope:
[1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV] 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].
Pornography is a temptation but if we recognize that each of us is the new temple where His Holy Spirit is to reside then we should have the desire to not allow this temptation to fulfill itself.
We have so many ways to escape pornography; not the least of which is the off button on the TV, computer, or phone. It may sound difficult but walking away from it is an option. Prayer is also another option after walking away.
[Romans 12:2 NKJV] 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
That is the ultimate solution. Sometimes, though, this realization only hits when we are at rock bottom but it does not have to be; do an examination of your life every day to see how you measure up to His word and make the corrections.
Go forth and spread this good news.
I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Walk Torah-ly. Shalom.
Today’s Bible Verse: Genesis 39:7-9
Verse Text: [Genesis 39:7-9 NKJV] 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what [is] with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 "[There is] no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you [are] his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
Lust is an immensely powerful temptation. Believe me, I know because I have fallen to it many times in life. There is no doubt that Joseph was a handsome man and that is why Potiphar’s wife was attracted to him.
Now, there is another argument in that Potiphar may have been a eunuch. Potiphar was the chief of Pharaoh’s guards and described as an officer of Pharaoh’s court. The word officer in Hebrew is sä·res' and can also be translated as eunuch.
[Genesis 37:36 KJV] 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, [and] captain of the guard.
This is born out in the KJV if we look at officer it is Strong’s H5631; sä·res'; it is seen that the prevalent usage is eunuch.
This gives Potiphar’s wife a stronger urge to lust for Joseph. Regardless, she was still Potiphar’s wife and not Joseph’s and Joseph was bound by Torah to not commit adultery.
[Exodus 20:17 NKJV] 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that [is] your neighbor's."
Covet is Strong’s H2530; khä·mad'. One of the Hebrew uses is lust.
Exodus 20:17 says that you, speaking of the male in a patriarchal society, should not lust after your neighbor’s wife, being the wife of your male neighbor. The reciprocal is also true; that is, the wife should not lust after her male neighbor.
[Genesis 39:9 NKJV] 9 "[There is] no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you [are] his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
When it comes down to it, Joseph recognized the sin situation and did his best to communicate this to Potiphar’s wife. He was doing the correct thing.
While on the subject of lust:
[Matthew 5:28 NKJV] 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[1 Corinthians 6:18-19 NKJV] 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
This brings us to pornography which is definitely sexual immorality. This is an exceedingly difficult subject because it has touched the lives of many, and it can be very embarrassing. Additionally, our society, particularly in the United States, has had sex pushed on us in just about every type of media there is. Regardless, pornography is still a form of lust and is a sinful thing to be involved with.
There is hope:
[1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV] 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].
Pornography is a temptation but if we recognize that each of us is the new temple where His Holy Spirit is to reside then we should have the desire to not allow this temptation to fulfill itself.
We have so many ways to escape pornography; not the least of which is the off button on the TV, computer, or phone. It may sound difficult but walking away from it is an option. Prayer is also another option after walking away.
[Romans 12:2 NKJV] 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
That is the ultimate solution. Sometimes, though, this realization only hits when we are at rock bottom but it does not have to be; do an examination of your life every day to see how you measure up to His word and make the corrections.
Go forth and spread this good news.
I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Walk Torah-ly. Shalom.
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