Resistance

"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?' As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her." -Genesis 39.6b-10

Joseph is doing well, and on top of that we learn that he was a decent looking fellow. After a while Potiphar's wife begins to take notice. At first, back when he was an entry level servant, she probably wouldn't even give him the time of day. But now, even though he is still a servant, he has prestige and power, and so she begins to take notice of him. Gradually her desires begin to get the best of her, and she begins to try and seduce Joseph into an affair. He doesn't give in, but as he is living in God's will, he is meeting resistance.

When we live in the center of God's will, we are blessed, along with the people around us. Our enemy hates this. He hates when we live obediently to God, and he hates when we enjoy any goodness from God. And so he is going to do anything he can to get us out of God's will so that the blessings cease. His purpose is to throw resistance at us from every angle, trying to get us to stumble.

Men, we will face resistance. Whenever we set out to do the right thing there will be those who oppose us. When we work to bring good to others there will be those who oppose us. Whenever we begin to stand out as leaders, there will be those who try and bring us down.

Resistance comes in many ways. Here in Genesis 39 it's with sex. It could be a bribe, or some opportunity to compromise your integrity. But be assured resistance will find you, and it will stand in your way. Stand firm against it. Joseph to his master's wife over and over and over again. She constantly tried to persuade him, and he never gave in. Let us stand firm against resistance as Joseph did.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor