Lesson Text: Genesis 39:7-21
Background Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23
Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
INTRODUCTION
Temptations come in many forms. Some people are tempted to lie or steal. Others are tempted to abuse drugs or alcohol. The greatest allurement for many is gossip or gluttony. Others might be tempted by possessions or power. But many, sexual immorality is Satan's greatest lure.
When people succumb to any of the above, the tendency of some is to wonder how they could fall prey to such a sin. It is often hard for us to see ourselves being ensnared in certain ways. But given the right circumstances, there is no sin any of us are incapable of committing.
Of course, Satan knows our weaknesses and will provide opportunities where we are most vulnerable to being caught in his snare. Peter's boasting (Luke 22:31-34) and Judas's greed (John 12:4-6) set them up for the temptations that led to their respective falls.
Joseph, however, resisted temptation. He thus provides a model for us in gaining victory over sin.
The lessons this quarter have revolved around God's establishment of and care for His people Israel.
The context of this week's lesson is found in Genesis 39:1-6. Joseph had been sold by his jealous brothers to a band of Ishmaelite merchants on their way to Egypt to sell spices (chap. 37). Once in Egypt, Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Joseph flourished and excelled in Potiphar's service as the Lord blessed them both.
LESSON BACKGROUND
The first three lessons of the quarter featured Abram/Abraham to introduce the theme "God Establishes a Faithful People." Abraham is the first person in the Bible about whom it is said that he believed God (Genesis 15:5). The writer of the book of Hebrews, however, cites three others lived before Abraham whose lives exemplified faith (Abel, Enoch, and Noah, per Hebrews 11:4-7).
Abraham died at age 175. At that time, grandsons Jacob and Esau, were 15 (Genesis 21:5; 25:7,8,26). The fact that Abraham had only two grandsons through Isaac may have cause Abraham to wonder about the rate at which God was moving to fulfill the promise that his descendants would be as many as the stars (15:5). These grandsons began to change things, for Jacob became the father of 12 sons (35:23-26), and Esau had 5 sons (36:4,5).
It is Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, who is featured in this lesson and the next three. Joseph was the first son of Jacob's favorite wife (Rachel), and Jacob demonstrated favoritism in giving Joseph a multicolored robe, the kind worn by persons in places of royalty (Genesis 37:3). The same word is used in 2 Samuel 13:18 for a robe worn by a daughter of King David.
This preferential treatment produced jealously on the part of Joseph's older brothers (Genesis 47:4). This intensified when Joseph related two of his dreams that depicted family members paying homage to him (37:5-9). When the brothers had an opportunity, they mistreated Joseph and sold him into slavery. As Jacob had once deceived his own father (Genesis 27:5-33), so he was deceived in turn by his sons: they dipped Joseph's robe in the blood of an animal, presented it to Jacob, and asked him to identify the robe. This caused Jacob to believe that his favorite son was dead (37:31-35).
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