Joseph had been betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was far from home and from the eyes of everyone who knew him. But God was with him and allowed him to be promoted to steward in the house of his master, a man named Potiphar. That must have been heady stuff for a young man. But Joseph was not just smart, he was also handsome. And his master’s wife had taken notice. The next thing he knew he was faced with a moment of temptation. With Potiphar away on business and the house empty, Potiphar’s wife made an all-out attempt to seduce him.
Remember, Joseph was a man in his prime, single, abandoned by his family, and alone. Who would know? Why not do what everyone else does and simply give in to the temptation?
How many of us have been faced with that kind of temptation? Given the attention of an important person? Told we can have what our heart or our flesh craves? Away on business so who will know? What happens in Vegas … and all that? Do we give in?
Can God redeem your past? What things in your family or your past do you wish weren’t part of your personal history? Can God really use them for good? Do they disqualify you from serving God or ever being used in a meaningful way? Check out today’s reading in Genesis, especially the story of Judah and Tamar.
Our New Testament reading today is about the heart. What kind of heart do you have? Is it hard, stony, full of thorns, or is it the good ground?
“Is there an “unpardonable sin”? and “Could I have committed it?” Many people have wondered about and struggled with those questions. Maybe you have heard someone say, “I just don’t think God could forgive me for what I have done.” Maybe you’ve said it yourself. Jesus did address a sin that would not be forgiven. What was it?
Besides talking about the unpardonable sin, we’ll look at what it means when Jesus said that a house is swept and empty and why that is so dangerous. And we’ll look at one important requirement if we’re to trust God when life is hard. So, be sure to keep reading.
How many, seemingly, small compromises and decisions turn out to reap deadly consequences in our marriages, our parenting, or our thinking? What small things can turn our lives in directions we never intended?
Have you ever felt like you are wrestling with God? In Genesis 32, Jacob did just that. What was it all about? Did Jacob “win” a wrestling match with God? And why did he go away with a permanent limp?
Also, why would Jacob’s wife Rachel, after seeing all that God had done for her family, steal pagan idols from her father? And how did she use the fact that it was “that time of the month” to cover her sin? Is it possible we ladies do much the same thing?
It used to be soap operas. Now it’s reality TV, sort of like soap operas lived out live before the camera. But sadly, when you meet today’s cast of characters in our Old Testament reading, you’ll realize soap operas and reality TV have nothing on our spiritual ancestors. The Bible is full of stories about love, sex, rejection, envy, jealousy, adultery, immorality, scheming, deceit, greed, thievery, contention, and even murder (and that’s the short list)! Why did God lay out humanity’s dirty laundry here and in other passages of Scripture?
Today we’ll see once again that sinful behavior has consequences. And when it comes to parenting, one of the most devastating sins is favoritism. Add selfishness and manipulation to the equation and you have a destructive combination that can tear families apart. Isaac and Rebekah had to learn that lesson the hard way.
The consequences of favoritism, selfishness, and other sins can be long-lasting and painful to our families, too. How can we recognize and prevent those things in our parenting?
We’ll also read about the difference between righteous anger and sinful anger, the chastening of the Lord, and the importance of defending the faith in love.
Isaac’s twins, Jacob and Esau, grew up to be two very different men. Esau was a hunter and a man’s man. Jacob, it seems, was a mama’s boy and a homebody. Each of their parents favored one son over the other. Their favoritism would lead to serious issues in the family. But Esau had bigger problems. With complete disregard for the blessings of God, he would give away his birthright for some instant gratification. How can we be sure we never do the same thing?
Are you usually open, honest, and transparent or do you tend to hide who you are? Before you answer, think about the different relationships, social situations, and environments in which you find yourself.
The truth is many of us rather than being transparent are overly concerned about what people think of us. We’re concerned about first impressions. We struggle with thoughts like, “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t want to be my friend (co-worker, employer, etc.)” This plays out in dating relationships, in families, in the workplace, with our friends, with strangers, inside the church, and even with God.
What is it that makes us want to hide or try to be what others expect us to be? And why is it so important that we learn to be appropriately open and transparent with God and with people?
Some passages in the Bible are easy to understand, including many of the basic truths about God. But some are harder like God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and must be understood in light of other Scripture and God’s character. Today’s Old Testament passage is one of those. In our New Testament reading, we’ll see how God can use all things, even Satan and demons to bring about His purposes.
