Run Forrest Run

Run Forrest Run

"She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!"  But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." Genesis 39:12

Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob and highly favored by his father.   Because of this, his brothers resented him to the point of hatred.  And when he began relating his dreams (prophetic visions showing Joseph one day ruling over his family), their jealousy became too much.  They sold Joseph into slavery and told Jacob that he had been killed by wild animals.

Joseph was sold to a high-ranking Egyptian named Potiphar and eventually became the supervisor of Potiphar's household.  It was obvious to Potiphar and his wife that God looked favorably on Joseph.  Here's where it starts to read like a steamy novel though.  Genesis 39 tells us that Joseph was well-built and handsome and Potiphar's wife took notice (talk about a desperate housewife!).  She attempted to seduce Joseph over and over and he rebuffed her time and again saying, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?  And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her." Genesis 39:9-10.  Notice here that he didn't say a sin against Potiphar?  He knew it was ultimately against His creator and that's what mattered.

Joseph avoided Potiphar's wife as much as possible.  He refused her advances day after day, again and again but, boy, was she persistent!!  Sin is like this, left in your life, the temptations become greater and greater.  Finally came the day when she grabbed him and he had to make a choice.  And, this is the best part!  Joseph ran!  He didn't even bother to take his coat.  Scripture says he "ran out of the house."

Unfortunately, the wife then falsely accused him of rape and Joseph was thrown in jail where he interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners and... it's a great story.  I'll let you read the rest.

The point is this, when Joseph knew that he could not resist this sin any longer, he ran away from it.  He didn't hesitate, he didn't make excuses.  He acknowledged that it (along with all other sins) is a sin against God and he ran.  Sometimes, we have to go to this extreme to avoid falling into temptation.  We all like to run anyway, right?

In the words of Jenny Curran (think Forrest Gump) "<hearing that Forrest is going to Vietman> Listen, you promise me something, OK?  Just if you're ever in trouble, don't be brave.  You just run OK?"  Wise words, I'd say.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the Father we can run to in times of trouble.  Please help us to remember that we are helpless to overcome sin without your help and guidance.  May we run away from any sin that has taken a hold in our lives.  In your name, Amen.