Day 14 — Joseph Runs

“So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

— Genesis 39:9 (BSB)

“But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.”

— Genesis 39:12 (BSB)

When Joseph was seventeen, his jealous older brothers sold him as a slave. He was taken far from home to Egypt, where he was bought by an important officer named Potiphar.

It would have been easy for Joseph to become bitter. But the Bible says, “the LORD was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). Joseph worked so hard and so honestly that Potiphar put him in charge of his whole household.

But then trouble came. Potiphar’s wife kept trying to get Joseph to do something wrong with her, something that would betray his master and sin against God. She asked him day after day.

Joseph said no. Look at his reason: “How could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” Joseph knew that doing wrong wasn’t just breaking a rule. It was sinning against God, who loved him and had been so good to him.

One day, when nobody else was in the house, she grabbed Joseph by his cloak. And Joseph did the smartest thing he could have done. He didn’t stay and argue. He didn’t try to be clever. He ran. He ran so fast that he left his cloak behind in her hands!

Sometimes the bravest thing to do with temptation is to run away from it. The Bible even tells young people to “flee” from wrong desires (2 Timothy 2:22). Don’t stay close to find out how strong you are. Get out!

That might mean leaving a sleepover when kids start doing something wrong. Closing a website. Walking away from a group that’s gossiping. Getting off a game when people start using bad language.

Joseph’s story didn’t have an easy ending right away. Potiphar’s wife lied about him, and Joseph was thrown into prison for something he didn’t do! Doing the right thing doesn’t always make life easy. But even in prison, “the LORD was with him” (Genesis 39:21). And later, God raised Joseph up to become the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.

Think about it: Why do you think Joseph ran instead of staying to argue? When is running away the best choice?

Try this: Think of a situation where you might need to “run” from temptation. Decide now what you’ll do if it happens.

Dear God, thank You for Joseph’s example. When I’m tempted, help me remember that sin is against You, who loves me so much. Give me the wisdom and courage to run away from temptation instead of staying close to it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.