Theologische Nuggets IV (Genesis 34 - 44:26)

Genesis 39:8-9

Er weigerte sich aber und sprach zur Frau seines Herrn: Siehe, mein Herr kümmert sich selbst um nichts, was im Hause ist, und alles, was er hat, das hat er in meine Hände gegeben;

Josef weigerte sich auf die Frau einzugehen. Er weigerte sich, mit der Frau seines Chefs zu schlafen. Somit zeigt er sich schonmal viel standhafter als seine Brüder Ruben und Juda. Einer der Gründe warum Josef sich nicht auf diese Frau einlassen will, liegt darin das sein Chef ihm alles anvertraut hat was ihm gehört und er keinen Vertrauensbruch begehen will. 

Joseph's refusal is immediate and direct. He does not react angrily, knowing his place, but he allows for no flirtatious conversation.

John D. Barry u. a., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Gen 39,8.

er ist in diesem Hause nicht größer als ich, und er hat mir nichts vorenthalten außer dir, weil du seine Frau bist. Wie sollte ich denn nun ein solch großes Übel tun und gegen Gott sündigen?

Es ist tatsächlich schon so weit gekommen zwischen Josef und Potiphar, dass sie auf Augenhöhe waren. Man könnte vielleicht sogar schon von einer intensiven Freundschaft sprechen. Und es gab nur drei Dinge, die Potiphar für sich behielt: Essen, Trinken und seine Frau. Das ist der zweite Grund warum Josef sich zurückhält und zwar, dass die Frau als Tabu dargestellt wurde. 

Der dritte Grund ist vielleicht der wichtigste: Josef wusste, dass mit der Frau Potiphars zu schlafen, eine Sünde gegen Gott ist. Es ist unmoralisch und gegen das Gesetz Gottes. Josef ist loyal, gut erzogen und vor allem gottesfürchtig. 

The lessons given Joseph in his youth by Jacob in expressing his firm trust in God and relating to him again and again the precious evidences of His loving-kindness and unceasing care were the very lessons he needed in his exile among an idolatrous people. In the testing time he put these lessons to a practical use. When under the severest trial, he looked to his heavenly Father, whom he had learned to trust. Had the precepts and example of the father of Joseph been of an opposite character, the pen of inspiration would never have traced upon the pages of sacred history the story of integrity and virtue that shines forth in the character of Joseph. The early impressions made upon his mind garrisoned his heart in the hour of fierce temptation and led him to exclaim, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Ellen Gould White, Child Guidance (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1954), 197.

It is always a critical period in a young man's life when he is separated from home influences and wise counsels and enters upon new scenes and trying tests. But if he does not of his own accord place himself in these positions of danger and remove himself from parental restraint; if, without will or choice of his own, he is placed in dangerous positions and relies upon God for strength—cherishing the love of God in his heart—he will be kept from yielding to temptation by the power of God who placed him in that trying position. God will protect him from being corrupted by the fierce temptation. God was with Joseph in his new home. He was in the path of duty, suffering wrong but not doing wrong. He therefore had the love and protection of God for he carried his religious principle into everything he undertook.Joseph's faith and integrity were to be tested by fiery trials. His master's wife endeavored to entice the young man to transgress the law of God. Heretofore he had remained untainted by the corruption teeming in that heathen land; but this temptation, so sudden, so strong, so seductive—how should it be met? Joseph knew well what would be the consequence of resistance. On the one hand were concealment, favor, and rewards; on the other, disgrace, imprisonment, perhaps death. His whole future life depended upon the decision of the moment. Would principle triumph? Would Joseph still be true to God? With inexpressible anxiety, angels looked upon the scene.Joseph's answer reveals the power of religious principle. He would not betray the confidence of his master on earth, and, whatever the consequences, he would be true to his Master in heaven. Under the inspecting eye of God and holy angels many take liberties of which they would not be guilty in the presence of their fellow men, but Joseph's first thought was of God. "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" he said.If we were to cherish an habitual impression that God sees and hears all that we do and say and keeps a faithful record of our words and actions, and that we must meet it all, we would fear to sin.

Ellen Gould White, Conflict and Courage (Review and Herald, 1970), 75–76.

The Lord prospered Joseph, but in the midst of his prosperity comes the darkest adversity. The wife of his master is a licentious woman, one who urged his steps to take hold on hell. Will Joseph yield his moral gold of character to the seductions of a corrupt woman? Will he remember that the eye of God is upon him?Few temptations are more dangerous or more fatal to young men than the temptation to sensuality, and none if yielded to will prove so decidedly ruinous to soul and body for time and eternity. The welfare of his entire future is suspended upon the decision of a moment. Joseph calmly casts his eyes to heaven for help, slips off his loose outer garment, leaving it in the hand of his tempter, and while his eye is lighted with determined resolve in the place of unholy passion, he exclaims, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" The victory is gained; he flees from the enchanter; he is saved.You have had an opportunity to show whether your religion was a practical reality. You have taken liberties in the sight of God and holy angels that you would not take under the observation of your fellow men. True religion extends to all the thoughts of the mind, penetrating to all the secret thoughts of the heart, to all the motives of action, to the object and direction of the affections, to the whole framework of our lives. "Thou God seest me," will be the watchword, the guard of the life. You may take these lessons home. You have need to learn, and may God help you.

Ellen Gould White, Letters to Young Lovers (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1983), 69.

Joseph prayed, and he was preserved from sin amid influences that were calculated to lead him away from God. When tempted to leave the path of purity and uprightness, he rejected the suggestion with, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"

Ellen Gould White, My Life Today (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1952), 20.