Run, Joseph, Run - Genesis 39

Fleeing Temptation and Trusting God’s Plan (Genesis 39)

Genesis 39 places Joseph in a moment of blessing that quickly becomes a moment of testing. Though enslaved, Joseph prospers because the Lord is with him. Potiphar entrusts everything to Joseph’s care — and then temptation arrives.

Potiphar’s wife repeatedly pressures Joseph to sin, but Joseph refuses. His reasoning is deeply theological: sin is not merely a personal failure or relational betrayal; it is wickedness against God. When temptation escalates, Joseph does not attempt to manage it — he flees.

Joseph’s obedience leads to suffering. He is falsely accused and imprisoned. Yet Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that the Lord was with Joseph. God’s presence does not vanish when circumstances worsen.

Genesis 39 clarifies what temptation is and what it is not. Temptation does not come from God, and temptation itself is not sin. But lingering near temptation is dangerous. Scripture consistently calls believers to flee, not flirt.

Joseph’s story reminds us that obedience may be costly in the moment, but God is always working beyond what we can see. The prison was not a detour — it was preparation. God’s providence turned Joseph’s integrity into a means of salvation for many.