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Genesis 39:9 - Sin Against God.

Genesis 39:9 - Sin Against God.

Genesis 39:9 (KJV) There is none greater in this house than I; 
neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art 
his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against 
God? 

   Sin against God: Our system of law makes a distinction 
between victim and victimless crimes. The notion is that some crimes, 
such as assault or theft from a home, create victims. Other criminal 
acts, such as prostitution or homosexuality, theoretically have no 
victims. Each person involved is a consenting adult!  
   Joseph was urged to have sex with his master's wife. She'd 
keep the secret. Potiphar would never know. Who could possibly be 
hurt by a little fling? After all, as our movie rating systems 
suggest, these are the kinds of things "adults" both do and enjoy!  
   Joseph wasn't fooled. The "victimless" crime was in fact a 
"sin against God."  
   Satan eagerly sticks new labels on old sins, trying to 
confuse humanity and provide us with excuses to do what we know is 
wrong. It's important that our vision be as clear as Joseph's, and that 
we be as honest with ourselves as Joseph was with Potiphar's wife. 
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

   Joseph avoided Potiphar's wife as much as possible. He 
refused her advances and finally ran from her. He resisted her seduction 
by saying it would be a sin against God. Sometimes merely trying to 
avoid temptation is not enough.  
   Joseph didn't say, "I'd be hurting you," or "I'd be sinning 
against Potiphar," or even "I'd be sinning against myself" Under 
pressure, such excuses are easily rationalized away. For Joseph, God was 
not distant and uninvolved. God was close at hand and near to 
Joseph's heart and mind. There wasn't room in Joseph's mind for him to 
rationalize because God was filling Joseph's mind. God and sin cannot occupy 
the same place.  
   We must turn and run from temptation, especially when it is 
very strong, as is often the case in sexual temptation. Remember that 
sexual sin is not just between two consenting adults. It replaces God 
with sins that occupy our mind and heart. Removing God from our 
hearts is indeed "a great sin against God." [One Year NLT SB] 

   In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of 
victory but by flight. The ancient naturalists wrote much of basilisks, 
whose eyes fascinated their victims and rendered them easy victims; so 
the mere gaze of wickedness puts us in solemn danger. He who would 
be safe from acts of evil must haste away from occasions of it. A 
covenant must be made with our eyes not even to look upon the cause of 
temptation, for such sins only need a spark to begin with and a blaze 
follows in an instant. Who would wantonly enter the leper's prison and 
sleep amid its horrible corruption? He only who desires to be leprous 
himself would thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a 
storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. 
Cautious pilots have no desire to try how near the quicksand they can 
sail, or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak; 
their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe 
channel. 
   This day I may be exposed to great peril, let me have the 
serpent's wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may 
be of more use to me today than the jaws of a lion. It is true I 
may be an apparent loser by declining evil company, but I had better 
leave my cloak than lose my character; it is not needful that I should 
be rich, but it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties of 
friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of 
ridicule must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin. The devil I 
am to resist and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, 
I must flee, or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness 
preserve thy Josephs, that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile 
suggestions. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil, 
never overcome us! [Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon re v. 
12] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

MINI-VIDEO DEVOTIONAL ON PROVERBS 4:23 BY PASTOR SHAWN BOONSTRA:

http://www.itiswritten.com/television#episodes/3332