"We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior."--John Stott"Shorty did what?!?" The guys couldn't believe it. They were shocked, astounded that Joseph, a 17 year old kid who had been sold into slavery by his brothers and then been given charge of everything in his new master's house would say no to his master's wife's offer of sex. It made no sense, she was was asking him and he was the one who took care of everything in the house. Why not?
This question of why has come up a few times in our Bible studies and throughout the days together. Why would I give up the fun, excitement, ease or pleasure of the street, drugs, stealing, or sleeping around? One way or another more than a few of the guys have asked this question, and it is an important question to ask. There is an imbedded idea that Christianity is nothing more than following a bunch of rules and living a quiet, boring, life. God used the story of Joseph, this past week, to help speak into this misconception held by so many in our ministry.
The Bible luckily not only gives us the what we are to do and believe but also the why. Joseph is saying no sleeping with another man's wife but he is saying yes to something so much greater than Potiphar's wife, or anyone for that matter, could ever offer. Joseph is saying yes to righteousness, yes to living in God's way. Augustine once wrote that "our hearts are restless until they find the Lord." Jesus is the satisfaction of life and nothing else compares to the fullness He has to offer. This is what Joseph says yes to, the great peace and joy the Lord blesses us with. Joseph says no to Potiphar's wife for the same reason Jesus said no to those that challenged Him to come down from the cross and save Himself. It was "for the joy set before Him that He endured the cross." (Heb 12:2) That joy that Christ endured the cross for is each and everyone us and He waits tirelessly for us to say yes to Him and His way.
Unlike some of our other studies, the guys left that night stoically and thoughtfully. I hope that this story did challenge their assumptions and cause them to think deeply and I am so excited for the follow up conversations and studies in the coming weeks. It really does seem as though God is working on these guys hearts.
