Friday, 11^th August 2023

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: DON’T TOUCH WHAT’S NOT YOURS

THEME SCRIPTURE: “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me” – Genesis 39:7

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. What did Joseph do in such a tempting situation?

God first gave Israel a law for righteousness after freeing them from slavery. It was to guide them in moral, sacred, spiritual, and fair living. So, Moses passed on the Ten Commandments to God's people.  Notably, most of the Ten Commandments state what not to do ("Thou shall not…").  The Ten Commandments are important to all who walk with God because they speak of the sacred things God has chosen for us; such as Himself, the gift of life, our sexuality, being, properties, etc. Only a Holy God's creation is holy, and all He gives us is sacred.

Violating life's sacred things is vile and sinful. This Joseph knew, but Potiphar's wife did not.

Joseph arrived at Potiphar’s house and soon became the overseer of everything in that house. No matter that his brothers sold him, Joseph never thought God had left him. God was with Joseph in everything he did. Joseph was a handsome, well-favored young man (Gen 39:6), so Potiphar's wife whispered to him, "Sleep with me" (Gen 39:7). Was this offer a privilege or a trap for Joseph? If you were Joseph, what would you have done?  Despite Potiphar's wife's persistence, Joseph reminded her, "My master has kept nothing from me except you. How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9)

Precious one, marriage is sacred, and our sexuality is sacred because a Holy God created the marriage institution and chose for each of us our sexuality.

What belongs to your neighbour is also sacred. Taking something God did not give you is playing God; He will take it back and more. God gave Adam and Eve a garden. The tree of good and evil was not given to them. They took the fruits of knowledge of good and evil, and God took the entire garden from them. God gave David the favour of Israel. He did not give him Uriah’s wife. David took Bathsheba, and God also took from him the favour of Israel.  Many Christians do not realise the gravity of taking what is not theirs.

Anytime you take that which belongs to others, by circumstances or by crisis, God will take back what you took and more.

Beloved, Joseph refused the offer of Potiphar’s wife and suffered for it. It is better, beloved, to suffer at the hands of men than to sin against God. If you do the right thing and suffer for it, endure it patiently because this is acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:20). Do not fret because of the ill-gains of the wicked, to take that which belongs to the needy or withhold that which belongs to the poor. Let all those who love God eschew evil. God bless you more.

FURTHER READING – Exodus 20:1-17

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. Have you brought into your home that which does not belong to you?
2. Are you willing to give to the owners the things with you that’s not yours?

PRAYER

Precious Lord, help me to be content with what you have given me, and to be far from covetousness. Help me to see and treat sacred things as sacred, including my life and how I live it. In Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

1 Kings 6; Jeremiah 32; Mark 6