“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” – Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)
Joseph was an innocent seventeen-year-old youth, loved and favoured by his father, who gave him a coat of many colours. His pure heart and ability to interpret dreams provoked hatred from his brothers, leading them to throw him into a pit and then sell him for twenty “shekels” of silver. (Genesis 37:23 -24 & 28).
‘…Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” (Genesis 39:6-7, NIV). Joseph’s master’s wife noticed him, tempted him, and trapped him when they were alone. She caught him by his cloak, but he left his cloak in her hands and ran out of the house (Genesis 39:12). She lied to cover her shame, then she told that same lie to her husband.
The lie of saying Joseph attempted to force himself on her put innocent Joseph in prison. (Genesis 39:19-20). But God was still with him. Joseph went to prison with a clean heart. Why? Because a clean heart does not negotiate with temptation; it runs, as he did.
Keeping a clean heart in this world will cost you. Will you keep your heart clean when God appears silent? Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house, who worked hard and was blessed by God, but keeping a clean heart resulted in him being mistreated and abused.
Joseph could have become bitter, angry, depressed, and turned from God. Instead, the Bible says: “The Lord was with him, He showed him kindness and granted him favour…” (Genesis 39:21, NIV).
Fleeing from temptation in Potiphar’s house proved that Joseph feared God more than man, and he trusted God’s timing more than man’s memory. Joseph is an exemplary example of possessing a purified heart that passed every test. What about you?
Joseph’s life illustrates that a person can be spiritually upright and highly favoured, yet experience deep betrayal and suffering. These difficulties serve as a ‘Testing ground’ for your faith. Don’t allow them to make you bitter and turn from God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the account of Joseph, which reminds us that You are always working on our behalf. You called us to walk with clean hearts, but Your Word shows that clean hearts WILL be tested. When trials come, when betrayal hurts, protect our hearts from growing bitter. Like Joseph, give us the grace to withstand temptation, guard our character when no one is looking, and help us choose forgiveness over resentment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: 1 Chronicles 29:17; James 1:2-3
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 119:65-72; 1 Timothy 5; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Jeremiah 43; Jeremiah 44; Jeremiah 45