Tyranny Of Sin’s First Step
BRD REFLECTION 2026
Genesis 39:1–10 and Psalm 104:19–26 (NIV)
(Belynda Tan, from Worship & Music Ministry)
READ:
Read Genesis 39:1–10, paying attention to:
“The LORD was with Joseph” (v 2)
“the LORD was with him” (v 3)
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (v 9)
“he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her” (v 10)
OBSERVE:
The Genesis passage recounts Joseph’s meteoric rise from slave to overseer in Potiphar’s house, after being sold by his jealous brothers. Joseph’s success was attributed to the LORD, who was with Joseph all the way.
At the height of his career, one specific temptation reared its ugly head – not once but “day by day” (v 10a). However, Joseph did not succumb to it.
APPLY:
Considering his privileged rank and the fact that his master had left everything in Joseph’s hand and “did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate” (v 6), Joseph could easily have gotten away with an affair with his master’s wife. But he did not give sin any chance. Verse 10b tells us that Joseph did not even want to be in the same space as her. His integrity held fast from beginning to end.
Joseph’s steadfast resistance to Potiphar’s wife’s daily advances is a sobering caution for me regarding the slippery road of compromise. When faced with temptations to compromise God’s standards, I often find that I rationalise and agonise the most at the crossroads of the first step – “Well, nobody knows”, or “Everyone’s doing it, so it’s OK”, or “Just once and I won’t do it again”. It is the decisive moment as I struggle to choose between the way of the flesh and the way of the Spirit. If I take the wrong first step, I can quickly tumble down as sin takes root and gradually weeds out God’s truths.
Joseph’s key to victory over sin was his reverential fear of God and dread of any sin against Him. Steadying his focus on God alone, he fled from temptation (v 12). He did not rationalise. This teaches me to fix my eyes intently upon God, relying on His power to banish all flawed reasons to compromise my faith.
DO:
I will:
Beware of sin’s first lure. Stop rationalising. Flee from sin’s temptation and run to God.
PRAY:
Lord, fill my vision with the beauty of Your absolute holiness. Grant me a keen sensitivity to sin’s lure, dreading any thought or action that displeases or dishonours You. Amen.
