When Everything Changes: Facing Temptation, Staying True
Imagine you’ve just landed your dream opportunity: maybe it’s a big promotion at work, a chance to work with someone you admire, or that moment when someone finally believes in your idea enough to give you real responsibility. It feels amazing—and a little scary. Suddenly, a lot depends on you. People are watching. There’s more to lose. And then, out of nowhere, you get tested. You have to choose between what you know is right and what feels easy, comfortable, or even exciting in the moment.
Have you ever been in a situation like that? Where you started off with hope, gave it your best, and just as things were going well—you hit a crossroads? That’s what Genesis 39 is all about. It’s about real inner strength, and how we handle life when things get hard, or confusing, or tempting.
The Story: Joseph in Egypt, Doing His Best
Let’s meet Joseph again—not the little brother with a dreamcoat, but the older Joseph living far away from home, in a place that’s not of his own choosing.
“Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, ... bought him ... Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. ... His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand. Joseph found favor in his sight, and he made him overseer over his house...” (Genesis 39:1-4 WEB)
Joseph didn’t choose this situation. Life threw him into it. But even as a stranger, he gave his best effort. That’s the first principle here: sometimes, your current situation might not have been your first choice—but how you show up there can still open doors.
- Joseph symbolizes your own ability to wake up, become aware, and take charge, no matter the outside circumstances.
- Potiphar represents the part of you (or other people in your life) that recognizes and rewards steady, honest work.
Reflect for a moment: Have you ever been in a place you didn’t choose—maybe a job, a family role, or a new school—yet found a way to use your gifts anyway? Did anyone notice?
The Mystical View: More Than Just Luck
The Bible says “Yahweh was with Joseph.” Think of this as a special kind of awareness—like a strong, steady sense that even when things seem unfair, you’re not alone, and good can still come when you give your best.
This “divine awareness” is not about luck. It’s about paying attention—watching for small chances to make things better, picking up on what others might not notice. When you act from this place of steady awareness and purpose, it’s almost like life keeps quietly helping open new doors.
Can you remember a time when, by just doing your best with what you had, something unexpectedly good came of it?
The First Big Test: Temptation When Things Are Going Well
“After these things, his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, ‘Lie with me.’ But he refused ... ‘How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’” (Genesis 39:7-9 WEB)
Here’s where the story turns. Joseph is successful. He’s trusted. And then—suddenly—he’s faced with a powerful temptation. It’s not just about romance. It’s about choosing between what feels easy (and maybe even fun), and what he knows deep down is right.
Let’s be real: In life, especially when things are finally starting to go your way, you often get tested—not always by something big like this, but in smaller ways, too.
- You might be tempted to cut a corner because nobody’s watching.
- Maybe someone offers you credit for an idea that wasn’t really yours.
- Or a shortcut shows up—one that could get you more, faster, but at the cost of your peace of mind.
Potiphar’s wife, in this story, isn’t just another person—it’s any nagging inner urge to grab for what you want right now, instead of staying true to what you know is best for your own integrity.
Pause to check in with yourself: Has life ever handed you a “shortcut” or tempting offer, right after you’ve worked hard for something? How did you feel inside? What did you choose?
What Makes the Difference?
Joseph chooses to say no, even though nobody else would know. He listens to that deeper sense inside—the one that cares not only about the outside result, but about who he’s becoming on the inside.
This is a key lesson for all of us, not just in big moments but every day: There will always be a shortcut available, some way to push or grasp for things before you’re really ready, but that never leads to the lasting good you want.
Think about times celebrities like Tim Tebow—famous as much for his strong faith and refusing to bend to public pressure as for his athletic skills—stood out. What made people respect him wasn’t just talent; it was the willingness to lose short-term rewards to stay true to his core values. That’s what Joseph does here.
When you listen to your deep awareness—your sense of what feels true, even if no one’s looking—you grow stronger. You realize you’re not powerless. You can choose, even when the world says you can’t.
The Cost: Doing Right Isn’t Always Rewarded—At First
“She caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me!’ He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside. ... She called to the men of her house ... ‘See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us...’ ... Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison...” (Genesis 39:12-20 WEB)
This part is tough. Joseph does the right thing, but it gets harder—not easier. Potiphar’s wife blames him. Joseph gets thrown in prison for something he didn’t do.
Almost everyone has experienced this: you make the honest choice, refuse to gossip, turn down the shortcut, or stand up when it would be easier to sit down—and sometimes, you get blamed, misunderstood, or pushed aside.
Why does this happen? When you make a strong choice from within, it disrupts the usual flow. Sometimes others react out of their own confusion or pain. Things can seem to get worse right after you make a good decision. But this isn’t the end of the story.
Joseph in prison is a picture of the inner self—your best qualities—feeling trapped or stuck, but not destroyed. Even when people misjudge you, your awareness (your deep “I am”) isn’t destroyed. It’s just waiting for a new stage.
Can you think of a time when doing the right thing seemed to cost you? Maybe a project was taken, a friend misunderstood, or you lost out on something important. How did you keep going?
Return and Rebirth: Trusting the Process, Even in Setbacks
“But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ... the keeper ... committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison. ... Because Yahweh was with him.” (Genesis 39:21-23 WEB)
Here is the turning point. Even in prison—when everything looks over—Joseph’s awareness, purpose, and willingness to show up starts creating results again. The head jailer notices his honesty and puts Joseph in charge.
- “Prison” is any situation where you feel stuck, unseen, or unfairly limited. But even here, the inner part of you that trusts, pays attention, and acts kindly can never truly be taken away.
- Instead of giving in to bitterness or despair, Joseph finds small ways to help, and he’s lifted up for it.
Think about your own “prison” moments. When life closed in, were you still able to find something you could control, some way to create a brighter corner for yourself or others?
The Bigger Message: Life Is an Inner Adventure
Every part of Joseph’s story maps to a journey we all go through:
- You’re placed in situations not of your choosing—but your awareness and how you show up changes everything.
- Temptations come, especially when things are going well. Will you stay true?
- Sometimes, you pay a price for doing what’s right. But your inner awareness hasn’t abandoned you—it’s still at work, growing, and waiting for its next chance.
- Even when others don’t see it, “divine awareness” (that quiet, knowing confidence inside) helps you start again, find meaning, and prepare for what’s next.
Joseph’s journey shows that how you handle small things, the choices you make when no one’s looking, and your persistence through unfairness, shape the biggest breakthroughs of your life.
How This Connects with Awareness, Choice, and a Fulfilling Life
This story in Genesis 39 isn’t just about people a long time ago. It’s about every moment where awareness expands—when life “throws you in Egypt,” when you’re offered shortcuts, when you get blamed, or when you’re forced to start over in a place that feels like a prison.
You become more than you thought possible each time you:
- Notice what you’re feeling, what you know deep down, and what you can choose—no matter your circumstances.
- Align your actions with your highest awareness, even if it costs you in the short term.
- Choose to bring your best, even when unfair things happen, trusting that your inner growth is what creates your outer results over time.
- Stay connected to that quiet confidence that you can do the right thing, and life, somehow, will open up new ways forward—even in prison-like moments.
These are the choices that set you up for lasting success, creativity, and adventure.
Your Turn: One Small Exercise for Right Now
Take five quiet minutes today.
- Think about one area of your life where you’re being tested—maybe at work, in your relationships, or with your own hopes and dreams.
- Ask yourself: “What would it look like to be honest here? To choose what’s right, not just what’s easy?”
- Notice any fear or discouragement if things haven’t worked out yet. Remind yourself: even now, you are shaping your inner world and preparing for what’s next.
- Write down one way you can bring your best to a tough spot—today. Then watch for small signs of change. Big shifts will come in time.
Next Up: Joseph’s Gifts Prepare the Way
This isn’t the end for Joseph. In the next chapter, you’ll see how everything he learned in “prison” becomes the key to bigger dreams—how, even when it seems you’re at your lowest, awareness is building something new inside you, preparing you for opportunities you never imagined.
Every challenge really can be an invitation to grow, trust, and discover what’s possible. All it takes is awareness, choice, and the courage to keep showing up, no matter what comes next.
