Quiz: Genesis 39:1-12

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.

Genesis 39:1-10

Questions

1. Where was Joseph tempted?
2. Who tempted Joseph?
3. Which of Joseph’s senses did Potiphar’s wife use to tempt him?
4. What was Joseph’s immediate response when tempted sexually?
5. Who would Joseph sin against if he slept with the wife of his master?
6. What did Joseph call this proposed sin? A bit on the side? An affair?
7. How often was Joseph tempted to sin sexually?
8. What vital defensive step did Joseph take from then on to resist sexual temptation from Potiphar’s wife?

Answers

1. Joseph was tempted at his workplace.
2. The wife of Joseph’s boss tempted him.
3. Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph through hearing and touch (not all sexual temptation is visual).
4. Joseph’s immediate response when tempted sexually was flight. He ran away from the temptation.
5. If Joseph slept with the wife of his master, he would commit sexual immorality against himself, help Potiphar’s wife commit adultery, break the trust between him and his employer, and sin against God.
6. Joseph called the sin that Potiphar’s wife proposed a “great wickedness.”
7. Joseph was apparently tempted to sin sexually regularly, because Potiphar’s wife “spoke to Joseph day by day?”
8. Joseph no longer spent any time with Potiphar’s wife. He refused to be with her.