Joseph Resists Temptation
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards
Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian
“WOWEE! THAT'S A HOME RUN!” Justin yelled as he watched the softball sail into the air, over the backyard fence and into the woods.
Tyler dropped the bat and started running. He easily made it to first base and then second. Picking up speed, he whirled around third base and slid onto home plate. “I'm safe! I'm safe!” he yelled at the top of his voice. His friends gathered around and gave him friendly slaps on the back as they agreed.
After taking a moment to celebrate the big home run, one of them realized they had a problem on their hands. “How are we going to finish the game?”
“And how are we going to get the ball back?” they questioned one another.
“There is only one way,” Justin impatiently explained as he looked Tyler in the eye. “YOU are going to have to climb over the fence and go into the woods to find it.”
Tyler was beginning to worry. He knew he wasn't allowed to climb the fence, and he was sure that Justin knew that too, but he was afraid that Justin wouldn't be his friend if he refused. Tyler just stood there for a moment, trying to decide what to do.
“What's the matter, Tyler?” Justin sneered. “Are you a fraidy-cat? Or maybe you're just a baby and too little to be playing with us older kids!”
“NO! I'm NOT afraid, and I'm NOT too little!” Tyler angrily replied.
“Then climb over the fence and prove it!” Justin retorted.
“You know we are not allowed to go over the fence and into the woods. I WON'T do it! I don't want to get in trouble! I don't want to be on restriction! If YOU want to get in trouble, YOU climb the fence and go into the woods to get the ball!” Tyler shot back.
With the taunting of the other boys ringing in his ears and dragging his bat behind him, Tyler slowly walked away. He knew he was doing the right thing, and although it was difficult at the moment, he knew he could hold his head high later when retelling the story of his big home run.
Joseph was living a happy and prosperous life, even though he was far away from his home and was a slave in Egypt. Joseph had proven himself to be a brilliant and responsible young man, so much so that his master, Potiphar, chose him to be in charge of all his household, land, and everything he owned. Potiphar didn't even know what all he owned, because he trusted Joseph to keep a record and take care of it all.
“Joseph, I will be going away, and you will be in charge while I'm gone,” Potiphar announced one morning. Joseph wasn't worried one little bit, because he knew he could do a good job for his master. With a friendly hug and farewell, Potiphar climbed into his chariot and was soon down the road and out of sight.
All was going well until one day Joseph had some work to do in the house for Potiphar's wife. Mrs. Potiphar liked Joseph very much and was glad she finally had a chance to be alone with him. The problem was that Mrs. Potiphar was not a godly woman and wanted Joseph to do things that he knew were sinful.
“Please, Joseph?” she begged. “It'll be all right. I promise. Potiphar is gone and he'll never know.”
That put Joseph in quite a predicament. He wanted to please Mrs. Potiphar because she was his master's wife, but he also knew he had to be honorable in the sight of God. Joseph tried to reason with Mrs. Potiphar and told her he just couldn't do what she was asking.
Finally, he had all he could take of her whining and begging. Without another word he ran out the door. Mrs. Potiphar ran after him, trying to stop him. She grabbed his shoulder, but he kept running, and the coat he was wearing slipped off into her hand. Mrs. Potiphar became very angry with Joseph and devised an evil plan to get even.
It wasn't long until the sound of galloping horses and screeching chariot wheels could be heard in the distance. Joseph cleaned himself up and prepared to meet his master.
“Well, well Joseph! It is good to see you again!” Potiphar exclaimed. “Did all go well during my absence?”
“YES, SIR! All that you asked me to do, I have done.” Joseph was happy to report.
“I'm glad to hear that,” Potiphar replied. “I knew I could trust you.”
Upon entering the house, Potiphar heard a completely different story from his wife. “Why did you even bring that Joseph here?” she cried. “He has been nothing but trouble the whole time you were gone,” she lied. “He even refused to help and do things I asked him to do!” she whined. “He is trying to take advantage of all the good things we have, but he wouldn't even perform a simple task that I wanted him to do!” she loudly complained.
Potiphar wasn't quite sure what to make out of it all. Joseph had always been obedient and trustworthy, and he really didn't believe such a change could happen so quickly. However, Mrs. Potiphar was his wife, and Joseph was only a slave. He couldn't believe both stories, so in order to make his wife happy and bring peace to the household, Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison.
Even though he was accused unjustly and everything Mrs. Potiphar said about him was just lies, Joseph didn't complain. He worshipped God and knew that God would take care of him, even in prison . . . and GOD DID!
The keeper of the prison liked Joseph very much and put him in charge of all the prisoners. Just like in Potiphar's house, God made Joseph prosperous, and the jail keeper was also prosperous because God blessed Joseph.
THINK!
1. Have you ever been tempted to do wrong?
2. Were you able to resist the temptation?
3. Why was Joseph put in jail?
4. Were the accusations against him true or false?
5. Did Joseph turn away from God because things were not going right?
REMEMBER:
God ALWAYS knows and cares about what is happening to you. Even when bad things happen, God can make something good out of the situation.
A VERSE TO LEARN
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God...” (Romans 8:28a).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Do you have a friend or sibling who always wants you to do or dares you to do things that you know are wrong?
Have you given in to temptation and done what they asked? If that ever happens to you, all you need to do is
stop and ask God to forgive you.
Have you ever been blamed and punished for something that you didn’t do? That’s exactly what happened to Joseph
but he decided in his heart to accept God’s courage to not let it stop him from continuing to serve God.
What will you do next time when you are tempted to do wrong? What did Joseph do?
[After discussion:] Yes, Joseph did the right thing by running away from temptation. God wants us to flee from
temptation like Joseph did. The Bible tells us in James 4:7 to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he
will flee from us. God wants us to become strong and courageous and to always do the right thing, no matter what
the consequences are because, as his Word says, He will work everything out for our good if we choose to love
Him and not turn our back on Him.
Let us take a moment to ask for God’s forgiveness, help and courage.
LET'S PRAY
****************************************************
Dear God, thank You for being with us in every
situation. Help us to remember that You love us
and You know exactly what is happening all the time.
Give us the courage to do the right thing even
when it is difficult and others are against us.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
****************************************************
CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Genesis 39:1-23
Joseph Is Tempted (online)
Joseph In Prison (online)
Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
God Cares for Me Coloring Book by Shirley Dobson
God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Favorite Bible Stories Coloring Book (reproducible)
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
The Awesome Coloring Book of Bible Comics
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books
Adventure Bible: Joseph The Dreamer (I Can Read)
Beginner's Bible: Joseph & His Brothers (I Can Read)
Joseph (read online)
Joseph, Jacob's Favorite Son (Arch Books)
Joseph—God's Superhero (Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids)
Joseph the Dreamer (read online)
Kingstone Comics: Joseph
The Birth of a Nation: Abraham to Joseph (listen and read online)
365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Early Reader's Bible
Little Pilgrim's Progress
The Comic Book Bible
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible
Children's Books
Spanish Children's Books
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
Bugtime Adventures: Blessing in Disguise - The Joseph Story (watch online)
Greatest Heroes of the Bible: Joseph & the Coat of Many Colors (online)
Joseph: Beloved Son, Rejected Slave, Exalted Ruler DVD
Joseph: Beloved Son, Rejected Slave, Exalted Ruler (watch online)
Joseph & the Coat of Many Colors DVD (Greatest Heroes & Legends)
Sight & Sound Theatres: Joseph
The Beginner's Bible, Volume 4 (watch online)
The Story of Jacob and Joseph
VeggieTales: Joseph and his Coat of Veggie Colors (watch online)
What to Do When You're Tempted (watch online)
All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share Toddler Bible with DVD
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
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God Was With Joseph in Egypt Bible Craft (online)
Joseph in Jail (online)
Joseph in Prison - Making the Most of your situation! Virtual Sunday School (watch online)
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Crafting the Word of God (online)
Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]
Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts
Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)
The Big Picture Bible Crafts:
101 Simple and Amazing Crafts to Help Teach Children the Bible
- Tie-dye a T-shirt. This way each child can personally design their own shirt, and each time they wear it, they will be reminded that God is with them always, they are special to him, and that His love “covers” them through all situations and circumstances. (I work with a lot of children from dysfunctional families who go through horror stories on a regular basis. They need to know God is with them at all times.) Basically, all you need to do is have several different bowls of clothing dye, a T-shirt for each child, and rubber bands. Tightly wrap rubber bands intermittently around different parts of the white T-shirt. Dip only portions of the shirt into different colors. Let dry, remove bands, and praise the Lord you have a “shirt” of many colors.
- Should it be a smaller church or a lot of children, to defray the expense, you could purchase white handkerchiefs at a dollar store and do the same thing. This would give each child something to place under his pillow or carry with him as a reminder.
- With your picture of Joseph to color, you could have prepared strips of tissue paper to be glued on the picture or you could use construction paper as well. I have found tissue paper is sometimes easier to use, because it is not as stiff and “turns corners” better.
- Submitted by Karin Adams
Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Crossword Puzzle (online)
Fill In The Blanks (online)
Word Search (online)
Joseph Activities
Joseph and Potiphar (online)
God Was With Joseph In Egypt Word Tiles Activity (online)
Worksheet (online)
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Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
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Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
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Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
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The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles Sticker Books
All Things Work Together for Good (listen online)
He Who Began a Good Work in You (watch online)
In His Dreams (online)
Keep Me True, Lord Jesus (listen online)
Keep Your Tongue from Evil (listen online)
My Sins Are Gone (watch online)
Pow Pow Power to Live God's Way (sing along)
Think! by Helen McAlerney Barth (listen online)
What Really Happened to Joseph? by Continental Singers (listen online)
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
Illustrated Songs
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids
Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
Sunday School Song Medley (online)
The Bible in a Minute (online)
25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music
TEACHER'S RESOURCES
Joseph by F B Meyer
Joseph - A Very Colorful Story (online)
Joseph and Potiphar (online)
Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages (online)
Children's Ministry
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Big Book of Bible Games
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God's Servants Teach Me
God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs
Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
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How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
KidMin ToolBox: Boxed Book Set
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles
Leading Little Ones to God:
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Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
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Opening Prayer (online)
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Seven Laws of the Learner
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Talking to God
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Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry
Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know
Children's resources (online)
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