The Temptations of Egypt
In the midst of a nation who did not know the one true God, an Egyptian wife, and the responsibilities to rule over a heathen nation who loved idolatry as their main activity, Joseph still remembered his childhood faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Joseph is an amazing example of what it means to be in the world but not a part of it.
The historical stories about Egypt are a type of “the world” which opposes the one true God. Present day America and all the other nations of the world with all their modern sophistication, education, and technology are not much different than the people of ancient Egypt. Men everywhere still love to follow a false religion in one form or another. The “god” of finance, commerce and trade can be a cruel task master as most nations, including America, are still under the threat of wars and rumors of wars as they fight over limited supply and resources.
We are commanded in the scriptures many times not to love the things of this world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15). James compares it to adultery: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?” (James 4:4). To this day we are all under the influence and temptation of Egypt (the world). Today’s entertainment, music, movies, and many other voices tell us we deserve everything we want without limitation. We can soon be in danger of losing our first love (the Lord), for we know we cannot serve two masters; we will love one and hate the other. See Matthew 4:24.
We are often tempted to not repent and instead hold onto or indulge in the things of this world. Let’s remember the scriptures and the example of Joseph in resisting the temptation of the world around us. One way to think about what is meant by “the world” or “the things of this world” is to understand it means to avoid those things which can lead us away from the scriptures or anything that does not allow God first place in our lives. David describes this principle in Psalm 119:37: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; renew my life according to your word.”
John Hendrickson
