Genesis 39:8, 9 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he has to my hand; There is none greater in this than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
The God-fearing boy, Joseph, responded righteously to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife to lie with her. He refused. He just said, ”No!” This was not an easy thing for a young man to do, but God was ”with Joseph” to give him strength to resist temptation. Certainly, he could have gotten away with it without anyone knowing, but the God who was with him directed his conscience to the right response.
If we are willing to ”let God,” then God is willing to equip us with the strength to overcome. Joseph knew the will of God, for he knew God. What he didn’t know was that his refusal would get him put in prison, and that events there would place him in a position of power in Pharoah’s court. This course of events would end up saving God’s people and keeping alive the Promised Seed. He feared and trusted God, and somehow he believed that in God’s Providence that everything would work together for good.
Joseph did not see adultery as a victimless crime, but it would be a violent offense against her husband, his master, not to mention the harm done to the souls of the two sinners themselves. He couldn’t do this ”great wickedness” against the people involved, but, especially, the ultimate motivation was that it would be a ”sin against God.” Righteous response comes from a person who truly ”fears and loves God.”