But one day, when he (Joseph) went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

Genesis 39: 11-12

During a Bible study on Monday night, I listened to a young man speak about his recovery from addiction and he spoke of another man who is struggling to overcome his own temptations.

Each one of us faces temptation and yours are probably not the same as mine. Some struggle with substances, others give in to greed or and others have trouble avoiding gossip and the temptation of lust is always before us.

In the verses above we see that Potiphar’s wife pursued the object of temptation for her. She desperately wanted Joseph. It is likely that she thought about him constantly and looked for an opportunity to be alone with the young man.

What about Joseph? His response was clear. He ran for his life!

As Billy Graham is quoted as saying, “It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts.”

Here’s what I know about temptation. It’s best to avoid circumstances that provide opportunity. In a leadership course a couple a years ago, I read how Billy Graham and his ministry team made what was called the Modesto Manifesto. In it, Graham and his leaders made a intentional plan to avoid the temptations of money, immorality, exaggeration and criticism – each of these had potential to damage their ability to achieve their mission.

Joseph’s plan was simple. Find the nearest exit and go. Good advice for us today.