We know about the forbidden tree in the garden of eden.
Do you know Joseph, the son of Jacob? His brothers envied him as Jacob loved him most and had given him a coat of many colors. Joseph was bon in Jacob’s old age, thus Jacob had a soft corner for him and loved him more.
Joseph was also Rachel’s first born. After barrenness for a long time, God blessed Rachel with her first child in Joseph.
Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” So she called his name [k]Joseph, and said, “The Lord shall add to me another son.” (Genesis 30:22-24 NKJV)
Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver by his brothers to Ishmeelites who were on the way to Egypt. In Egypt, the Medianites further sold Joseph to Potipher, an officer of Pharaoh. Joseph served Pharaoh.
Joseph started small. Yet whatever he did prospered. Potipher became aware that the favor of the Lord was upon Joseph.
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. (Genesis 39:3,4 NKJV)
The trust Potiphar had was such that he entrusted Joseph with more responsibilities. Potipher increased the portfolio under Joseph until everything was managed by Joseph.
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.
(Genesis 39:6a NKJV)
Enticed by the Forbidden?
Joseph was God fearing. He knew clearly what displeases God.He knew what sin was. Success did not make him stumble and become week.
Potiphers wife desired Joseph greatly.
And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”
(Genesis 39:7 NKJV)
But Joseph knew that his boss, Potipher had entrusted him with all aspects of his household but his wife. This was clear. No questions about this. Whatever be the circumstances, even if the serpent came and talked to him, he would stay his ground, keep his decision.
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?”
(Genesis 39:8,9 NKJV)
Joseph had resolved in his mind. Decisions were made long before situation came up. Matters were clear and decided.
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.
(Genesis 39:10 NKJV)
Joseph was resolute.
But when none of the men was around, Potiphers wife caught him by Josephs garment.
But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,
(Genesis 39:12b,13 NKJV)
Joseph was sent to the jail since Potipher believed the version of the story told by his wife.
Unlike Adam and Eve, Joseph’s decision making was already a done matter. It did not require review, consideration or re evaluation.
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.
(Genesis 39:9 NKJV)
Does it not sound like the authority and rights God had given Adam and Eve in the garden. In the following verse from the 1st chapter of Genesis, we can see what God gave to Adam and Eve.
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed
(Genesis 1:29-31NKJV)
We can se God gave a man a huge garden with every plant, tree for food..
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
(Genesis 2:15-17 NKJV)
Here we see God give all authority to tend and keep the garden, except one tree.
How determined we are in staying away from the forbidden.
Can we resist every enticement from friends, foes, of internet, of drugs, of evil, crime, pron, addictive habits, games and wicked thinking?
How effective can we keep away from the lure of evil, wicked things and thinking that are forbidden?
