Avoiding Idolatry and Adultery

 Avoiding Idolatry and Adultery

Positive Christianity Series Episode #320

"The commandments are a lamp, and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the path of life."- Proverbs 6: 23-24

"He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself."- Proverbs 6: 32

"Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it."- Proverbs 5: 5-6

GOD Almighty tells us in Scripture to persist with integrity and to choose to practice righteousness. We can prefer to practice unchanging fidelity to GOD Almighty than be foolish and wicked. We learn from the story of Joseph that there is no need to practice sin, idolatry, nor adultery in life. Joseph decided against adultery and denied the temptation to practice adultery with Potiphar's wife. Joseph denied the temptation day after day and never practiced adultery.  

"And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, 'Lie with me.' But he refused and said to his master's wife, 'Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.'"- Genesis 39: 7-8

Potiphar's wife saw that Joseph was responsible and impressive and attempted to tempt Joseph into adultery. Joseph being wise decided to deny the temptation. Joseph was wise and righteous choosing to practice wisdom instead of foolishness. We learn that Joseph was favored and blessed even in Egypt where he was sent to by his envious brothers for being Jacob's favorite son. Despite being sent all alone, Joseph improved himself by working hard and being faithful to GOD Almighty. Despite Joseph being all alone in Egypt, envied by his brothers, not knowing the customs of Egypt, not knowing the language, and being in a foreign land, Joseph obtained authority and gained prominence in Egypt. Joseph had authority in the house of Potiphar, and Potiphar entrusted everything to Joseph. GOD Almighty gave authority to Joseph for being faithful to GOD Almighty and never practiced idolatry even when he was in Egypt.

Because Joseph had improved and gained authority despite envy, the snake probably tempted Potiphar's wife to practice adultery with Joseph. The snake hated Joseph for being impressive and humble. Joseph said no multiple times and chose to practice integrity. Joseph had authority over Potiphar's house in almost everything except the food Potiphar ate. Despite not practing idol worship, Joseph had authority and importance in Egypt. This describes how the worship of GOD Almighty is superior to connections, temporary silver and gold, and idol worship. Joseph worshiped and respected GOD Almighty and even was loyal to Potiphar by denying the temptation. Joseph was wise and not foolish.

"He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything except you, because you are his wife. How can I do this great wickedness and sin against GOD?' And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.'"- Genesis 39: 9-10

Joseph denied the temptation each and every time describing that it is possible to deny adultery and idolatry. We do not know how many times he said no, yet Joseph denied the temptation all the times that he needed to. The snake hated that Joseph had authority in Egypt despite not practicing idol worship. The snake despised that Joseph had improved and got better with time instead of being discouraged by the previous attempts to discourage from the snake. (The source of limited envy is the snake). Joseph was able to persevere choosing to trust in GOD Almighty. Joseph did not pay attention to the discouragements of the snake and instead paid attention to the worship of GOD Almighty. This wisdom allowed Joseph to improve each day and also be faithful to GOD Almighty. Joseph became impressive and distinct because he did not trust in temporary thing like idol worship nor have resentments and still obtained authority in Egypt. Joseph obeyed GOD Almighty and was favored even in Egypt where he was able to help both Israel and Egypt survive the years of famine. Pharaoh also gave authority to Joseph. Joseph was impressive for choosing to avoid idolatry and adultery and kept fidelity to GOD Almighty. 

Learning Hebrew

Evil, אנל, means foolishness in Hebrew. The Scriptures describe that evil is actually foolishness or the lack of wisdom. Despite post-modernism and socialism attempting to make evil appear "interesting" and "cool" with lying propaganda, we know that it is deception and deceit. Evil is from the snake and attempts to make people think that they have to practice sin. We can remind ourselves of the truth and choose to avoid foolishness and the practice of evil. The meaning of evil in Hebrew says everything about idol worship. We can choose to go to Scripture and choose positive sources of information instead of believing lies and deceit from socialist propaganda that does not look to encourage or help improve others. 

(Desperate Housewives was a TV show in the 2000s that attempted to make individuals think that fidelity in marriage is boring and antiquated while adultery was "permissible" and "interesting" when in fact it leads to envy and bitterness. Another socialist propaganda series created to promote the disobedience of the commandments of Moses from the snake. We can avoid such lying and discouraging propaganda. )