Joseph's Knowledge of God's View on Adultery in the Bible

As we reflect on the life of Joseph, it's striking to consider how he, as a young man, navigated the treacherous waters of temptation and remained faithful to God. When Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce him, Joseph's response was rooted in a deep understanding of God's character and commands. He knew that to give in to her advances would be to sin against God, as he himself acknowledged, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9). But how did Joseph come to possess such a clear understanding of God's view on adultery?

The answer lies in Joseph's upbringing and the covenant promises that had been passed down to him through his family. As a son of Jacob, Joseph was part of the chosen lineage of Abraham, to whom God had promised to be their God and to bless all nations through them (Genesis 17:7-8, 22:15-18). This covenant relationship was marked by a clear understanding of God's law, which included the prohibition against adultery (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:18). Joseph's father, Jacob, had also received instruction from God, and it's likely that he taught his sons about the importance of purity and faithfulness in marriage, as emphasized in passages like Proverbs 5:15-20 and Malachi 2:14-16.

Furthermore, Joseph's own experiences, including his dreams and visions, had given him a profound sense of God's presence and sovereignty in his life (Genesis 37:5-11, 40:8-23). This intimate knowledge of God's character and ways would have informed his understanding of God's view on adultery, which is consistently presented in Scripture as a sin that violates the sacred bond of marriage and dishonors God (Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 5:27-28). As Joseph stood firm against the temptation of Potiphar's wife, he was, in effect, choosing to honor God and uphold the covenant promises that had been entrusted to him, demonstrating a deep reverence for God's law and a commitment to living a life that reflected the holy character of his Lord.