We are still in chapter 39 of Genesis with our word for today used four times in our chapter. יָּ֖נָס from the root word נוּס flee, escape, drive on, slip away, put to flight. The root is used 158 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense to flee away in order to escape some kind of danger. Like when the angels were helping Lot and his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah before it was completely destroyed. Genesis 19:20 Behold, this city is near enough to לָנ֥וּס flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there. This is the same way our word is used in our chapter today.
Genesis 39:11-18 But one day, when he 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 וַיָּ֖נָס fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had וַיָּ֖נָס fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and וַיָּ֖נָס fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and וַיָּ֥נָס fled out of the house.”
Joseph is a great example for all of us in putting God’s instruction to work in our life. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. We might think that God is being overly dramatic about this speaking through Paul to the Christians in Corinth. But this has always been God’s teaching about the dangers of sexual immorality. Proverbs 7:21, 23, 26-27. With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him… he does not know that it will cost him his life… many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. Proverbs 2:19 None who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.
Joseph is such a great example to us because he knew that this sin was something that first and foremost would hurt his relationship with God. Notice what he says when she propositions him that he couldn’t do this wicked thing and sin against God (vs. 9). This is the rest of Paul’s argument about how this sin is so dangerous because it effects us in a deeper way. Let’s look at the next couple of verses 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin[e] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Joseph understood that he needed to glorify God not just in his mind, and what he said but also with what he did and didn’t do with his body. I’ll close with this promise from God which is a great encouragement to all of us. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
