Integrity

This reflection may be the shortest of the five, but it is, nonetheless, a vital lesson. The third, and transferrable, aspect of Jospeh’s life is he didn’t succumb to temptation or idolatry. He didn’t listen to the siren call of Potiphar’s wife or worship the many gods of Egypt. He wasn’t worldly even if he looked like an Egyptian. Joseph maintained his faith in the God of his father, Jacob, grandfather, Isaac, and great-grandfather, Abraham. He may have resided in Egypt, but he wasn’t from Egypt. He was raised with the stories of Abraham and Issac on the knees of his father, Jacob. He was inculcated in the story of redemptive promise, something Egypt knew little of, nor cared much for. He knew he was different, and not just ethically, or morally - which he was also.

Joseph managed a nuanced balance of interaction with his world and separation to God. This was for reasons greater than his own comfort or fulfilment.

It takes a certain kind of person to be able to live effectively between two competing worlds. This is something many people struggle with, the more so at the upper echelons of society that Joseph and Daniel lived in. Christians can be influenced by the world they say they are wanting to influence. Joseph had a disposition and a call that enabled him to – both are necessary.

His resistance to temptation by Potiphar’s wife was premised on a deep knowledge of moral right and wrong, and it is to be admitted, no small fear of the capabilities of his boss, Potiphar. (Fear is not always to be discounted as a motivation for the higher moral ground.)

Joseph had to make decisive choices to maintain moral integrity and stay free of idolatry. The two go hand in hand as apostle Paul is at pains to draw our attention to in Romans 1 - the worship of any god or non-god (idols) always results in corrupted morals.

Knowing God is complemented by knowing and practising moral truth and ethical integrity. Joseph lived this even though his environment promoted anything but. He was in the world but not of the world.

To live in Christ is to live in moral integrity - the two go hand in hand. Joseph had to fight to do so – and so do we, as virtue isn’t easily gained.