The phrase “the lust of the flesh” is found in 1 John 2:16. It refers to the intense desires or cravings of the flesh. In 1 John 2, we are told that we are to overcome the world because Jesus has overcome the world. To do so, we must rely on the grace of God and on the help of the Holy Spirit.

But we also have our responsibility to overcome the lust of the flesh. From the account in Genesis 39:7-20, we can identify the following 3 points:

Today many churches are redefining sin. They do not see sin as sin. We must not paint a different picture of the lust of the flesh. We must call sin for what it is.

In Genesis 39:7, Potiphar’s wife wanted to commit adultery with Joseph. And “she spake to Joseph day by day” (Gen 39:10), i.e. temptations kept looking for him. Genesis 39:11 says that “there was none of the men of the house there within,” i.e. the temptations came to Joseph in secret. In all these, Joseph knew that adultery/fornication is a sin.

In Genesis 39:8, Joseph “refused” Potiphar’s wife, i.e. he rejected her plainly and simply. He “hearkened not unto her” (Gen 39:10). The lust of the flesh is not to be entertained. Joseph refused because he feared God, and he did not want to “sin against God” (Gen 39:9). Thus, Joseph “fled, and got him out” (Gen 39:12). We too must flee from sin. Flee also youthful lust.

When we experience victory over temptation, the devil will not be happy and will use other means to discourage us for rejecting temptations. Because Joseph refused to sin, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph, and he was thrown into prison. Yet Genesis 39:21 tells us that “the LORD was with Joseph.” When we go through temptations, we must remember that the Lord is with us, He will protect us, and His grace will be sufficient for us. There is no temptation that God’s grace is not sufficient to see us through.