Running Shoes

“...he ...fled, and got him out” - Genesis 39v12

There is a children's song that says “When sin comes knocking at your door ... put on your running shoes.” Surely Joseph is our best example of fulfilling that axiom.

Mrs Potiphar still persisted in pursuing Joseph. Day after day she enticed him. Finally, a day came when there was no one else in the house. She must have though, “now is my chance.” As Joseph passed by she grabbed him by his cloak and drew him to herself - “Lie with me” she calls.

Now, what would the average man do in a situation like that? But we are not dealing with an average man. The Bible says that Joseph's response was simple and swift. He twisted out of his cloak, ran, and got out of the house.

Although there is not of theological depth there when it comes to sin we don't need much theological depth. Joseph did not debate the rights and wrongs, the implications of offending Mrs Potiphar, or anything else. He simply got out of the situation as fast as he could. He “put on his running shoes.”

What is our normal response to temptation? Is it a few moments of indecision? Is it a lingering, longing look considering what we might have? It doesn't have to be sex. It can be any situation where temptation to sin comes. May we have the kind of character that Joseph. The the allure of sin is there, not even think, just run!!