Tests
Scripture Reading: Genesis 39-40; Matthew 12; Psalm 15
But [Joseph] refused his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” – Genesis 39:8-9
One of the hardest tests of faith is what we choose to do when no one is watching—when we’re away from the community of faith, accountability, and the structures that keep us grounded.
I’ve seen it happen. A young person, raised in a Christian home, surrounded by worship and discipleship, heads off to college and drifts. Freed from the watchful eyes of family and church, they abandon their faith, drawn by the allure of the world. Their actions reveal a hard truth: what we truly believe is tested most when we are alone.
This is what makes Joseph so remarkable. In Egypt, he had every excuse to blend in, to adapt to the culture, and to compromise. There was no one to remind him of God’s commandments. No family to commend him for his faithfulness or condemn him for his failures. Yet, Joseph stood firm. His loyalty to God was not dependent on the presence of others—it was rooted in his heart. He chose faithfulness not because someone was watching, but because he believed Yahweh was always present.
A friend once told me about a trip he took to China. Traveling alone, he checked into his hotel when there was a knock at the door. Upon opening it, he was met with a young woman who forced her way inside, began disrobing, and offered herself to him. He was stunned, but he acted decisively. With all the strength and volume he could muster, he demanded she leave immediately. He held the door open, refusing to move, making as much noise as he could until she left the room.
What struck me most about his story was how instinctively he reacted. He didn’t pause to consider his options or rationalize the situation. He didn’t debate whether he could get away with it. His immediate response was rejection—because in his heart, he had already decided. Like Joseph, he was effectively saying, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
The test of faith often comes in the quiet moments when we think no one will know. It’s in these moments that the integrity of our belief is revealed. Do we live for the approval of others, or do we live for the glory of God?
May God give us the grace to stand firm, like Joseph, and to pass every test with hearts set on Him.
