Genesis 39:7-10 (NET): "Soon after these things, his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Have sex with me.' But he refused, saying to his master's wife, 'Look, my master does not give any thought to his household with me here, and everything that he owns he has put into my care. There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?'"

Verse 10 says: "Even though she continued to speak to Joseph day after day, he did not respond to her invitation to have sex with her."

It's interesting that a lecture did not work. Look at the long explanation Joseph gave Potiphar's wife. This is the beginning of my series on the value of repetition. I just finished talking about the value of small things in the last series.

Now I want to begin a series on the value of repetition.

The summary for today is simple: look at how repeatedly Joseph said no. Joseph was consistent in saying no to the advances of Potiphar's wife. These two people were operating from completely different worldviews. One was thinking about God; the other was likely wondering, "What are you talking about? Nobody thinks like that here."

Rather than continually giving new lectures, Joseph simply kept saying no. That is the value of repetition. He did not say, "I'm tired of this. I don't want her to wear me down." Because of his commitment to God, he continually refused.

That is the point I want us to get: the value of repetition.

When it comes to yielding to sin, your disposition has to be to continually say no, continually reject it, continually say stop, continually say, "No, this is not going to happen."

Now consider Balaam. He was told not to go with the men who came from Balak because Israel was blessed (Numbers 22:12). He was told not to yield to the king's desire that he come and curse God's people. Yet after a while, the offer became greater. They increased the honor they promised him. The pressure increased, and his "no" became weaker.

Later, Scripture warns against those who run greedily after gain in the error of Balaam (Jude 11). We see a motivation at work. As the circumstances changed, his tune changed. His refusal to do what God did not want became weaker because the offer from the other side became stronger.

I'm saying there is value in repetition. There is value in simply standing your ground.

We see this with Joseph. This passage was placed before us by God to illustrate something positive—an example of someone who overcame in this area and whom we are called to imitate. Remember what the Lord Jesus said repeatedly to the churches in Revelation: "The one who conquers..." or "The one who overcomes..." (Revelation 2-3).

Joseph faced persistent pressure in a foreign land where circumstances were not working in his favor. He had been thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and would soon be thrown into prison. He was a foreigner. There was no crowd standing with him. Yet there was a repeated no.

Why?

Because he said, "How could I do such a great evil and sin against God?"

I'm focusing on the value of repetition, and I'm saying Joseph repeatedly said no.

Balaam's no weakened. Eventually it became, in effect, "Since you really want to go, then go." Yet he was moving against God's initial instruction and was almost killed on the way.

We see something similar with Samson. When Delilah pressured him to reveal the source of his strength, he did not yield the first time. He did not yield the second time. But eventually he gave in, and we know how that story ended.

So we see these two men: Samson with one woman and Joseph with another. The contrast is striking.

Scripture brings these accounts before us as examples. You have to repeatedly say no. You have to stand your ground. There is value in repetition. There is value in continually refusing what dishonors God.

God bless you. See you later.