Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/316

Rh The Book of Genesis

298

Temptation comes in

countless

ways,

to everyone,

for

the

young and

allurements

of

old.

It

are

sin

comes many.

There may l)e some who are never tempted to do wrong. Outwardly they do seem good, and we have no right to say that they are not. Yet for all we know, when temptation

may

does come, they

good tested

is

he will

he

who

The

without a struggle.

yield

has fought and conquered.

He

truly

and no matter what comes, we know that, like Joseph, resist temptation and always do the right. Temptatried

is

tion is a trial which we must all undergo, to determine whether we are really pure at heart and strong and fit to do God's work. An automobile must be tested before it leaves

the shop, a cannon before

it

is

put to actual use, a battle-

government will accept it. But even more does God test His creature and His servant, man, to determine whether he is strong to do the great work of usefulness and blessing for which God has created him. So, as we have learned, God tested Abraham and Jacob so now he tested Joseph and so, in His own wise way, He tests all ship, before the





of us. In this battle against temptation

God

has given us

many

powerful allies. There are our parents, who guide us while young, and helj) us to grow strong and to form right habits, easily. When tempand the shame and sorrow they must suffer, did we yield, and the poor return we thus make for all their care and love and faith in us, the thought, too, that we can never again look them scjuarely in the eye, nor meet their look of loving trust with answering look, may well restrain us, also, and strengthen us to resist. Then, too, the thought of our glorious birthright, which we must forfeit if we yield to sin, should strengthen us, as

which

will

enable us to conquer

more

tation comes, the thought of them,

it did Joseph. Surely we can never become blessings to mankind, if we sin against a single person. We can live true to our birthright only when we use every gift of God rightly. \n