genesis 37 (2)

When the Devil Comes Knocking, Get Out

Genesis 37 (KJV)

Text: Genesis 37:12–36

Theme: When temptation, trouble, compromise, and Satan come knocking at the door of your life, the safest place is not to negotiate, not to linger, not to argue—but to get out and stay in God's will.

Key Thought: Many young people ruin their lives because they stay where they should have left. Joseph survived because he was where God wanted him to be, and even when evil surrounded him, he refused to become like those around him.

Introduction

We have all heard the saying, "Opportunity knocks."

But there is another knock that comes to every life.

The devil knocks.

He knocks through temptation.

He knocks through bad friendships.

He knocks through bitterness.

He knocks through compromise.

He knocks through rebellion.

He knocks through discouragement.

The devil never walks up and says, "I am here to destroy your life."

Instead, he disguises himself.

He says:

"Nobody will know."

"Everybody else is doing it."

"You deserve it."

"Just this once."

"It won't hurt you."

The devil knocks on every teenager's door.

He knocks on every father's door.

He knocks on every mother's door.

He knocks on every Christian's door.

Genesis 37 is the story of Joseph, a young man who faced evil all around him. Yet while his brothers opened the door to sin, Joseph refused to join them.

When the devil comes knocking, get out.

I. GET OUT OF PLACES WHERE SIN IS GROWING

Genesis 37:2

"Joseph, being seventeen years old..."

Joseph was only seventeen.

Notice the contrast.

Joseph is trying to please God.

His brothers are growing increasingly wicked.

Verse 2 says:

"...Joseph brought unto his father their evil report."

Joseph was not participating in their sin.

He would not become part of it.

Application

There are places where sin grows.

There are conversations where sin grows.

There are friendships where sin grows.

There are websites where sin grows.

There are group chats where sin grows.

There are parties where sin grows.

The longer you stay around wickedness, the easier it becomes to accept it.

Psalm 1 begins with:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not..."

Notice the progression:

Walking.

Standing.

Sitting.

Nobody falls overnight.

People drift.

The devil knocks and says:

"Stay a little longer."

God says:

"Get out."

Illustration

If your house catches fire, you don't sit down and debate whether the smoke is dangerous.

You get out.

When sin begins spreading, don't negotiate.

Get out.

II. GET OUT BEFORE BITTERNESS TAKES ROOT

Genesis 37:4

"And they hated him..."

Genesis 37:5

"And they hated him yet the more."

Genesis 37:8

"And they hated him yet the more..."

Three times hatred is mentioned.

The devil knocked on the brothers' hearts.

They opened the door.

Bitterness moved in.

Jealousy moved in.

Envy moved in.

Hatred moved in.

What began as hurt feelings became murderous thoughts.

Application

The devil often knocks through offense.

Someone hurt you.

Someone ignored you.

Someone got promoted.

Someone got recognized.

Someone got what you wanted.

The devil whispers:

"Be bitter."

Bitterness is poison you drink hoping someone else dies.

Get out before bitterness settles in.

Forgive quickly.

Pray quickly.

Repent quickly.

III. GET OUT BEFORE HATRED BECOMES ACTION

Genesis 37:18

"And when they saw him afar off... they conspired against him to slay him."

Hatred always grows.

Sin never stays small.

The brothers did not wake up one day wanting murder.

It developed.

The devil knocked.

They opened the door.

He moved further inside.

James 1:15

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

The devil never shows the final destination.

He only shows the first step.

Illustration

A fisherman hides the hook inside the bait.

If fish saw the hook first, they would never bite.

The devil works the same way.

He hides destruction behind pleasure.

When he comes knocking, get out.

IV. GET OUT OF THE PIT OF COMPROMISE

Genesis 37:24

"And they took him, and cast him into a pit..."

Joseph is thrown into a pit because of other people's sin.

Sometimes the devil knocks through discouragement.

You are doing right.

Living right.

Serving God.

Yet trouble still comes.

Joseph could have become bitter.

Joseph could have quit.

Joseph could have blamed God.

But he did not.

Application

Sometimes getting out means getting out mentally.

Get out of self-pity.

Get out of despair.

Get out of the lie that God has abandoned you.

The devil loves to knock during difficult seasons.

He says:

"Quit."

"Give up."

"Nobody cares."

"God forgot you."

But God was still with Joseph.

The pit was not the end.

V. GET OUT OF THE DEVIL'S LIES AND INTO GOD'S PLAN

Genesis 37:28

"And they sold Joseph..."

To everybody else it looked like Joseph's life was ruined.

The brothers thought they had won.

The merchants thought they had won.

Satan thought he had won.

But God was working.

Years later Joseph would become ruler in Egypt.

The pit led to the palace.

The prison led to promotion.

The trial led to triumph.

Application

The devil says:

"It's over."

God says:

"I'm still working."

The devil says:

"Nobody sees."

God says:

"I see."

The devil says:

"Your future is ruined."

God says:

"I know the plans I have for you."

When the devil knocks through fear, get out of the lie and get back into faith.

Illustration: The Burning Building

A firefighter once said that many people die in house fires because they underestimate the danger.

They smell smoke.

They see a little flame.

They think they have time.

The tragedy is not that they couldn't escape.

The tragedy is that they waited too long.

That is exactly how Satan works.

He never looks dangerous at first.

He looks harmless.

He looks fun.

He looks exciting.

He looks popular.

But if you stay long enough, what started as a spark becomes a fire.

When the devil comes knocking, don't stand at the door.

Get out.

Conclusion

Joseph's brothers opened the door to:

Jealousy

Bitterness

Hatred

Violence

Deception

Joseph chose another path.

Though he suffered greatly, he stayed faithful to God.

The lesson of Genesis 37 is simple:

When the devil comes knocking—

Get out of sinful places.

Get out of bitter attitudes.

Get out of compromising situations.

Get out of discouraging thoughts.

Get out of Satan's lies.

Because every time the devil knocks, destruction is standing on the other side of the door.

Invitation

Perhaps the devil has been knocking lately.

Maybe through temptation.

Maybe through bitterness.

Maybe through worldly influences.

Maybe through discouragement.

Maybe through secret sin.

Don't invite him in.

Don't entertain him.

Don't negotiate with him.

Don't see how close you can get.

Get out.

"Neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27)

The safest place in the world is not near the door of temptation.

The safest place is in the center of God's will. Amen.