How Can I?

How Can I?

“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Gen. 39:9. This was Joseph’s reply to Potiphar’s wife when she tempted him. He also said, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” Gen. 5:19. This was his reply to his brothers when they were afraid that he would avenge himself.

When David was in the cave, and Saul also entered it, David’s men wanted to kill Saul, but David replied, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 1 Sam. 24. When Goliath mocked the camp of Israel and David heard it, he said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And to Saul he said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 1 Sam. 17:26, 32.

When David had to flee from his son and Shimei cursed him, Abishai wanted to kill Shimei, but David answered him: “So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 2 Sam. 16:10.

Job answered his wife when she wanted him to say farewell to God, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” Job 2:10.

This is how the God-fearing in the old covenant acted. When they were tempted, they answered in so many words, “How can I do this?” They feared God, with the result that they couldn’t imagine doing anything against His will.

John writes: “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8-9.

We can ask ourselves: How can anyone who is born of God sin? We understand that he can fall in sin, but how can he keep on sinning? Whenever a person falls, he will jump right up again unless he has just about killed himself.

It may be that someone can fall in backbiting, but how can someone who is born of God manage to live in it, and even enjoy it? How can someone who lives in the Spirit feel that he has fellowship with someone who lives in the flesh? How can a believer have a good time with an unbeliever? That is simply impossible. He who is born of God cannot sin. He simply cannot endure it.