With the quality of his work, Im sure Joseph had hoped to escape slavery soon, but going to prison was probably not the path forward he would have chosen. But God does not want us to miss the largely silent, desperate years Joseph endured. And whatever he did, theLordmade it succeed. Because of this, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing his nation for the years of want. He constantly got thrown under the bus, and then responded by continuing to work with integrity for those around him. Bethany Verrett is a free-lance writer and editor. All materials posted on the site are strictly for informational and educational purposes! No one can interpret the dream for him, and the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph. Pastor John gets to the heart and offers practical suggestions for growing in evangelism. Joseph could have used his power to bring vengeance. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? (Genesis 38:8-9). We tried every trick in the books: bribery, hiding it in food or drinks, and we even had to force it down his mouth sometimes. Abraham trusted God's word. Josephs second dream is about heavenly or spiritual matters. This challenge focuses on; identity, favour, integrity, jealousy and forgiveness. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. Web#1 Joseph wanted to do what was right but with a spirit of compassion. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zipah, his fathers wives. of His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery; he spent years in jail for choosing not to engage in sin, and he was forgotten by those he helped for quite some time. There are several denominations in Catholicism: Catholics, Uniates, Armenian Gregorians, Greek Catholics, Roman Catholic Churches, adherents of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as other Protestant communities that are not part of the church. In the Old Testament, Joseph is a favored son of Jacob and Rachel. Joseph was not special because he was prophetic but because he knew how to interpret the dreams. Faith in God's future grace for us is what sustains us in those desperate moments. There were seven years of feast before there were seven years of famine. Joseph had a lot of things going his way in life at first. It is the ecology of these motifs that enunciates the theme: Gods providential work with and through Jacobs dysfunctional family, preserving it and blessing others. Finally, things seem to be turning around. Im only 21 years old and I dont want to waste my life by prolonging what God is doing behind the scenes. It was the remembering that kept his hope alive and bitterness at bay. Thank you may GOD richly bless you with the true and loving word of God, True Joseph was just like most teenagers even of today. His brothers would love this if they knew. <<4FEF7C0E5C6E534BA660621B585E64F3>]>> Nehemiah was an incredible leader, and this free study explored his story and 15 leadership principles from his life. Joseph dreaded the night in this foul Egyptian hellhole. Though eventually Joseph rose to power, wealth, and prominence, he experienced many dark days. The story of Mary and Joseph is an incredible display of faith, trust, and what God can do through normal people. I take great comfort knowing that in my situation, God will help me in my new job, and that he will give me grace and strength to deal with the things of the past. The dryness of the arid climate preserved bodies buried in shallow sandy pits, as in the image below. Summary of the story of Joseph in the Bible, How Joseph shows patience through the bad times, Sometimes waiting means doing nothing but wait, How Joseph shows patience through the good times, Nehemiah: 15 Biblical Leadership Principles, 6 Benefits of Praying together for Married Couples, What My Home Taught me about Justification and Sanctification. One must be willing to accept the Doing what is right in Gods sight, rather than what is right in mans eyes, is always the proper thing to do, even if it has unpleasant consequences. Joseph was aware that it was terrible to sin against Potiphar, but the fact that it was a sin against God made it even worse. In fairness, he was seventeen and most teenagers think the world of themselves. May God rise you up as God rose up Joseph. Once again, despite being in prison, Joseph continues to honor God with his heart and actions. Recommended: Lessons From The Story Of Samson And Delilah. and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. When the famine finally hits, Egypt is well-stocked with food. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection? sin is sin. Which council established the canon of the Bible? Ive been struggling with having patience and often this has manifested in anger toward God. After their father dies, Josephs brothers begin to worry again that Joseph will now take vengeance upon them. Fortunately, God used that time to teach Joseph and help him grow. How was Joseph able to forgive his brothers? Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come close to me. When they had done so, he said, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! His humility and love made him keep a level head, even when his brethren, who no longer recognized him, came to buy corn in Egypt. Here are five lessons we can learn from the life of Joseph, son of Jacob, leader of Egypt. At various stages of his life, Joseph was a The twelve sons of Jacob were the offspring of four mothers. Great leaders wash their peoples feet. Genesis 50 ends the story with Josephs most famous quote. WebJoseph's story covers 20 chapters, and in that considerable space Joseph receives less criticism and more praise than any of the other patriarchs, and probably than any other non-divine being in the Bible. He had great success because of his faith. First, God is with us no matter our life situation. They have some troubling dreams, and Joseph interprets them perfectly. Benjamin was born just as Josephs mother passed away. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. "I trust you, my God he whispered." The other important theme and lesson is that The Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2a), and of course He is with all His children, even today. Samuel is bent on changing the legal profession by building Web and Mobile Apps that will make legal research a lot easier. 156 0 obj<>stream Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Image: Alinari/Art Resource, NY. 0000002224 00000 n Joseph had a lot of things going his way in life at first. Please pray for me. Act 7:9-10 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. Now that Ive waited for five minutes, what do I do next? Perhaps this noble quality made him Gods choice for the Messiahs earthly father. %PDF-1.5 % Potiphar was an officer for the Pharaoh, the captain of his guard. There are no steps. ButtheLord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. He listened to his fathers instructions, and loved to obey God. Almighty GOD wants us to learn of Him ASAP When we have an earnest desire to Love GOD at an early age, as I did, He will begin to work on your future and the sky is the limit. Victoria: Global Book Publishing, 2006. These are the generations of Jacob. He is more discretionary and cautious in what he reveals; craftily practicing restraint with his brothers to get into their persona. The 'But God' overriding principle that changes lives. In Genesis 45, Joseph was able to lavish forgiveness and mercy and the best of the land of Egypt (verse 18) to the same brothers who had betrayed him. 0000003037 00000 n Joseph was actually a spoiled brat, ( Genesis 37:3 ). One of the household employees who witnessed Josephs act while he was imprisoned and later released and returned to serve the Pharaoh of Egypt was pardoned. We ended last week with a high point in the lives of the sons of Israel and Moses. The Importance of Avoiding Tempting Situations. What God has planned for you will never be affected by the envy of others or their actual attempts to obstruct you. Joseph can be trusted to the point that Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care. Thanks Laurie for the kind words and thoughtful response! Either way, God calls us to continue worshipping Him and doing the best work we can to bless others. 5 Lessons for Hard Times from the Life of Joseph. It made him grateful for his private cell, the favor bestowed on the chief scribe to the warden. Here is how Joseph responds: But Joseph said to them, Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? While in jail, Joseph performed this act for servants in Pharaohs home, one of whom was pardoned and returned to serve the Egyptian leader. As a young and handsome man, he drew the sinful attention of Potiphars wife, and she tried to seduce him. Key-verse for Life of Joseph: The Lord was with Joseph. Day after monotonous day passed with no sign of change. Were on a mission to change that. We can also say with confidence that God was patient with the journey. 0000021994 00000 n Once again, these dreams are concerned with food, sustenance, and the earth: By interpreting this dream correctly, Joseph averts a famine and saves the people. !.However, He started with me in the Book of Proverb. 0000001899 00000 n The prosperity gospel is an increasingly popular belief that those who love God, think positive, and work hard will receive material wealth and success. Why was Joseph successful in everything he did? His wise strategy and effective implementation of the plan He could have just had fun for a few years. WebJoseph Rejected Bitterness and Chose to Forgive. Bible versions | 5 Lessons For Hard Times from The Life of Joseph - T Either way, I think Joseph is still an excellent Biblical hero. They had traveled another twelve miles away to Dothan. Patience and perseverance in the time of troubles. b. Josephs ability to let God take the lead is a beautiful and encouraging moment that we can learn from. His siblings misled their father into thinking that Joseph had been attacked and eaten by a wild animal. How did Joseph reveals himself to his brother? Again, thanks for sharing. They were praising God and singing songs to Himuntil there was a slight problem. Jacob's smile filled Joseph's mind. Gender: Joseph is most often used as a boy name. At the age of 17, Josephs issues intensified. Not only do they survive the famine, but theyre able to provide for non-Egyptians who need help. What does the Bible say about Josephs character? Joseph made three critical errors in judgment: He was indiscriminatehe didnt recognize the troubled situation in his family. Fast forward to being a man in his 30sbecause he was tested, his character had become chiseled and polished. He maintained his faith and relied on God during the 23 years he spent in Egypt before the arrival of his brothers. Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. Lesson 1: Josephs story shows God can work with young people. God will take care of those who love and obey him, just like he did with Joseph. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. There is more going on here than just Joseph being a proud person. Clearly I can do better than whoever is in charge now, right? Of the twelve, one child stood out, favored by their father, and blessed by God. God had promised Great-grandfather, Abraham, a child by his barren wife. Rather than return to his father and tell Jacob his brothers were derelict in their duties, Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan (Genesis 37:17b). Joseph, Overcoming Obstacles Through Faithfulness, by Dr. Gene Getz, celebrates on the 0000011581 00000 n WebWhat challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? But he spent at least 12 years there before he suddenly became Prime Minister. Josephs father had been touched the Lord Himself, and was changed for the remainder of his life. If there is a problem, I want to solve it as quickly as possible. He is the author of. He still trusted in the Lord, although he must have felt doomed to spend his life in prison. We can easily see why our world lacks patience. ! WebJoseph, Overcoming Obstacles Through Faithfulness. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21). Joseph is finally freed from prison at age thirty, or thirteen years after being sold as a slave. What kind of leader was Joseph in the Bible? When was the Bible put together as one book? Joseph understood the lesson fleshed out in his own fathers experienceGod is real! This is the lesson I keep learning over and over again. Recommended: Best books every man should read. Ill share why the story has encouraged me, and why I think it can benefit any modern person going through a time of feast or famine. And if you want to learn more about being a servant leader, make sure you check out our free ebook on Nehemiah: 15 Biblical Leadership Principles. And of course, we can look forward to the day when all the bad things will be forgotten, and we can spend an eternity closer to God than ever before. All these problems disappear when we start with the reliable history and chronology of the Bible. The story of Joseph stands in stark opposition to this. In the same way that God can give us the grace and strength to get through challenging times, He also gives us grace and strength to live with integrity like Joseph did. 0000010730 00000 n His timeline is different than mine. We could learn a lesson about the mysteries of how the world works. The medicine was like a snake to him, and he fought it as hard as he could. He endured great hardship. Joseph may have had other motivations for telling his brothers, but its hard to believe pride wasnt a big part of it. Suing God. Joseph made three critical errors in judgment: He was indiscriminatehe didnt recognize the troubled situation in Read Matthew 2:19-23. Isaac trusted God's word. Patience and grace are important, as Joseph illustrated. Glad you found encouragement from the article and thanks again for your feedback! He blesses those who realize their own brokenness and guilt and long for God more than anything else. That being said, he certainly lived life with integrity and God worked through him in incredible ways. No Matter the Repercussions, Do What Pleases God: After being bought and sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph served at the home of Potiphar, the commander of the pharaohs security, and swiftly rose to the rank of chief. Pharaoh was told the dream by Joseph. To all teenage men and women GOD sayslove not the world neither the thgs that r in the world . The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Josephs charge, becausethe. But God had mysteriously woven human deception and immorality into his plan to make that happen. There will be good times and there will be hard times, but God loves you and is working in you and through you, even when you cannot see it or understand it. Joseph is a perfect example whatever age he was at the time he refused the advance (s) of Pharaohs wife saying how can I do this ungodly thing before GOD, paraphrasing and fled.m. But God was with him (10) and rescued him from all his troubles. Joseph did know his brothers at first sight, and wept several times in private. And we should, because Joseph's life is a foreshadowing of a heavenly reality. His own brothers, consumed with Joseph shows how to glorify God in the dark places, and how to credit Him for carrying His followers through those places. Not only that, but we are promised an eternity without sickness, pain, or tears. WebJosephs own brothers sold him into slavery. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, theLordblessed the Egyptians housefor Josephs sake; the blessing of theLordwas on all that he had, in house and field. 1. startxref Well, sometimes God wants us to sit in something. If you want to be a leader like Joseph, then it starts with one thing: stay close to God. And as he sought to trust and obey God during that terribly lonely, desolate time, things went from bad to worse. After a few more journeys to Egypt, bringing with them the youngest brother Benjamin at Josephs request, he revealed himself, and extended forgiveness to them. His brothers enjoyed a nice payday, meanwhile Joseph became a slave in the house of a man named Potiphar.
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