Joseph

My Pastor started a series on Joseph, and there have been many great lessons taught.  Three points that have stood out so far are:  1) No matter what our immediate circumstances, God often has a bigger Plan that we may not see yet; and 2) No matter what, the phrase often repeated in Scripture was that the LORD was with Joseph, and 3) Suffering is the indispensable foundation and framework for a noble character.

In the first lesson, we see that Joseph as the favorite and privileged son, becomes the despised brother; and is sold to the descendents of Ishmael for the price of a slave.  This displays some of the dangers of favoritism.   Often the other children will either be so discouraged that they give up, or they will try to outperform to overcompensate.   "Sweeping things under the carpet makes for a lumpy living space", so it is better to confront the matter and move on.   Petty jealousies can ruin our lives and lead to shameful behavior.  It is good to remember that an injustice suffered is not the end of the story, and we can entrust our uncertain future to God.

In the next lesson, Joseph's brother Judah may have been "on the run from his family" due to his plan to sell Joseph.   Genesis 38 describes a thoroughly wicked story in the life of Judah, as he stepped outside of his faith and into the world of the Canaanites.  Yet, in Matthew 1:3, we see that God's grace was greater than all the wickedness, and His Plan prevailed.   Despite what happened, the amazing epilogue was that from the line of Judah came the Messiah.

In Genesis 39 is the story behind the picture for this entry.  In vs 2,3,21,& 23, it is repeated that the LORD was with Joseph.  We don't hear him complaining through his circumstances, even when it seems to take a turn for the worse, with Potiphar's wife falsely accusing him.  Life is often not fair while we are here on earth.  Also, God's silence can be as important as His loudest commands.  We see in Joseph's story that though he is thrown into prison unjustly, God ultimately had a plan of redemption his nation through using Joseph.  And, of course, this passage illustrates the need to flee (a continual command) temptation.   The dangerous progression of temptation is:  thought > act > heart > life > eternity.   There is a battle for our moral purity in this polluted world.  So, the strategy to deal with sin is:

• S - Stay away from tempting places
• T - Turn off any rationalizations to sin
• O - Offend your own feelings and focus on responsibilities
• P - Practice the presence of God in your life

The message on Joseph's time in prison was so timely.   In times like these when life doesn't seem to make sense and isn't fair, Joseph is a great example of courage in the face of injustice.   To illustrate that one way to heal is to minister to others, Joseph helped his fellow inmates the baker and the cupbearer while he was in prison.  He told the truth no matter what, even when it was not so favorable (like the outcome of the baker's dream).  And, we do sometimes face big letdowns, like when the cupbearer forgot Joseph; although we know that God did not forget him (God knows, cares, and understands).   Still, Joseph ended up waiting 2 years in prison.  We just need to remember that God has a purpose in all our difficulties - trust Him for He has a plan in the big picture.  Some life lessons from this passage:

• God uses disappointments and injustices to bring us to a place where we trust only in Him  (Psalm 42:5)
• Injustice can be a turn-around moment or a downturn moment - we can choose either to receive iron in our soul and steel in our character; or to let disappoint destroy us  (Gal 6:9)
• God is still in control even when on the surface it appears to the contrary (Romans 8:28-29)
• Circumstances may be cruel and unfair, but God is always loving and just (1 Peter 4:12-13)
• God's promises are guaranteed but His timing and methods are beyond human understanding (Romans 11:33)
• You are responsible for your own attitudes and behavior, not someone else's (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• God's grace is sufficient to get you through any trial (2 Corinthians 12:9)

7-Oct:  As my Pastor continued the series on Joseph, focusing on his "Upward Journey from Prison to Palace", he pointed out that God's Plan sometimes is not to change the circumstances, but to change us in the circumstances.  God can use our pain to mold and shape us.  In Genesis 41, Joseph's character is revealed in that he consistently gives God the glory, and even the pagan king recognizes that the Spirit of God in Joseph (vs 38).  And, in vs 42, he is given an even better robe than before.  This passage is a reminder that:

• The school of suffering is God's indispensible method of refining you for greater things (1 Peter 2:21)
• Waiting on God's timing is not wasted (Isaiah 40:31)
• God opens closed doors for those who trust in Him (Revelation 3:8)
• Give God the credit when you get a break and rise to success (1 Corinth 10:31)
• Economic policy either can make or break a nation (Prov 22:7; Deut 15:6)
• You are given success b/c God has greater purposes in mind for you to do for others (Luke 12:48)  -> Greatness comes not from us, but from God; use it for HIM

As believers, we have actually already experienced the rags to royalty story; all because Jesus died for our sins and enabled us to be adopted into the family of God, the King of Kings.

14-Oct:  As Prime Minister in Egypt, Joseph was able to secretly provide for his family.  Rather than harbor bitterness toward his brothers for what they had done to him, Joseph moved on, as shown in the names for his sons:  "Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, 'It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.' The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'"  (Gen 41:51-52)  And when they came to Egypt begging for food b/c of the famine, he didn't rub their noses in the fulfillment of the dream he had as a boy; but rather, tested to see that they had changed and then showed them much grace.