0000001954 00000 n Joseph understood the lesson fleshed out in his own fathers experienceGod is real! At various stages of his life, Joseph was a God had promised Great-grandfather, Abraham, a child by his barren wife. Meaning. Thats it! Egyptians intentionally mummified their dead early in their With this in mind, it shouldnt come as a surprise to acquire several lessons and guidelines from Josephs life. I also 100% agree on this telling his brothers about the dream did not justify their actions at all. We do know for sure that he was not perfect he was a sinner like me and you and everyone else. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights. Learn about good storytelling and the over-arching narrative in the Bible with this free course. After being sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph served in the house of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaohs guard, and quickly earned the highest position in the household. Jacobs favorite son was Joseph, as most people are aware. We cannot say that Joseph was a proud teenager. When Joseph was well equipped to handle the position God had in mind for him to be the minister of Egypt, God shifted him there. It wasnt the only document that did so. And yet, we are never promised this. On the other hand, I have a feeling it has more to do with the injustice of parental favoritism as to why the brothers hated him so much! Now lets take a look at how Josephs patience enabled him to be a better leader. We can say with confidence that this is what God wanted for Joseph. He is to search for and find Gods plan.. Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. 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! Despite being betrayed by his brothers and ending up a slave in a foreign country, things seem to finally be turning positive for Joseph. Consequently, Josephs brothers plotted to kill him but instead they sold him to some Ishmaelites that were passing through to Egypt. But Joseph chose sacrificial love. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. In this article, well review the biblical story of Joseph and then discuss 5 strategies we can learn as servant leaders today from Josephs exemplary levels of patience. startxref 0000003001 00000 n He blesses those who realize their own brokenness and guilt and long for God more than anything else. This challenge focuses on; identity, favour, integrity, jealousy and forgiveness. Honesty, strong work ethics, even when they are not always rewarded. Sometimes he wants to teach us something, and some lessons take time. They are chapters in a much larger story that really does have a happily ever after. When the seven years of good harvests came, Joseph developed a stockpiling system to store the grain for use during the coming drought. They worked together to get rid of Joseph. Joseph refused to stand in judgment of them and assured them that they were forgiven. But today, some prosper spiritually, but in other departments of their life they face trouble. %PDF-1.5 % God tested Jobs faith and refined his character. What challenges did Joseph face, and what do you learn about him? In the biblical account it's tempting to only see Joseph's heroic character and achievements. 0000022426 00000 n Fists to his forehead he pleaded again with God in the dark for deliverance. 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. 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. They approach him to apologize again and seek his grace and mercy. As Joseph responded to suffering with faith, meekness, and humility, God molded and shaped a leader. ATTENTION TO RIGHT HOLDERS! He bragged to his brothers and parents about his prophetic dreams of power. Perhaps this noble quality made him Gods choice for the Messiahs earthly father. He was handsome. 0000021033 00000 n His devotion to the God of his fathers and to his family, as well as the fascinating twists and turns in his life, make him a Biblical figure whose life is both interesting and instructive. Day after monotonous Jacob knew that his sons did not like Joseph but had no idea just how much they detested him. Every story contains instructive lessons about behavior, righteousness, and what it means to live by Gods Word, whether you are seeking a lesson for a kid, a young adult, or someone who is well past middle age. Last week I found myself pretty angry with God. Most American Christians believed in the doctrine of the Trinity as expressed in traditional confessions and creeds. He was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his fathers favorite Web14 Joseph was cautious. God used all of it for good, to save countless lives. They did not recognize the second-in-command of the most powerful nation in the world at that time as the younger brother they had sold into slavery decades earlier. What kind of leader was Joseph in the Bible? I am studying it even more now. You just surrender. And so, like Joseph, we must remember that true growth takes time. He smiled at the irony of this "favor." I also did not feel that Joseph was not prideful when he revealed that he had dreams of his brothers in the fields. 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. But the truth is, He may not. We can easily see why our world lacks patience. He failed to recognize his familys problematic It honored God and gave Joseph freedom from bitterness. What steps do I take to do that? Youre not getting me, Laura, Bill had said. OUR PART: I will do what I can to not fret and to find strength in the Lord, to move forward and not give up. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? (Genesis 38:8-9). Notice that there is no mention of time in verses 1-6. Josephs charisma followed him to prison as well, and the warden soon appointed him as his right-hand man. Joseph and His Brothers: The Stories of Jacob, Young Joseph, Joseph in Egypt, Joseph the Provider. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? There are no steps. Though we may have our plans in place, it is important to keep our hearts open to where God may tell us to take a turn and do something different. He doesnt respond with bitterness, but continues to work with integrity. But never once does it say anything about Joseph having to lose pride before he could be a proper leader. 125 32 And God had promised Grandmother Rebekah that her older twin, Uncle Esau, would serve the younger twin, Father Jacob. Here are five lessons we can learn from the life of Joseph, son of Jacob, leader of Egypt. It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. After their father dies, Josephs brothers begin to worry again that Joseph will now take vengeance upon them. Joseph had a lot of things going his way in life at first. In the storms of life, in the darkest moments, cling to Gods promises, knowing His sovereign plan involves the Valley of the Shadow of Death (Psalm 23:4), but He is with His children. 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. In regards to Joseph, here are some leadership qualities I admire in him: Joseph first demonstrated his other gifts of organization and management as a young man of seventeen, when he was tending his fathers flocks. In other words, Joseph landed in a pretty important house. Gods way, not mans way, is to be taken as the guide of action. Origin. This was the main purpose that God had for Josephs life. Job emerged from his ordeal a better and wiser man who exhibited such patience amidst the upheaval of life. If there is a problem, I want to solve it as quickly as possible. Wow! Trusting the Lord was with him, Joseph stewarded the gifts, opportunities, and assets God gave him with excellence and faithfulness. Then Joseph has a dream where his brothers bow down to him. Even when the Cupbearer promised to help Joseph escape, he completely forgot. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance,like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. Day after monotonous day passed with no sign of change. His own brothers, consumed with Every single instance was an emotional fight. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. It is the English version of the French name Josphine. Dutripons Latin Bible concordance (Paris 1838) identified 16 people named Joseph in the Bible, 9 of whom featured in the New Testament: Joseph I. Joseph (Genesis). 0000010730 00000 n One day when they were tending their flocks away from home, Jacob sent Joseph to see if all was well with them. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"f3080":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"f3080"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"f3080"},"poiuy":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"f83d7":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"f3080"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)"},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, The Story of Joseph in the Bible: 5 Strategies for enduring the hard times (and the good), 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. 7. Victoria: Global Book Publishing, 2006. Joseph can be trusted to the point that Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care. How did Perfecto get his name under the feet of Jesus? We appear to be able to instantaneously obtain our desired outcomes with simply the click of a button. He felt something crawl across his leg. "I trust you, my God he whispered." There are no steps. What steps do I take to do that? Youre not getting me, Laura, Bill had said. So the brothers journeyed at the behest of their father to Egypt. He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. Which god is the father of Jesus? He worked to build the infrastructure to store the food. And then God moved. At Potiphars house, Joseph would have been terribly missing his family, his friends, his home and he would have been very hurt because of what his half-brothers did to him just recently. Joseph, Overcoming Obstacles Through Faithfulness, by Dr. Gene Getz, celebrates on the The warden paid no attention to anything under Josephs care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph! The feminine form of the name Joseph, which is taken from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning (YHWH) shall grow.. He was given the responsibility to manage Potiphar household. Closing Thoughts On The Story Of Mary And Joseph. Yet God was faithful to his word and eventually delivered Jacob and brought him back to the Promised Land a wealthy man. I need to wait on God. But God sent an angel to Joseph to verify Marys story and reassure him that his marriage to her was Gods will. We may experience trials and tribulations for far longer than a few months, we might experience them for longer than Joseph did. Despite our best efforts to explain the benefits of the medicine, he did not want it. Joseph did know his brothers at first sight, and wept several times in private. WebWhat challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? Many of the great heroes of faith were young when God began working powerfully with them: David was likely in his teen His brothers, already jealous, became furious. What God has planned for you will never be affected by the envy of others or their actual attempts to obstruct you. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. How did Joseph applied his talent as a leader? Everyone Is Entitled To Second Chances: The way Joseph handled his brothers who had wronged him is yet another example of leadership that can be learned. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 0000036829 00000 n How simple it has been for us to disobey Gods commands, though? 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. Dont give up on God. Nonetheless, forgiveness is a virtue. He continued working with integrity, but he had to wait for Gods timing to receive freedom. He was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his fathers favorite son. His brothers' envy of his father's favor turned homicidal when he inferred that he had God's favor as well. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? And while I am far from perfect, I dont believe that God allowed what happened because of pride. Origin: The name Joseph comes from the Hebrew verb yasaf (to increase). But then the cupbearer simply forgets. Relate the history concerning Jacob and Rachels first son. We must not be tired or weary in the face of challenges. They have some troubling dreams, and Joseph interprets them perfectly. The story of Joseph stands in stark opposition to this. 0000001989 00000 n The name is also found in the New Testament as the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. Despite being a man who consistently honored God, Joseph spent 16 years as a slave and then as a prisoner in Egypt. The power would have risen to his head rather quickly, and he could not have led the way that people needed him to lead. It took Joseph 13 chapters (Gen. 37-50) and approximately 24 years (best guess from Bible scholars) to come to this place of Joseph became the overseer of a vast amount of grain that would deliver Egypt and many other people from a future famine. 5 Lessons for Hard Times from the Life of Joseph. WebWhat challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? It can be difficult to wait during the bad times, but it can also be difficult to wait during the good times. As a person who loves to solve problems, this principle really drives me nuts sometimes. We often think we deserve more credit and reward for our work. Joseph willingly obeyed God, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Fortunately, God used that time to teach Joseph and help him grow. And while it is remarkably frustrating to not get the answers, God still deserves our trust. How did Joseph demonstrate his faith in Matthew? Isaac trusted God's word. The rivalry between Jacobs two wives and two concubines caused much dissention within the family. Gender: Joseph is most often used as a boy name. But he made them wait an agonizing 25 years before giving them Grandfather Isaac. Foreshadowing the undeserved grace that Jesus would bring centuries later, Joseph did not hold a grudge, ready and waiting with open arms, calling for those who needed forgiveness to accept it. Act 7:9-10 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. Lesson 1: Josephs story shows God can work with young people. All rights reserved, Lessons From The Story Of Joseph You Should Learn: Top 7. Instead of murdering him, however, they sold him into slavery. We have no idea how long Joseph labored for Potiphar as these events began to unfold. Potiphars wife becomes attracted to Joseph and attempts to sleep with him multiple times. How often do we spend money on something we dont need because we have a little extra cash (but not enough)? It was the remembering that kept his hope alive and bitterness at bay. It can seem like living up to the life of Joseph is impossible, but God calls us all to different destinations. He felt ambivalent about them. And whatever he did, theLordmade it succeed. 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. Required fields are marked *. 0000000959 00000 n These spoke of God as three personsFather, Son, and Holy Spiritexisting together in a single being. He obeyed his father, seeking out his brothers miles away, in order to honor his father. When he was reunited with his brothers, he could say sincerely, And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve lifeAnd God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. WebGod was with Joseph every step of the way. He rehearsed the stories of God that had filled him with awe as a child. Joseph Had Every Justification in The World For Not Continuing To Follow God, Yet He Chose Not To: Realizing that there isnt any justification that is acceptable for us to sin is what we need to do. Joseph is my Bible hero. At the age of 17, Josephs issues intensified. 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. Exchange worldly thgs, drugs alcohol etc etc for The Love of GOD at an early age And GOD Almighty will give you The Desire (s) of your HEART. Joseph will lead the way on preparing for the 7 years While in jail, Joseph performed this act for servants in Pharaohs home, one of whom was pardoned and returned to serve the Egyptian leader. The book of Genesis has quite a few stories about important people, but no one gets more time than Joseph. 3a. Joseph, Simons uncle, would have been born a generation earlier. 1. How was Joseph able to forgive his brothers? Eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob from his wife Rachel, and the brother of Benjamin. Unselfishly he offered to interpret the dreams of his two fellow prisoners, telling them that the knowledge came from God (see So do not fear;I will provide for you and your little ones. Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Egyptians believed that everybody had prophetic dreams. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord" (Psalm 31:24)! He maintained his faith and relied on God during the 23 years he spent in Egypt before the arrival of his brothers. He covered his mouth to choke back his sobs. Thanks Laurie for the kind words and thoughtful response! Humble- the power and prestige of his position working for Pharaoh never changed him. Joseph is finally freed from prison at age thirty, or thirteen years after being sold as a slave. 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. What are two principles of leadership you can take from the story of Joseph and apply to effective leadership? He thought back to the dream where God had told him he would become powerful. Image: Alinari/Art Resource, NY. The Eleven Sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Napthali, Isaacher, Asher, Dan Zebulun Gad, Benjamin, Judahalthough acting usually as a grouphave their own different personalities, talents, and flaw. It spans decades and fourteen chapters of the Bible. Joseph was given the knowledge and direction by God to do this challenging task: Due to this, Egypts population survived the famine buyers traveled from all over The pharaoh calls for Joseph, who once again interprets the dream with wisdom. Why wait when you can create a to-do list and start taking action? God had delivered them. Kendall, R.T. God Meant It For Good. Through a number of tests, he got them to confess their past guilt and misdeeds or wrongdoing. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the. Your email address will not be published. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. (Gen 39:2, 39:21) Leaping up, he brushed himself off. His name was Joseph, and his story is one of the most popular in the Bible. Life may get easier here for a while, and it may not. Who are the main characters in the story of Joseph? He did the right thing, even when he could not see the purpose or the light at the end of the tunnel. Step 1: Seek Gods Will in All Things. Darkness had swallowed the light again. Potiphar was an officer for the Pharaoh, the captain of his guard. The common thread Joseph traced through all the stories, the one thing God seemed to honor and bless more than anything else, was faith. I think in this season of life you need to wait on the Lord. Yes! Pharaoh assigned Joseph the task of preparing his country for the years of famine as a result. Josephine is a female given name. Copyright 2023 Bscholarly LLC. We learn that Joseph is his fathers favorite, and his many brothers are already jealous of him. Imagine the imprint this made on this young man! He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. He has revealed this plan to us in His Word, and He expects us to take it as our guide in all things, great and small. Im ready, lets go!. 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. of God made stunning promises and then ordained time and circumstances to work in such ways as to make the promises seem impossible to fulfill. Joseph was actually a spoiled brat, ( Genesis 37:3 ). Mann, Thomas. b. Recommended: Most Fun Jobs In The World 2022. Again, thanks for sharing. His youth was seeping out the cracks of his cage. 0000002224 00000 n And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured (Genesis 41:47-49). Joseph wanted to scream. Instead, he chose mercy and grace. That being said, he certainly lived life with integrity and God worked through him in incredible ways. Thus, his personality has become more refined and wise. Joseph waited patiently for Gods promise since he was aware of this. Bethany Verrett is a free-lance writer and editor. Joseph was scarcely more than a boy 17 or 18 years old yet he faced challenges that would daunt many grown men. Relying On Gods Direction Will Help You get Ready For The Future: God gave Joseph the gift of dream interpretation throughout his life. But instead, he patiently continued to do good work. Jacob trusted God's word. 0000002381 00000 n And as he sought to trust and obey God during that terribly lonely, desolate time, things went from bad to worse. Humility is often a painful lesson to learn, but it is a requirement for any good servant leader. Joseph as a king. What challenges did Joseph face, and what do you learn about him? In another early text, The History of Joseph the Carpenter, which was composed in Egypt between the 6th and 7th centuries, Christ himself tells the story of his step-father, claiming Joseph was 90 years old when he married Mary and died at 111. %%EOF In addition to at least one sister, Josephs family had ten elder brothers. Genesis 39:21-23 shows us the results. But through it all, Joseph maintained a patient and steady reliance on the Lord. We cant take one small instance of sharing Dreams, and come to the conclusion that he was a very proud individual! Rebekah trusted God's word. I dont even recognize myself from only 3 or 4 years ago. This coat angers his brothers, and they sell him into slavery. There was no water to drink. Though eventually Joseph rose to power, wealth, and prominence, he experienced many dark days. In time, his unique qualities expressed themselves in an additional area: when So trust in Him, and lead well. Surely God wouldnt push us to struggle for longer than that, right? To most it would seem an absurd notionbut not to Job. Joseph was not special because he was prophetic but because he knew how to interpret the dreams. 0000011114 00000 n Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. He explains the meaning of the dream in Genesis 41 by saying: It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The twelve sons of Jacob were the offspring of four mothers. sin is sin. You may very well be right Genesis (nor the rest of the Bible) does not state that Joesph struggled with pride. His life became a powerful example of how a godly person can overcome adversities. Joseph dreaded the night in this foul Egyptian hellhole. Just as with Mary and Joseph, troubles and trials in life are tools in the hand of God to mold us and shape us and make us into something beyond our imagination.
Marathon Pizza St Helen Mi, Justified Herbicide Label, General Edwin Walker House, A New England Nun Summary Sparknotes, Articles W
what challenges did joseph face in the bible? 2023