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Weekly Message | April 25th, 2010
Passage: Genesis 37, 39, 40
Key Verse(s): 37:5, 39:2, 39:21
Joseph is the fruit of the book of Genesis. He is, in a sense, a shadow of Christ. The key verses of this lesson describe Joseph's human conditions and god’s favor upon him. Through Joseph’s life we see how a clueless boy in a dysfunctional family grew up. It is the story of how we sinners walk with God and become real stewards through life’s sufferings. The details of Joseph are not about another success story in the Bible. Rather, Joseph’s story helps us to examine our own. May God bless this study so that we may better walk with God.
First, a clueless boy in a dysfunctional family: God planted a dream in a young boy Joseph. (37:1-11)
This chapter shows Joseph's boyhood years. Joseph was born with many fatalistic and sorrowful elements in his life. His father had four wives. Joseph's mother, Rachel, died early. So Joseph did not know what it was like to receive the love of his mother. He did not fit in his family. His brothers simply hated him. With many negative factors working against him, there was still some good foundation through his boyhood.
As we look at Joseph and his family from a human point of view, he was a clueless boy in a dysfunctional family. Many of his brothers were quite ordinary—in fact less than ordinary. They were dishonest, cunning, and contentious. Joseph's older ten brothers intensely disliked him. It was primarily because Joseph was not like them. Joseph did not join their evil ways of life. They probably stole sheep, picked fights, and chased women. So he gave a bad report to his father about his brothers, telling exactly what he had observed. Some might have said, "Well, Joseph, you were too naïve. You were not tactful enough." But Joseph feared God and he could do nothing but tell the truth to his father. From his early boyhood his main concern was not to be popular among his brothers and go along with what others did, but to be faithful to the truth.
From God’s point of view, God planted dreams about the great future in this young boy, Joseph. Joseph was a man with a great imagination. He dreamed about his future. One day Joseph had a dream. It was about twelve sheaves bowing down to his sheave. Another dream was that even the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to him. These dreams were from God. From a human point of view, it gave Joseph a dream to be different. He was to become number one in his family and even in this world. It was not based on what he could do, but what Almighty God could do through him. From God's point of view, it was to serve his entire family and even the world. God's purpose was to save Jacob's family and the world.
Second, unresolved conflicts resulted in the first major blow to Joseph: God took Joseph out of his father’s house through the evil schemes of his brothers. (37:12-36)
Jacob showed special love for Joseph—by giving him special clothes and giving him much attention. It was probably because of his great love for Joseph’s mother Rachel who died so early leaving behind Joseph and his younger brother Benjamin. Jacob certainty spent more time with Joseph than any of his other sons. Joseph learned from his father Jacob proper work habits—excellent workmanship, a deep sense of responsibility, and follow-through spirit. One day Jacob sent Joseph to check out how his older brothers were doing. Joseph was very obedient to his father. He immediately went to find his brothers. When he could not find them at Shechem, he went all the way to Dothan. From his boyhood Joseph's work ethic was superb. He went far beyond the call of duty. Certainly, Joseph learned from his father Jacob such great work habits and willingness to work so hard.
Upon seeing Joseph, initially, Joseph's brothers tried to kill him. But Rueben tried to save Joseph. Reuben did not have real leadership among his brothers. It was Judah who persuaded his brothers to sell Joseph. Joseph was terrified. He pleaded for mercy to his brothers. (Ge 42:21) But they all ignored his cry. They sold him for twenty silver coins to the Midianites. Then they gave a false report to Jacob. They told Jacob that wild animals had killed him.
In any stage of one's life, there must be some critical foundation of life. Here it is pure faith, great dreams, and sound work habits. Who teaches us this? In Joseph's case it was his father, Jacob. Likewise, the role of parents and mentors is to lay this basic foundation during one's childhood. If anyone did not have such a childhood, don't give up. It is not too late to lay this foundation. Now, let's see how God matured this wonderful foundation to prepare Joseph for his great purpose.
From a human point of view, Joseph was sold off because of unresolved conflicts over the years. It was not one huge event that made the brothers hate him so much. It is the combination and accumulation of many small bad things over the years that result in the termination of relationships. Husbands and wives divorce. People severe relationships and terminate their friendships not because of big stuff but small stuff. A wife said to her husband, “For years I told you to put your socks in the basket. You consistently ignored this. I now know that you do not love me.” Small annoyances over the years turn into huge destruction. When families experience big challenges, they actually come together and support one another. Instead, it is the seemingly small things that pull them apart. A major key to successful unions is to learn to cope with small annoyances before they escalate into bigger problems. (The Small things Couples Fight Over by Elizabeth Bernstein; WSJ April 20, on Bonds: Relationships.)
From God’s point of view, God took Joseph out of his father’s house for a larger purpose. Had Joseph stayed with his father, he would never have become a man of great influence in this world. Although the method by which God took him away was quite painful, it was God’s good will.
Third, Joseph’s success through faithful workmanship for his boss; God was with Joseph and prospered him in everything. (39:1-6)
To Joseph, life as a slave in Egypt must have been very hard. He was at the bottom of Egyptian society. He did not know how to speak the language. His brothers had rejected him. The Egyptians despised him. He was terribly lonely. He had no family, no relatives, and no friends. He was totally alone in a foreign land. In verse 3 we read, "The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master." Here, we learn that Joseph practiced his faith. God was with him. In other words, Joseph was with God. He did not forget God. He also practiced his sound work habits. Ordinary people acquire certain habits associated with their occupations. While working with other slaves, it was so natural for him to learn to complain about his master, do as little work as possible, and feel hopeless about his life. Instead, he kept his dreams alive. Although he was a slave, he dared to be great in the great land of Egypt.
"From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." As Joseph served his master wholeheartedly, God's blessings came through his master. Pothiphar, the Egyptian master, noticed him and promoted him to be the manager of the house. Joseph was so trustworthy that Pothiphar left in Joseph's care everything he had. With Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself about anything except the food he ate.
From a human point of view, the formula for success was clear. Joseph did not dwell in his past. He somehow let go of his father’s house and instead focused on his present. He worked hard—he practiced good, responsible workmanship with faithfulness. Gradually, he gained the trust of his masters—up to the Egyptian master. This is what it meant that Joseph walked with God. From God’s point of view, God helped Joseph to practice good workmanship as he served the Lord. God blessed Joseph to practice what he learned from his father Jacob—hard work and have faith in God.
Fourth, Joseph’s integrity invited the second strike: God prepared Joseph through another trial. (39:7-23)
Many years of hard slave labor made Joseph physically strong and well built. He was very handsome. After a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "’Come to bed with me!” According to Egyptian custom probably it was not unusual for a woman to do this. But Joseph refused. “’With me in charge,’ he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’" Joseph's pure faith was even more profound than before. He feared God. He could say, "No!" It was out of deep respect for his master and out of fear of God that Joseph refused the woman's request.
This unfulfilled woman was persistent. She spoke to Joseph “day after day” but still he refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and none of the household servants were inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Joseph avoided her and did not associate with her. Joseph feared God. She kept his cloak beside her. Later, she filed a sexual harassment charge against Joseph with her husband saying, "Look…this Hebrew slave has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." Upon hearing his wife’s accusation, Potiphar burned with anger.
From a human point of view, Joseph was falsely accused, put in prison, beaten severely, and lost everything he had tried to build. It was in a sense a reward for his pure faith. It seemed no use for him to live by integrity and faith in God. How could anyone not become cynical and bitter at this? He could have cried bitterly and been crushed in body and spirit. Again, Joseph was at the very bottom–among the hopelessly despairing prisoners. From God’s point of view, he grew deeper in faith. He learned the reality of sinfulness and of the fallen world. Yet, he also experienced God’s goodness as well. So he again practiced faithfulness and hard work. God again prospered him in prison as well.
Fifth, No matter what Joseph did, opportunity kept passing him by; nothing worked; But God’s right time was coming slowly and surely. (40:1-23)
In 39:21-23 we read, "the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” (21-23) Joseph did not become bitter. He had God's goodness in his heart. In prison, Joseph found favor with the prison warden. Joseph served and obeyed him wholeheartedly. The prison warden promoted him in a position to take care of many political prisoners who had lost favor with the Pharaoh.
When Joseph opened his heart toward God, his heart was open toward the people as well. He had acquired management, organizational, and people skills in the prison. His other expertise was to interpret dreams. It was not just his own dreams that he understood, but other people's dreams as well. His primary responsibility was to take care of prisoners. One day Joseph saw that two of the prisoners were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in the house of the captain of the guard, "Why are your faces so sad today?" This one question opened a door of opportunity for Joseph.
They explained their troubled dreams. Joseph told them that the cupbearer would be restored. Then the baker said, "How about me?" and shared his dreams. Joseph said to the baker, "You will be hanged." He told the truth. Joseph said to the cupbearer, "But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
What can we learn from Joseph's life? Life's true successes have many detours. It is quite common to have many ups and downs in life. Hardships without God may crush many. Hardship, in the hands of God, molds the character of his people. Joseph's early foundation proved to be so critical in his success in every turn. His pure faith was a basis of his personal integrity. He did what was right at home and was rejected and sold. He did what was right by refusing the woman's temptations and was put in prison. But Joseph found favor with God. His great work habits were the reason for his success at each place—home, Pothiphar's house, and in prison.
What can we learn from the God of Joseph? God is with us. Neither is God idle nor is he pointless. God does his good work in us and through us. Many painful memories in our childhood, deep wounds from family conflicts, and emotional scars through hardships are hard to forget. Three strikes—such as troubles in family, rejections of friends, and failures at work—may make many people quit. Many are no longer open to God. Neither are they open to people. What can we do? We need God’s mercy. We cannot be consistently good apart from the goodness of God.
In this account of life’s events, two perspectives are useful. A human point of view is necessary to see situations with realistic understanding. If we have dreams, people do not necessarily applaud. If we do well, people may not like it. If we fail, then people do not care. As we suffer, does the world around us stop and pay attention to us. No, the world keeps going. This helps us to evaluate the reality of this fallen world as it is—no more or no less. However, a person with God’s point of view appreciates the deeper meanings beyond the collection of the seemingly random events.
The theme of this passage is, “God was with Joseph.” Thus, Joseph was with God. In his many ups and downs Joseph stayed close to God and walked with God. He lived before God, so he practiced stewardship in his sufferings. We may almost hear him saying, “Because God is with me, no matter what happens, I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” Because God is with us, we stay open to God and keep doing what is right, we continue being good. In doing so, we may be struck but never become crushed. We rise up again. God certainly moves—slowly and surely—for our good.
April 25, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo, UBF.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
