One of the toughest pills to swallow is the fact that we aren’t always in control. Sometimes we find ourselves at the receiving end of others’ bad choices, facing hardship and pain that we didn’t invite into our lives. It’s during these moments of struggle that we can draw inspiration from the remarkable story of the Old Testament character Joseph.
Name
The name Joseph comes from a Hebrew verb meaning “to add.” In its present form, it means “may He (God) add (sons).”
Outstanding Characteristic
Forgiveness and faith.
Summary
Joseph was a beloved son of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israel. Jacob expressed favouritism by gifting Joseph a special coat. Joseph also had dreams that suggested his family would one day bow down to him. These dreams, combined with his father’s favouritism, stirred intense jealousy and anger among his brothers. Out of their envy, Joseph’s brothers decided to sell him into slavery and deceive Jacob into believing that Joseph had been killed. After being transported to Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, a captain in the army. Through all of this, the Lord continued to provide for Joseph. It wasn’t long before Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar’s household. While serving in the household, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph. He rejected her advances and fled from her. In response, she accused him of rape, which led to Joseph’s wrongful imprisonment. There, he began to gain attention as an accurate dream interpreter. When Pharaoh heard of Joseph’s gift, he summoned Joseph to decipher his own troubling dream. Impressed by Joseph’s God-given wisdom, Pharaoh released him from prison and put him in charge of Egypt’s grain supplies during the famine. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and made him second in command. During the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt seeking grain. Joseph met his brothers upon their arrival. He forgave their betrayal and had his entire family move to Egypt, where he looked after them.
Key Scripture
But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them (Genesis 50:19–21).
Lessons Learned
1. Strength instead of setback
God’s servants face adversity, temptation, false accusation, betrayal, and deprivation. These challenges can lead to spiritual setbacks for some. However, these situations can also provide opportunity to strengthen our trust and faith in our God. As we keep our faith in the Lord, He will be with us regardless of the circumstances.
2. Trust instead of panic
Joseph spent many years waiting for God to act on his behalf. During times like these, we need to learn to trust God without panicking. While he couldn’t foresee the specifics of how his troubles would lead to a greater purpose, Joseph held onto the belief that God was working behind the scenes. Rely on God to handle the people who forget you and break their promises. Focus on being the kind of loving servant He has designed you to be. Fully trust Him during the waiting periods. God will not forsake or forget you.
3. Gratitude instead of pride
God is the one who brings us from the pit to the pinnacle. If He has promoted you, be grateful, not proud. God doesn’t announce His appointments in advance, so we must trust Him to bring things about in His time and way.
4. Faith instead of defeat
Greatness like Joseph’s comes with faith in God which manifests itself in a magnanimous attitude toward others and a magnificent attitude toward difficulties. When those two essentials are in place, troubles become challenges to face, not reasons to quit.
5. Surrender instead of resentment
In the midst of his trials, Joseph chose to surrender to God and embrace a higher perspective. Instead of focusing on his trials, he chose to focus on God. This perspective enabled Joseph to forgive his brother’s past mistreatment of him. He turned his gaze away from his troubles, saying, “But God intended it all for good.”
Although living up to the example that Joseph left may feel daunting, it’s important to remember that God calls us all to our own unique path. While most of us will not be leaders of great countries or mighty empires, we can all learn from Joseph’s story. His life serves as an excellent example of how we too can be people of faith and forgiveness in our walk with the Lord.
