0000013379 00000 n He could have sent every one of his brothers to death or slavery. Image: Alinari/Art Resource, NY. The medicine was like a snake to him, and he fought it as hard as he could. The procedure went well, but on the second day our son started refusing to take his medicine. We can also say with confidence that God was patient with the journey. So the brothers journeyed at the behest of their father to Egypt. If there is a problem, I want to solve it as quickly as possible. In verse 19 we see that Joseph was a good man and was going to break off the engagement quietly and not put Mary to shame. Relying On Gods Direction Will Help You get Ready For The Future: God gave Joseph the gift of dream interpretation throughout his life. But today, some prosper spiritually, but in other departments of their life they face trouble. Why Did Jacob Loved Joseph The Most? - Bliss Tulle Joseph shows how to glorify God in the dark places, and how to credit Him for carrying His followers through those places. Joseph Surely God wouldnt push us to struggle for longer than that, right? challenges 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. If you want to show the kind of patience Joseph did during difficult times, then stay as close to God as possible. They approach him to apologize again and seek his grace and mercy. Josephs second dream is about heavenly or spiritual matters. He also needed time in a powerless position so he could learn humility and dependance on God. 0000022426 00000 n As Joseph responded to suffering with faith, meekness, and humility, God molded and shaped a leader. Jacob gave him a coat with long sleeves because of a mistranslation in the King James Version of the Bible: coat with long sleeves was translated incorrectly as coat of many colors. Long-sleeved or many-colored, the significance was the same. We ended last week with a high point in the lives of the sons of Israel and Moses. In Greece, the female name Josephine is Iosifna and used mainly on the island of Crete. I felt like I was asking for bread and He was handing me snakes. 6. The rivalry between Jacobs two wives and two concubines caused much dissention within the family. Gods way, not mans way, is to be taken as the guide of action. 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. As a young and handsome man, he drew the sinful attention of Potiphars wife, and she tried to seduce him. The first comes from a declaration made by Joseph to his brothers, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20a). Gender: Joseph is most often used as a boy name. We may never understand the work He is doing in our heart or recognize what He is preparing us for. Salem Media Group. How often do we spend money on something we dont need because we have a little extra cash (but not enough)? He was a compassionate man. What challenges did Most American Christians believed in the doctrine of the Trinity as expressed in traditional confessions and creeds. Character Formation. Joseph exemplifies this perfectly, and we would do well today to learn from him. God Prepared Joseph for Leadership 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). How simple it has been for us to disobey Gods commands, though? 5 Lessons for Hard Times from the Life of Joseph. The resurrection of Jesus (Biblical Greek: ) is the Christian belief that God raised, God quickens and renews us by the Living Word, through and by Jesus himself, who came to heal the brokenhearted, It was not until the 5th century that all the different Christian churches came to a basic agreement, Who is perfecto in Under the Feet of Jesus? Joseph was rejected, betrayed and abandoned by his own family. There are humans with very sinful hearts that do things to people who are trying to do whats right. Nobody mandates that you must continue to be friendly with someone you have forgiven. Joseph made three critical errors in judgment: He was indiscriminatehe didnt recognize the troubled situation in his family. Relying on the Lord for council and wisdom will always be the best place to start preparing for the future. Rebekah trusted God's word. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Joseph I am the oldest of seven children, and if I had a dream and told it to my family, no one wouldve hated me or sold me into slavery because of it. The familiar desperation surged hot in his chest. 0 The common thread Joseph traced through all the stories, the one thing God seemed to honor and bless more than anything else, was faith. 0000037023 00000 n Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. But God had mysteriously woven human deception and immorality into his plan to make that happen. Recommended: Best books every man should read. 0000011114 00000 n Of all his twelve sons, Jacob favored Joseph because he was the son of his old age (Gen. 37:3). 0000002224 00000 n As I said at the beginning of this post, our family has endured a really tough year. The real skill was in interpreting those dreams, and that was Josephs skill. His brothers enjoyed a nice payday, meanwhile Joseph became a slave in the house of a man named Potiphar. In the narrative, just prior to this test, when Joseph had first met all of his brothers (but not identified himself to them), he had held a feast for them; the narrative heavily implies that Benjamin was Josephs favorite brother, since he is overcome with tears when he first meets Benjamin in particular, and he gives . But even before that, when Joseph was a slave in charge of Potiphars house or a leader in the prison, he maintained a steady patience while doing a great job. 0000011515 00000 n The famine will consume the land. In her book, I Give Up, Laura Story shares this exchange with a Pastor named Bill. Bible Because of this, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing his nation for the years of want. Genesis 30:2224. Joseph Many of the great heroes of faith were young when God began working powerfully with them: David was likely in his teen This is not just a Bible story; Joseph was a real-life person like you and like me. This of course applies to acts of theft, whether great or small, discovered or hidden. It honored God and gave Joseph freedom from bitterness. If we study their lives in Sacred Scripture, Jesus, Mary and Joseph offer us three important steps. You can get an overview of most of the Genesis story, including Josephs, in this great video from the Bible Project: Josephs story begins in Genesis 37, when he is seventeen years old. In the Old Testament, Joseph is a favored son of Jacob and Rachel. 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. The pharaoh calls for Joseph, who once again interprets the dream with wisdom. Humility is often a painful lesson to learn, but it is a requirement for any good servant leader. The dryness of the arid climate preserved bodies buried in shallow sandy pits, as in the image below. They had traveled another twelve miles away to Dothan. Joseph made three critical errors in judgment: He was indiscriminatehe didnt recognize the troubled situation in his family. 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. Later, Pharaoh had a confusing dream, and his servant told him to summon Joseph. In fact, it is true of the whole of human history, what mankind intends for evil, the Lord intends for good, and for His plan. and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. In ancient Egypt, the priests were the interpreters of the dreams. Beyond being the son of his fathers favorite wife, Rachel, the Bible shows how obedient to his father Joseph was. Who needs leadership experience when youre smart or have an MBA? Purpose In Your Pain: Lessons From Joseph I think in this season of life you need to wait on the Lord. Yes! 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. 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. The Old Testament is filled with characters who have massive and often repeated moral failures. Key-verse for Life of Joseph: The Lord was with Joseph. 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. Joseph showed tremendous discipline as a leader. I also did not feel that Joseph was not prideful when he revealed that he had dreams of his brothers in the fields. Great! We learn that Joseph is his fathers favorite, and his many brothers are already jealous of him. Beitzel, Barry J. Biblica The Bible Atlas: A Social and Historical Journey through the Lands of the Bible. Joseph saw value in his life for others and he made himself a chance to stand up for Gods word when he was faced with temptation. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. It took Joseph 13 chapters (Gen. 37-50) and approximately 24 years (best guess from Bible scholars) to come to this place of Genesis 3750 contains the biography of Joseph. Fast forward to being a man in his 30sbecause he was tested, his character had become chiseled and polished. The qualities that afterward distinguished him in A tree that grows quickly without good roots will fall. Even when the Cupbearer promised to help Joseph escape, he completely forgot. Yet in many other places in the Bible, God shows that pride goes before destruction! Join Leaders Go Last and receive a free copy of the eBook: 15 Principles of Leadership from the book of Nehemiah. 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. So it was not you who sent me here, but God (Genesis 45:5&7-8a). Im ready, lets go!. And then you sit tight.. There are definitely times to take action and work for change, but there are also times when God simply calls us to wait. One day when they were tending their flocks away from home, Jacob sent Joseph to see if all was well with them. The cupbearer will soon be released and promises to try and help Joseph get out of prison. COURAGE: Beating Fear and Overcoming Doubt Joseph Challenge | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible After all, desperate times call for desperate measures. I must, however, disagree on one major point. Every single instance was an emotional fight. Joseph teaches us the value of self control in the temptation of the youth. What challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? What does the Bible tell us about Joseph? - About the Catholic Faith Even though Josephs life took many unexpected turns, he eventually ascended to the position of second-in-command inside the Egyptian kingdom. Joseph faced many of the same problems faced by all fathers, even today - trying to make a good living to support his family. But Joseph chose sacrificial love. The Bible story of Joseph is an inspiring tale of how a young man rose from adversity to become one of the most powerful men in the world. Remembering these two themes, and learning from the Biblical example of Joseph, can bring believers closer to their Lord. Glad you found encouragement from the article and thanks again for your feedback! WebWhat challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? Sometimes faithfulness to God and his word sets us on a course where circumstances get worse, not better. Bible Study Guides - Gods Plan Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. Because of the famine, Joseph's family in the Valley of Hebron needed food. What is the theme of the story of Joseph? 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 Joseph as a king. Following a string of visions that indicated God would favor Joseph over his brothers, the brothers animosity for him took a more sinister turn. He thought back to the dream where God had told him he would become powerful. 0000001899 00000 n 0000001557 00000 n While we think of waiting as the problem, God intends the time of waiting to REVEAL the problem. And this is where Josephs brothers finally return to the story. Especially considering that he told everyone about a second dream where his whole family bows to him. Joseph But that did not stop him from doing his duties. Instead of murdering him, however, they sold him into slavery. But I will keep honoring you here where you have placed me. Joseph: Father of Jesus on Earth - Learn Religions Josephs charisma followed him to prison as well, and the warden soon appointed him as his right-hand man. WebJoseph Rejected Bitterness and Chose to Forgive. Wow! Jacob trusted God's word. The story of Mary and Joseph is an incredible display of faith, trust, and what God can do through normal people. He was immaturehe didnt stop to think of the hurt that his actions could cause. God used those dreams to give Joseph a job where he could help many people. It may have taken decades, but he was able to see why God put him through so many trials and tribulations. He listened to his fathers instructions, and loved to obey God. They were free from bondage and ready for a new life in a new land. Enjoyed this post? She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. Joseph - Walking with God 0000011447 00000 n The Faith of Joseph (Part One Pastor John gets to the heart and offers practical suggestions for growing in evangelism. Read Matthew 2:19-23. 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. Josephine is a female given name. Great! Josephs father had been touched the Lord Himself, and was changed for the remainder of his life. Nowhere in Genesis, in any translation, does God say anything about Josephs pride. He is to search for and find Gods plan.. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. Despite our best efforts to explain the benefits of the medicine, he did not want it. He endured great hardship. Of the twelve, one child stood out, favored by their father, and blessed by God. As a slave he tried to live his life well and he found favour with his master. Joseph But we must keep in mind that if we dont apply these teachings, they wont help us at all. Suing God. And then you sit tight.. "Like my forefathers, I will wait for you. What God has planned for you will never be affected by the envy of others or their actual attempts to obstruct you. 22 views, 4 likes, 0 loves, 2 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from RCCG Praise Tabernacle: SUNDAY 3RD SERVICE || 30TH APRIL 2023 Yet, as foolish as it seemed right now, Joseph could not shake the deep conviction that God meant to bring those dreams to pass. 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. He is the author of. Joseph was scarcely more than a boy 17 or 18 years old yet he faced challenges that would daunt many grown men. b. Eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob from his wife Rachel, and the brother of Benjamin. Moses Thanks for the comment and Im praying for you now! Obstacles In The Life Of Moses And Joshua Bible Kendall, R.T. God Meant It For Good. Catholicism is the largest and most influential Christian church. It is the English version of the French name Josphine. A shiver ran down his spine. The Lord was with Joseph even while he was imprisoned, and the prison warden showed favor toward him. This challenge focuses on; identity, favour, integrity, jealousy and forgiveness. WebJosephs own brothers sold him into slavery. More than likely He will begin to start you off in The book of Proverb or maybe not.I actually prayed that GOD would give me Wisdom Knowledge and understanding now at 75yrs GOD is Not finished with me yet!! Man is not to make plans according to his finite judgment. Joseph did know his brothers at first sight, and wept several times in private. But he spent at least 12 years there before he suddenly became Prime Minister. He maintained his faith and relied on God during the 23 years he spent in Egypt before the arrival of his brothers. Joseph is finally freed from prison at age thirty, or thirteen years after being sold as a slave. I need to wait on God. Instead, he chose mercy and grace. Jacobs favorite son was Joseph, as most people are aware. 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. Genesis 39:21-23 shows us the results. My mom will tell you that, growing up, I would ask about dinner plans every day. Not only that, but we are promised an eternity without sickness, pain, or tears. Now lets take a look at how Josephs patience enabled him to be a better leader. Even Joseph is listed as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11.
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what challenges did joseph face in the bible?