Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel and his parents loved him very much, especially his father. As it turns out he was the youngest in the family, and it caused a lot of jealousy from his siblings. A lot of anger grew in the family as time passed. At seventeen years old his dad made him supervisor over his older brothers instead of a herdsman.
After Rachel passed away Jacob kept Joseph close to home. Because of the favor Joseph was shown, this was strike one against him with his brothers. Joseph had many dreams, and he would tell his brothers about his dreams which always ended with his brothers bowing down to him, Strike two. Joseph was also a tattle-tale. Strike three. His father would send him out to see how/what they were doing and bring a report back to Jacob.
Trouble was brewing. One day Joseph went out to check on his brothers and he didn’t return. His brothers were violent and angry men so they didn’t think twice about putting Joseph in a pit and selling him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. Joseph ended up as a slave in Potiphar’s house, who was Captain of the Guard in Pharaoh’s army. He also ended up in prison due to Potiphar’s wife lying about him.
Prison brought more challenges into Joseph’s life, but everything that Joseph did, he did it well, and with a good attitude. He became 2nd in command to Pharaoh. His dreams did come true, Joseph became a ruler in Egypt, and his brothers did bow down to him due to a famine, even his father just like he had said.
Genesis tells us that Joseph was a goodly person and well favored. Have you ever wondered how a man who went through such adversity always prospered and kept a good attitude no matter what his circumstances were? Here’s two things that helped Joseph. The LORD was with him, and he held on to the dream he had when he was a kid. He believed that his dream would come true someday. He put his hope and trust in the LORD to make it happen.
Whatever hopes and dreams God has given to you and placed in your heart, believe Him for it, He put it there! Overcome the adversity and go prosper! Keep a good attitude, let it be said of you, that was spoken about Joseph, ____________(insert your name) is a goodly person and well favored.
Use your integrity to climb from the pit to the palace. Be kind to those who mistreat you or mean you harm and never let bitterness take root. Take a lesson from Joseph, forgive them and see how God, will not only bless you, but use you for His sake. He has the master plan and it is good!
Genesis 45:1-8 1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. |
Genesis 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. |
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. |
Sharon Ingram