So often I have expectations about the way circumstances or relationships should be in my life. Even as a believing disciple, I can get my expectations and perspective skewed. In one of my Bible studies I was skimming through the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), and I thought, “I wonder if this dreamer ever thought his life would go the way it actually did?”
So, I looked the events in his life and how he made it through the betrayal, lies and fearful experiences in his life. I kept coming up with the fact that Joseph got through all these difficult experiences and was successful, because he refused to view the circumstances apart from his faith and his relationship to God. In summary here are some of the events Joseph experienced.
- Joseph was a beloved/favored son in his father’s house.
- Joseph had dreams of great things for himself. Little did he realize the pain he would go through and that the things that were worked through him were not for him to be the star, but rather God to work out his purpose for Israel. Joseph was used to save others.
- He was thrown in a pit to die by his brothers.
- He was rescued from the pit to be sold as a slave to a passing caravan.
- His brothers lied about what happened to him so that his father did not send out a search party.
- He was sold as a slave to Potiphar.
- Just when things were looking easy and smooth, Joseph was stalked and sexually harassed by Potiphar’s wife.
- Joseph was falsely accused of a serious offense.
- Potiphar thought Joseph betrayed his trust. It hurts when those you respect think less of you.
- Joseph was imprisoned in a not so cushy prison.
- He served in the prison.
- He interpreted dreams and asked to have his cause remembered.
- He was forgotten.
- He was delivered from prison; raised up; and expected to do great things. (No pressure!!!)
Joseph was a victim, so to speak, of a very dysfunctional family life which included jealousy, bitterness, rivalry and violence. At a young age he lost the status of favored son and became a slave. As Joseph began to succeed, Satan threw more schemes at him. Joseph was betrayed, sold as a slave, falsely accused, imprisoned, forsaken and forgotten.
In Gen. 39:2 the scripture says, “The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man and he was in the house of his master…” God did not change Joseph’s circumstances, but God was with him and caused him to be successful within the circumstance of slavery.
Again in Gen 39: 21 when Joseph was falsely accused and thrown in prison verse 19 states, “but the Lord was with Joseph and showed him his steadfast love, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison…” So again we see that relationship between God and Joseph. God did not immediately free Joseph, miraculously deliver him, or punish the lying wife of Potiphar. Joseph was trusting in God within the difficulty and God was blessing him within it.
We know Joseph had faith because Heb. 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” As we read in Genesis we continue to see the expression, “God was with Joseph.” God is not with people who do not have faith. Perhaps it did not seem that way to Joseph at the time. I am sure things were not happening according to his expectations, yet he continued to have faith in God and God sustained him. Even though Joseph was a victim of the sins of others, he did not live as a victim, but rather obtained victory through his faith in and love for God. God was able to accomplish His purpose for Israel because of Joseph’s persistence in faith and in his relationship with God no matter what difficulties came his way.
What about us? How are we viewing the things that are happening to us in our lives, with our spouses, our children, our jobs, finances, relationships in the church and outside? What will it take for us to be more like Joseph?
