what challenges did joseph face in the bible?

How many businesses or churches have failed because they pursued rapid growth when steady growth would have been better? He has revealed this plan to us in His Word, and He expects us to take it as our guide in all things, great and small. All these problems disappear when we start with the reliable history and chronology of the Bible. 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 Our current circumstances, however dismal or successful, are not our story's end. I would argue that the Bible does show it, but that can certainly be challenged. Beitzel, Barry J. Biblica The Bible Atlas: A Social and Historical Journey through the Lands of the Bible. 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. "Like my forefathers, I will wait for you. God tested Jobs faith and refined his character. I have truly been encouraged by this article. We shall examine some applicable moral lessons from the story of Joseph in this post. But God sent an angel to Joseph to verify Marys story and reassure him that his marriage to her was Gods will. 3a. They did not recognize the second-in-command of the most powerful nation in the world at that time as the younger brother they had sold into slavery decades earlier. He failed to recognize his familys problematic Once again, despite being in prison, Joseph continues to honor God with his heart and actions. He could have sent every one of his brothers to death or slavery. Web#1 Joseph wanted to do what was right but with a spirit of compassion. Your email address will not be published. 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!! Most American Christians believed in the doctrine of the Trinity as expressed in traditional confessions and creeds. Who needs leadership experience when youre smart or have an MBA? In ancient Rome, the magpie was associated with magic and fortune telling. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The 'But God' overriding principle that changes lives. Dutripons Latin Bible concordance (Paris 1838) identified 16 people named Joseph in the Bible, 9 of whom featured in the New Testament: Joseph I. Joseph (Genesis). Joseph Why was Joseph important in the Bible? - Catholicism from A to Z WebJoseph Rejected Bitterness and Chose to Forgive. How did Joseph reveals himself to his brother? Wait is wait. Also see: Best Books Every Woman Should Read. Josephs story starts in Genesis 37 when his father, Jacob, gives him a special coat of many colors. God would be their God by His presence as well as by His word.(Clowney, 2013, p. 113) Mosesstory was presented in the Old Testament of the book of exodus begins with the obstacle of him escaping death as an infant. Examine Josephs rise from being purchased as a slave to working as Potiphars overseer (39:1-6). In the Old Testament, Joseph is a favored son of Jacob and Rachel. Unselfishly he offered to interpret the dreams of his two fellow prisoners, telling them that the knowledge came from God (see Bible WebHow did Joseph face the challenges that came his way? Not discovered. But never once does it say anything about Joseph having to lose pride before he could be a proper leader. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. The warden paid no attention to anything under Josephs care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Joseph, therefore, approached this circumstance with caution and wisdom. He is working, even when we cannot see it or feel it. With the quality of his work, Im sure Joseph had hoped to escape slavery soon, but going to prison was probably not the path forward he would have chosen. What challenges did Joseph face, and what do you learn about him? 0000010258 00000 n He put them through painful tests, but those plans and schemes had a goal. 6. He showed excellent management ability as governor. b. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. ! You just surrender. Distant screams let Joseph know another fight had broken out in the barracks. I didnt ask around dinner time like a normal kid, but rather I would ask as soon as I finished lunch. Remember, he demonstrated a good dose of pride at the beginning of the story. In this one, the sun, the moon and the stars were bowing down to him. Almighty GOD wants us to learn of Him ASAP When we have an earnest desire to Love GOD at an early age, as I did, He will begin to work on your future and the sky is the limit. What kind of leader was Joseph in the Bible? Perhaps this noble quality made him Gods choice for the Messiahs earthly father. Joseph showed tremendous discipline as a leader. Moral Lessons From The Story Of Joseph: The Bible contains several well-known stories, including Josephs tale. The second half of the book of Genesis tells the history of one family, beginning with Abraham, and following down to his great-grandchildren - the sons of Jacob. It took Joseph 13 chapters (Gen. 37-50) and approximately 24 years (best guess from Bible scholars) to come to this place of After being sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph served in the house of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaohs guard, and quickly earned the highest position in the household. Jon Bloom serves as teacher and cofounder of Desiring God. Enjoyed this post? There is more going on here than just Joseph being a proud person. But God was with him (10) and rescued him from all his troubles. Yet God was faithful to his word and eventually delivered Jacob and brought him back to the Promised Land a wealthy man. Then Joseph has a dream where his brothers bow down to him. It is a great model for believers today who may be struggling with forgiveness and dealing with someone with an unrepentant spirit. It is the English version of the French name Josphine. Ive been struggling with having patience and often this has manifested in anger toward God. 0000022426 00000 n He is to search for and find Gods plan.. Genesis chapters 37-41 only tell the low and high points of Joseph's Egyptian slavery and imprisonment. Joseph did not run or cower or cave. In regards to Joseph, here are some leadership qualities I admire in him: Joseph first demonstrated his other gifts of organization and management as a young man of seventeen, when he was tending his fathers flocks. He had great dreams that made him feel good about himself. 0000001557 00000 n The conclusion of this tale is that God is aware of every aspect of our life and that He never deserts those who are waiting for Him. Jacob knew that his sons did not like Joseph but had no idea just how much they detested him. He constantly got thrown under the bus, and then responded by continuing to work with integrity for those around him. Rebekah trusted God's word. God sent his Son to die and be raised in order to set his children "free indeed" (John 8:36). Joseph became the overseer of a vast amount of grain that would deliver Egypt and many other people from a future famine. We cant take one small instance of sharing Dreams, and come to the conclusion that he was a very proud individual! These things, in actuality, cannot prevent Gods plans; they can only postpone them. How did God lead Joseph and how did he respond? Many of the great heroes of faith were young when God began working powerfully with them: David was likely in his teen Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come close to me. When they had done so, he said, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 1. God Prepared Joseph for Leadership He was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his fathers favorite Fellowship is an irreplaceable means of grace in the Christian life and offers us two priceless joys: receiving Gods grace through the helping words of others and giving his grace to others through our own. 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. What steps do I take to do that? Youre not getting me, Laura, Bill had said. WebGod was with Joseph every step of the way. What challenges did Joseph face in the Bible? She accuses Joseph of sexual assault, and so Joseph gets thrown in jail. But today, some prosper spiritually, but in other departments of their life they face trouble. Most of the book of Genesis was taken up with the account of this young mans life. Origin. Joseph - Overcoming Lifes Challenges - Webflow He is also a Developer with knowledge in HTML, CSS, JS, PHP and React Native. Honest, good-hearted people who hear Gods word, cling to it (Luke 8:15, NLT). Good things happened, according to Genesis 39:3-4: His master saw that theLordwas with him and that theLord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. God enabled Joseph to have the wisdom and guidance to perform this difficult task: 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. 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. As I said at the beginning of this post, our family has endured a really tough year. We ended last week with a high point in the lives of the sons of Israel and Moses. Genesis 39:1-12 - Lessons from Joseph in Potiphar's House - Bible What challenges did Joseph face in Genesis 39? After spending thirteen years as a slave or in prison, Joseph could have delayed responsibilities. He brought his whole family to be closer to him, and was finally reunited with his father once again. Joseph was an amazing servant leader. Joseph, Simons uncle, would have been born a generation earlier. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. We can easily see why our world lacks patience. They were free from bondage and ready for a new life in a new land. Some days, I remind myself that, while I am not necessarily enjoying whats going on with my new job, at least my brothers and sisters didnt sell me into this job or into slavery. After all those years, Joseph forgave his brothers for their wrong-doing, even though they initially approached him in fear rather than repentance. Even though at times it feels impossible to believe, if I honestly think about it I know that God has been growing me tremendously. 1. One day when they were tending their flocks away from home, Jacob sent Joseph to see if all was well with them. It teaches leadership as well as spirituality. But that did not stop him from doing his duties. This sentiment is also true of Potiphars wife, and for times in the life of the modern believer. At Potiphars house, Joseph would have been terribly missing his family, his friends, his home and he would have been very hurt because of what his half-brothers did to him just recently. Joseph He is a good Father, and He works constantly to heal our hearts. Fast forward to being a man in his 30sbecause he was tested, his character had become chiseled and polished. They were praising God and singing songs to Himuntil there was a slight problem. As a slave he tried to live his life well and he found favour with his master. One of the household employees who witnessed Josephs act while he was imprisoned and later released and returned to serve the Pharaoh of Egypt was pardoned. Jacobs favorite son was Joseph, as most people are aware. 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. The other important theme and lesson is that The Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2a), and of course He is with all His children, even today. Now that Ive waited for five minutes, what do I do next? Joseph resisted her repeated attempts to persuade him to sin. Joseph shows how to glorify God in the dark places, and how to credit Him for carrying His followers through those places. He was immaturehe didnt stop to think of the hurt that his actions could cause. 2. Joseph was still stuck. WebGenesis 37. Joseph challenges He is the author of. 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. The real skill was in interpreting those dreams, and that was Josephs skill. 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 . We do know for sure that he was not perfect he was a sinner like me and you and everyone else. He did a great job and rose to the top position in each setting, but no one was going to let him out. This is the lesson I keep learning over and over again. And God had promised Grandmother Rebekah that her older twin, Uncle Esau, would serve the younger twin, Father Jacob. His siblings misled their father into thinking that Joseph had been attacked and eaten by a wild animal. And if you want to learn more about being a servant leader, make sure you check out our free ebook on Nehemiah: 15 Biblical Leadership Principles. Most people know that Joseph was well-loved by his father Jacob, as evidenced by the gift of the many colored-coat. Trusting the Lord was with him, Joseph stewarded the gifts, opportunities, and assets God gave him with excellence and faithfulness. But he spent at least 12 years there before he suddenly became Prime Minister. To all teenage men and women GOD sayslove not the world neither the thgs that r in the world . And that leader would And yet, the reality is most of us need the practice. At the first signs of trials or tribulation, I say to God something like, alright God, if there is a lesson I need to learn lets do it as quickly as possible so we can move on. Is my father still living? But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Because in the end, servant leadership isnt about receiving rewards for ourselves, it is about providing for others and their needs. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery; he spent years in jail for choosing not to engage in sin, and he was forgotten by those he helped for quite some time. It had been 9 years since he last saw that dear face. Perhaps while he could interpret dreams, he frequently could not comprehend what was happening in real life. Despite her many attempts to lure Joseph into sin, Joseph would not sin, But he refused and said to his masters wife, Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. Joseph is now forty years old and practically a king, and its been twenty-three years since they sent him away as a slave. They sent a message to Joseph saying that Jacob wanted him to forgive his brothers. Since his purpose was to prevent hunger in the known world at the time, God permitted Josephs suffering. I have gone through an extremely horrific work situation in the last three years. Joseph was lucky. What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection? Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. Some prosper materially and financially, but their spiritual life is in darkness. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Christianity the concept of God as the Father of Jesus is distinct, In the second reading, Paul says: Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two. ATTENTION TO RIGHT HOLDERS! Examples of Servant Leadership, Workplace. As a group they sell Joseph into slavery, but as individuals they deal with the following years and how they can make amends. He maintained his faith and relied on God during the 23 years he spent in Egypt before the arrival of his brothers. Instead of murdering him, however, they sold him into slavery. Because of the famine, Joseph's family in the Valley of Hebron needed food. Joseph needed the time as a manager of Potiphars household and a manager of the prison before he became a manager of all of Egypt. Joseph could have used his power to bring vengeance. It was Josephs right under Old Testament law to have her stoned. Somehow, Joseph tends to rise above them. He sent His son to die for us because His love for us is so extravagant.

what challenges did joseph face in the bible? 2023