1. Trials = Growth
He had everything he ever wanted right at home. He was even his father’s favorite. A daddy’s boy, if you will. However, God had bigger plans for him. God wanted Joseph to reach much higher places than he ever even imagined. But first, there was some major growing up he had to do.
In Joseph’s case, most of that growing up didn’t happen gradually but overnight, because that’s how life works! Unlike college, you don’t get a syllabus every semester with scheduled dates for tests and term papers. Change happens unexpectedly, trials and tribulations come unannounced.
One day you’re prancing around in your fancy colorful tunic, next day, you’re being sold as a slave in a foreign land.
2. Strive for excellence, always
When Joseph set foot in Egypt, he earned the respect of his equals and superiors because of the excellency that characterized him. It was no coincidence he was put in charge of Potiphar’s household. It was rather his conscientiousness or desire to accomplish his tasks with diligence, take assignments seriously, do everything well, and glorify God with his work that got him there. Besides the hand of God, of course.
Just when things were starting to look bright for Joseph, he gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and gets thrown into jail. Right back at square one. At this moment, Joseph could have sunk into dejection. He could have considered all his hard work and integrity a waste of time. Instead, he chose to learn the most out of his situation and keep on striving for excellency no matter the place, no matter the circumstance.
Sometimes God takes you out of a good place to put you in a better one, and sometimes He takes you out of that “better one” to put you in an even greater one. But in between, those stages, we many times experience “set-backs”. An it is okay. In fact, a blessing in disguise even. Because as hard as it is to believe- especially when you’re going through one-,that set-back is a painful but necessary stop before the next big thing God has in store for you. Nobody said that the process of growing into the person God wants you to be would be a painless process; but it sure is worth it.
3. When temptation knocks, run!
No matter how irresistible temptation looks, sounds, or smells, run! Temptation isn’t always going to show up looking the same for everyone, because everyone has different weaknesses! But if there is one thing you don’t do with temptation is stay and confront it! We all know what happens when you do that –Genesis 3:2– We’re all here because of that!
From a worldly perspective, Potiphar’s wife explicit invitation to Joseph to sleep with her, could have not only meant personal gratification, but “career advancement” as well. However, Joseph knew, that by giving in to her games he would not only defile himself but betray his boss’s trust and dishonor his God.
So when it comes to temptation, the brave move will always be to run away from it. Even if it means running half-naked!
4. Forgiveness = Greatness
Imagine if the story of Joseph hand ended with him taking revenge on his brothers. Utilizing his powerful position as the second greatest man in the land of Egypt to make them pay for the pain he had to go through as a teenager being stripped away from his father’s house. He definitely could have. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose forgiveness. And that is just a small evidence of how far Joseph had really come along.
Sure, in material terms, Joseph had overcome many obstacles in the last 13 years or so. Going from a foreign slave, to a high and mighty governor. But that’s all secondary to the actual point of the story. A spoiled kid, growing into a man of great character, and fulfilling God’s purpose for his life.
The story of Joseph is found in Genesis chapters 37-50
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