Hebrews 11:22 (NIV) By faith Joseph...
Genesis 37:3-11 (NIV) Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. {4} When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. {5} Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. {6} He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: {7} We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." {8} His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. {9} Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." {10} When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" {11} His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Joseph is only 17 when we first meet him in scripture. He appears to have everything! His dad (Jacob - Israel) was well off. Their family was always fighting - (sound familiar?) Today we are constantly hearing about the delinquents, and not the Josephs. We know Joseph was a spoiled brat. We know that he was his dad's favorite. So did the whole world!
There is a lesson here for parenting! When we play favorites, we are asking for trouble!
Trouble doesn't always come from the outside. It is not uncommon for the older children to feel that the younger siblings are the favorite. Favoritism causes hatred and jealousy in the family. We really do need to be fair with our children!
Joseph was a very intelligent young man! The most important thing in Joseph's life was the fact that He met God PERSONALLY! This encounter changed Joseph's life. When we meet God it will be life changing!
Everyone of us must meet God personally. Mom's experience won't work! The experience of any other will not do! Yet nothing else is as important to our lives. We all need the transformation that comes by an encounter with God! We would do well to have this trans formation in our youth!
Today is the time to meet God, old our young! Joseph at an early age made his decision to put God first in his life.
NOTE: THIS DID NOT STOP ALL OF THE TROUBLE AND DIFFICULTY FOR JOSEPH! Serving God is not an insurance policy for trouble! When we choose God, it seems that the enemy enlarges the war against us! The temptations and attacks increase. It is important to maintain our spiritual balance during these times.
How do we maintain balance?
Reading Scripture
Talking with God (prayer)
Fellowship with believers
Share the gospel (witness)
JOSEPH HAD OPPOSITION
His brothers - (Father's fault)
They laughed
Called him a dreamer
Wanted to kill him
Tormented him
They were making plans to kill him when Ruben stepped in! They did him a "favor" - They sold
him! Joseph became a slave! Jealousy is a mean and cruel enemy! Jealousy hurts everyone
involved. Jealousy enslave Joseph and many, many others! Get jealousy out of your life!
Notice how Joseph handled his slavery. HE WAS A GOOD WORKER!! He became the best salve in all Egypt! Scripture records that God blessed Egypt for Joseph's sake! America has been blessed because of faithful and Godly men! Would God bless a nation because of your faithfulness?
LIVE RIGHT NO MATTER HOW LOW OR HIGH YOU ARE IN SOCIETY! Do you realize the mess this world would be in if it weren't for the Christian?
Isaiah said (1:9 KJV) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
We will never know how many times judgement has been withheld because of faithful men like Joseph. The New Testament tells us that we are the SALT OF THE EARTH. Also, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
Joseph survived the test of slavery! However, this wasn't the last test! A big test was in Potiphar's house. Potiphar's wife had designs on Joseph. He probably could have come up with a number of reasons to go along with her.
HE STOOD FIRM!! HE SAID "NO." The victory wasn't won there in her bedroom! The victory was won much earlier when Joseph made a commitment to God! Don't wait for the temptation and test to come. Battles are won long before the war starts.
Joseph ran from the place of temptation! Do you know how to win over temptation? RUN!!! Don't stand and fight like a man! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!
Joseph was put in jail. Even this was working for God! Jail, for him, was a stepping stone for Joseph. From jail he became the Prime Minister. He became the most powerful man in his world!
When we remain faithful to God, we go from one trial to another!! We also are promoted in God's time to the place God is preparing for us!
KEEP TRUE -- KEEP PURE
Serve God in: Strange lands, Heat of temptation, Luxuries of life. When we are faithful as a servant, God will take care of our promotions!
As in Joseph's life, others may be depending upon you for their well being. If we would have planned Joseph's life, we would not have put him in slavery or jail.
Yet often that is exactly the way God directs our lives. Do you feel that your life has turned sour?
Do you feel that God has left you? You may feel that your life is taking a detour! Let me assure
you that God knows who you are. He know where you are! He cares for you!!
God, quite likely is working in unexpected ways in your life. The way that God leads is not important.
Things important to you:
Make and unreserved commitment to God!
Be faithful to God in all circumstances.
Be the best slave or servant in the country!
It is your faithfulness in these difficult times that shape your future. Little things shape our
eternal futures. Out happiness is not dependent on how life treats us!
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