Joseph: Overcoming Faith

                                                       HEROES OF FAITH

                                                      Joseph: Overcoming Faith

 

Geologist Dr. James Clark recounts visiting the Soviet Union a few years after Communism dissolved. He was asked to preach at a small Russian Baptist church that had lived through a long season of persecution. Some members of the congregation had been imprisoned because of their testimony of Christ. Others had husbands or relatives who had suffered or had even been killed for their Faith. Dr. Clark decided to use the geological illustration of Clay:

Clay is composed of many microscopic clay mineral crystals, which are too small to be seen even with a light microscope. However, under pressure, the clay minerals are not crushed or reduced in size. Instead, they grow larger. The minerals change into new, larger biotype grains, forming slate, which is found in many homes. With even more pressure, the minerals become even larger, and some are transformed into garnets, which are semi-precious gems.

Clark explained to the congregation that this geological process illustrates how pressure and suffering can be used to refine, purify, and mold a person into a more beautiful soul. I will never forget what I saw when I looked at the congregation. It seemed like the whole congregation was sparkling. The babushkas' (old women) eyes gleamed bright with tears, recalling past suffering. What makes a gem so attractive? It's the reflection. And these dear women and men were reflecting God's glory through the suffering they had endured."[1]

The writer of the Hebrews gives a glimpse of persecution that early Christians endured: "There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawn in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless, the world didn't deserve them! Making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world." Hebrews 11:37-38 (The Message)

What made these men and women endure such hardships yet remain faithful until the end? As Paul noted, they held unswervingly to their Faith and believed in God, who promised to be faithful. Heb 10:23. We will examine Joseph, who experienced God's presence in the darkest hour, and through overcoming Faith, he remained faithful until the end. Hebrews 11:20-22

I. The Teenage Years of Joseph: (Genesis 30-50)

Growing up, my grandfather used to pull out a crumpled storybook from his bag and read the story of Joseph to me. It was so intriguing! I was fascinated by his colorful robe. Let's delve into the story of Joseph and explore the valuable lessons we can learn from it. Joseph was the eleventh son and the first son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. His name means, "May he add."

We pick up Joseph's story at the age of seventeen. He was a tattletale. He brought a bad report of his brothers to their father. His father loved him more than any of his sons and made him a multi-colored robe. His brothers hated him for it and couldn't speak kindly to him. Joseph was also a dreamer. When he shared his two distinct dreams of him ruling over them and his parents, his brothers were jealous and hated him even more, but Jacob kept the matter in mind.

As the days went by, his jealous brothers sold him to the Midianite merchants, also known as the Ishmaelites. They, in turn, sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials in Egypt. To cover their crime, his brothers told his father a cruel animal had devoured him. Jacob grieved for his son inconsolably. Joseph was taken to Potiphar's house, the captain of the guard.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Joseph, a seventeen-year-old full of dreams and hopes? Being betrayed by one's own brothers and sold as a slave, now living in a strange country, and missing his family. In the midst of those losses, he experienced God's presence. God not only blessed Joseph but also blessed his master's entire household through him. So, his master entrusted everything to Joseph's care except his wife and the food he ate.

Young Joseph was handsome and well-built, and couldn't escape the lustful eyes of his master's wife. She tried to persuade him to have sex with her. Joseph rejected her advances by saying to her, "How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? Here is an essential truth to keep in mind. Every sin we commit is primarily against God and then against others.

II. Joseph's Unfair Treatment and Imprisonment.

            Even after repeated sexual advances by Potiphar's wife, Joseph refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. His innocence and determination not to commit adultery led him to jail, where the King's prisoners were confined. The Lord's favor followed Joseph from Potiphar's house to prison. The Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden made Joseph in charge of everything in the prison.

            While in prison, he interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and the baker. As interpreted, the baker was hanged and the cupbearer was restored to his job. But he forgot to mention Joseph to Pharaoh. Two whole years had passed! It must have felt to Joseph as if the entire world had forgotten him, including his own family. Just like the recent hostages in Gaza!

III. Joseph's Overcoming Faith lifted Him from the Dungeon to the Palace.

            Joseph endured a great deal in his early years in Egypt, yet he held on to his Faith in God. Though the whole world seemed to have forgotten Joseph, God did not forget him. After two full years, the cupbearer suddenly remembered his mistake! He speaks well of Joseph to Pharaoh, who was troubled by two disturbing dreams. Joseph was brought out of prison to the Palace.

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and eventually became the second-in-command in Egypt. At age 30, Joseph gets married and enters the King's service. God blessed him with two sons and used him during a seven-year famine to save the lives of many in Egypt and the world.

Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy grain for their families. He recognizes them, but they couldn't. After purchasing the grain, they returned to Cannan. After several days, they returned to Egypt with their younger brother, Benjamin, and bowed before Joseph, just as it had been in the dream. Joseph initially acts tough with them, but later reveals that he is their own brother and eventually brings his father, Jacob, and their families to Egypt to escape the famine.

IV. Main Takeaways From The Life Of Joseph

More than half of the book of Genesis has been dedicated to his life. Here are a few takeaways from the life of Joseph. First, God used a seventeen-year-old dreamer boy to accomplish His purposes. These days, teenagers and young adults, especially boys in the USA, are growing up without a sense of purpose. I surrendered my life to God at the age of 18; that was the best thing that has happened to me. Can you imagine what the future of our country and the world would be if young people surrendered their lives to God?

Second, a lesson to parents on how not to show favoritism to their children. Jacob was Mamma's pet, and that brought rivalry with his brother Esau, which lasted a lifetime. Jacob loved Joseph more than the others, which subjected him to jealousy and the unkindness of his brothers.

Third, Joseph maintained his integrity by refusing to sleep with his master's wife and fled from her presence. We all need to learn to run away from sexual temptations. Fourth, when he faced his brothers, he was not vindictive; instead, he forgave and embraced them with love. In recent times, three women showed Christ-like forgiveness to those who killed their husbands.

Gladys Staines, an Australian missionary; Jessica Pagadala, the wife of Pastor Praveen in India, and now the widow of Charlie Kirk; and Erika Kirk. If they could forgive, how do you deal with someone who may have hurt you? Do you forgive or hold on to resentment?

Fifthly. Joseph's overcoming Faith in God enabled him to overcome disappointments and challenges. He saw God's hand in his adverse situations and turned challenges into opportunities. So he assured his brothers, saying. "Don't be afraid. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." Gen 50:20. He even foresaw the future Exodus and made the Israelites promise him that they would carry his bones into the promised land. What challenges are you facing today? Like Joseph, by overcoming Faith, you too can play a key role in God's Redemptive Plan.

 

 

 

 

---

[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/february/6022216.html 10/9/2025

Heroes Of Faith Part III

                                                   SARAH: The Mother of Many Nations 

Living by Faith is not a blind leap, but a steady walk with God, taking hold of His invisible yet powerful hand. It is seeing life and all its circumstances, as well as the complex challenges, through the eyes of God. It is taking God at His Word and believing in His promises.

During my study, I discovered the story of an incredible woman of God who served in the White House for 24 Years and Prayed Regularly for the Presidents of the USA.      

Emma Daniel Gray was raised by her grandfather, a former slave who had been sold three times. She died on June 8, 2009, at the age of 95. There was a big story about her in The Washington Post because, for 24 years, she was the woman who cleaned the office of the President of the United States. She served six presidents till she retired in 1979.

Her official title was "Charwoman." Mrs. Gray was a devout Christian. She would stand and pray over the President's chair each time she dusted it, her cleaning supplies in one hand, the other on the chair. She prayed for his safety and that he would receive the gift of wisdom. While reflecting on the way she lived life, her pastor said, "She saw life through the eyes of promise is the way I'd put it. You can always look around and find reasons to be unhappy, but you couldn't be around her and not know what she believed."[1] What a powerful intercessor!

That is precisely what God's people do: see life through the eyes of promise—and pray accordingly. In our series on Heroes of Faith, we learned about Abraham, who, despite all odds, trusted God. His belief in God was credited to him as righteousness, earning him the title "The Father of Many Nations." We will learn about his wife, Sarai, who, like many of us, had her weaknesses and doubts. However, despite all odds and ridicule, she lived her life through the eyes of promise. God called her SARAH: The Mother of Many Nations. Hebrews 11:11-16

I. Who was Sarai in the Bible?

"Sarai began her life in the pagan world of Ur, located in the land of the Chaldeans, which is now part of the area known as Iraq. She was the half-sister, as well as the wife, of Abram. Sarai and Abram had the same father but different mothers (Gen 20:12). In those days, genetics were purer than they are today, and intermarriage was not detrimental to the offspring of unions between relatives. Additionally, since people spent their lives clustered together in family units, it was natural to choose mates from within their own tribes and families.[2]

The name Sarai means princess. She was a very beautiful woman. (Gen 12:11). At age 65, while she was presented to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and at age 90 to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, Abraham introduced her as his sister to save himself from being killed. (Gen 20:12).

Sarai had a problem, as stated in Gen 11:30: "Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children." What does Sarah's barrenness have to do with God's plan of redemption? Carol Kaminiski notes in CASKET/EMPTY, "All three of the patriarchs' wives, Sarah(Gen 11:30), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), and Rachel (Gen 29:31), were barren, given the promise of God to Abraham that he would have many children. Their barrenness establishes that the promise made by God can only be fulfilled by God. He alone can bring forth life out of Sarah's barren womb."[3]

Barrenness in the OT was considered a curse from God. You can only imagine the struggle and rejection that Abraham and Sarah may have endured. Paul picks up their struggle in Rom 4:19-21, "Without weakening in his Faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his Faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

 

II. Sarah Is A Model Of Faith & Doubt

Our politicians are great at making promises during their campaigns, but once in office, they often struggle to keep all the bold promises they made. However, it is not like that with our God; our God is a promise-making God, but He also keeps His promises. All the promises in the Bible are "Yeah and Amen." God has a pretty good track record of keeping His promises.

God has no problems with our problems, but with our solutions, even then, he can handle them. How did that play out in the lives of Abraham and Sarah? They had a problem; they couldn't have children. They were very old and had long since passed the childbearing stage. It was not a problem for God. He said to Abraham, 'You should no longer call your wife Sarai; her name will be Sarah.' I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." (Gen 17:15-16).

Abraham might have thought it was hilarious, so he fell facedown laughing and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?' Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? The LORD said to Abraham, 'Next year, your wife will have a son.' Upon hearing the message from the tent, Sarah laughed to herself and thought, "After I am worn out and my Lord is old, I now have this pleasure? The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh?

And confronted her, doubting and said, Is anything too hard for the LORD. Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I didn't laugh," but he said, "Yes, you did laugh." Gen 18:10-15. One year seemed like an eternity to Sarah, and she was growing increasingly impatient. She took matters into her own hands. She sent her Egyptian maid servant, Hagar, to Abraham, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. By that one act of impatience, Sarah ignited a feud between Jews and the sons of Ishmael for over 4,000 years. She made mistakes, like all of us, but because of her Faith in God, as noted in Hebrews 11:11-12, Sarah truly became the Mother of Many Nations.

III. A message from Sarah to the Daughters of Sarah.

Although Abraham and Sarah lived over 5,000 years ago, the Father and the Mother of Many Nations still speak to their many sons and daughters of Faith. Abraham would say, 'Against all hope, have hope in God; in due time, He will fulfill His promises.' Sarah would say, 'Don't be impatient and take matters into your own hands; It is too risky! Have Faith in God!

Apostle Peter uses the examples of the holy women of the past, particularly Sarah, to teach wives and women in general what truly matters. I Peter 3:1-6, "What matters is not your outer appearance, the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes, but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, un-anxious and un-intimidated." (The Message).

Peter's primary focus is not on women's hairstyles (taking about hairstyles would be a risky business). Neither was it to have the wives address their husbands, "Lord," as Sarah called Abraham, my Lord. It was all about what was truly fitting for women who follow Christ.

The world places a great deal of emphasis on external beauty. Young girls in particular struggle to match up with the models they see on Instagram, in films, and in magazines.

Whereas God is delighted with the inner beauty, as it reads in 1 Peter 3:3, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of greater worth in God's sight." (NIV). Many women in the first century, and even now, generally don't like the idea of submission and obedience to their husbands. So, Peter gives them the holy women, in particular Sarah, as examples. He goes on to say, "You are the daughters of Sarah if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." As the children of Abraham & Sarah by Faith, let us follow their example of living by Faith and avoiding their mistakes.

 

 

 

 

 

---

[1] Patricia Sullivan, "'Christian Lady' Cleaned for 6 Presidents," The Washington Post (6-21-09)

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Sarah.html

[3] Carol Kaminski, CASKET? EMPTY  Page 30