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.
