article from SPRING 2005
BIBLE PERSONALITIES:
JOSEPH
An Example of Patient Endurance
The story of Joseph is one of great pain, suffering and tribulation. Yet, it is also one of joy and tremendous accomplishment. However, it was the test of his character during times of crisis that would define Joseph as a person.
He can smell the stench of the mildew-stained prison walls. The lack of sunlight would make even the most joyful person depressed. The food that he is served is well below the nutritional standards needed. And his neighbors are criminals.
His name is Joseph. He has been wrongly accused and unjustly imprisoned—found worthy to be in the company of murderers and thieves.
He sits alone, trying to figure out how he ended up in this predicament. The pain, caused by the injustice that he is enduring, is almost unbearable. He asks himself, “What could I have possibly done? Where did I go wrong?” He retraces the events that led to his imprisonment, thinking back to the day that forever changed the course of his life.
Joseph’s Early Life and Enslavement
Joseph was the son of Jacob and firstborn of Rachel. He was the eleventh of twelve brothers, who were all shepherds by trade. Joseph, at age seventeen, would report to his father all that his brothers did in the field—both good and bad. This was something that his brothers did not appreciate.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children, and made him a special coat. This caused Joseph’s brothers to envy him. Joseph described some dreams that he had to his brothers and father. His father meditated on them, but they caused his brothers to hate him even more.
One day, as Joseph approached his brothers in the field, they plotted to kill him. However, Reuben stopped them from committing the crime. He implored them to cast him into a pit in the desert. This would give him a chance later to save Joseph from the pit and return him to Jacob safely.
They all agreed, stripped Joseph of his coat and threw him into a pit. However, while Reuben was away, the brothers sold him to merchantmen. When Reuben returned and found the pit empty, he was afraid and asked the brothers what they were going to do. They killed a goat, dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood and returned to their father. When Jacob saw the coat, he immediately recognized it and assumed that Joseph had been killed. Jacob was heartbroken, and he continually mourned for Joseph.
Joseph had endured his first injustice. And it was at the hands of his brothers—people whom he loved. Later, the merchantmen sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
A Servant in Egypt
Joseph had been made a slave in Egypt. But, the Eternal was with him. He prospered in everything he did, and Potiphar saw it. Therefore, Potiphar promoted Joseph, making him overseer of his entire household. Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph.
But, in the background, Potiphar’s wife was eyeing Joseph. She was attracted to him and ready to make a move. When she made advances toward Joseph, he refused her. However, this did not deter her. She tried even harder, grabbing a piece of his clothing. Joseph was forced to flee from her presence, leaving the garment behind.
Furious that Joseph rejected her advances, Potiphar’s wife went to her husband and lied. She told him that Joseph had attacked her and that he only fled when she screamed for help. She showed him the article of Joseph’s clothing to back up her story.
Potiphar was outraged. He immediately had Joseph seized and thrown into prison. Joseph had endured his second severe injustice. He had done the right thing, yet he suffered for it.
An Interpreter of Dreams
While in prison, Joseph still prospered. It was evident to him that the Eternal was still with him. The warden of the prison noticed how astute Joseph was, and promoted him, putting him over all the prisoners.
One day, Joseph noticed that two prisoners, the chief butler and the chief baker, were particularly depressed. He asked them what was wrong. They explained that they had dreamed dreams, but did not know what they meant. Joseph, knowing that only God gives the interpretation of dreams, asked the two men to describe their dreams.
First, the butler described his dream. After hearing the dream, Joseph interpreted it. He told the butler that Pharaoh would be returning him to his previous position. Then he asked the butler to remember him when he was restored to his position.
Next, the baker described his dream. Joseph interpreted his dream as well. He told the baker that he would be hung and that the birds would eat his dead carcass.
Both interpretations were correct. However, the butler did not remember Joseph. Thrilled to be out of prison, he forgot about Joseph.
Joseph had just endured his third grave injustice. He was kind to the butler; however, that kindness was not reciprocated.
Having now retraced his steps, Joseph draws the following conclusion: “I cannot catch a break. I am always receiving evil for good. However, it is obvious that the Eternal is still with me. I have prospered in everything that I have done since being sold into slavery. There has to be some purpose to the pain and suffering that I have gone through and am enduring. I will wait on the Eternal to show me what to do. He will deliver me.”
Little did Joseph know that his deliverance was just around the corner.
God Exalts Joseph
One night, Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams. He asked his magicians to interpret them, but they could not. Then, the butler remembered Joseph and informed Pharaoh of him. Pharaoh summoned Joseph.
Pharaoh described the dream to Joseph, and God gave Joseph the interpretation. Joseph described to Pharaoh that there were coming seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine and that God was telling him what He was going to do before it happens. Joseph advised Pharaoh to put someone in charge of collecting food during the plentiful times so that they would have food during the famine. Pharaoh chose Joseph to oversee the project, making him second-in-command over all Egypt.
Joseph prospered in Egypt. He married and had two children—Manasseh and Ephraim. When the famine came, everyone had food to eat. God used Joseph to feed the land during the famine—and the entire land was blessed through Joseph.
Joseph even had the opportunity to reunite with his family. The famine had affected all of the surrounding land, so Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to get food. While in Egypt, the brothers, through extraordinary circumstances, were reunited with Joseph and, eventually, Jacob came to Egypt to see Joseph.
Lessons Learned
Through all of his pain and suffering, Joseph never gave up hope and never became bitter. He humbled himself and trusted in God. Had he quit, he would have impeded—blocked—God’s plan and ability to use him. But he didn’t. He endured the pain. And when it was over, God exalted Joseph. He even got his family back. God exceedingly blessed him.
Sometimes, it seems as if there is no point to suffering. However, you, as a youth in God’s Church, know the true God and that He always has a purpose—whether you understand it or not.
Like Joseph, you must never quit. You should not allow anything to make you bitter. Notice: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:31-32).
When you are going through tough times or you endure a sleight from another person, whether perceived or real, remember Joseph’s example. Do not lash out. You may have misunderstood the person. Be patient, wait and trust in God, and He will work out the problem for you.