What can we learn from Joseph? While Joseph was suffering unjustly in prison, ‘the Lord was with him,’ Genesis 39:21. The king’s cupbearer and baker were also imprisoned along with Joseph.
One night, both men had a dream, which Joseph interpreted with accuracy: the baker would be executed, and the cupbearer would be released. Upon being reinstated to his original position, ‘the chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him,’ Genesis 40:23.
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret, Genesis 41:1. At this point, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, who was still in jail and told the king. Joseph interpreted the dream, revealing that there would be seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine.
Knowing God was with him, Pharaoh promoted Joseph to be second to himself in all of Egypt, Genesis 41:25-33. The famine spread outside the borders of Egypt, affecting Joseph’s family living in Canaan. It becomes more evident that the hand of God has been involved in everything that has happened to Joseph. Joseph’s position in Egypt will ensure that his family doesn’t become extinct, Genesis 41-37-45.
And that’s important because God had made a promise to bring a Saviour into the world through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And Joseph played a key role in ensuring that the promise made by God wouldn’t fail, and it didn’t, Genesis 45:5-8.
The life of Joseph, Genesis 37-50, is worth reflecting upon. There is a fountain of practical lessons for us all to learn. Though we are removed from the event by some four thousand years, all of us, in varying degrees, face the same things Joseph had to face: rejection by family, abuse, sexual temptations, false accusation, injustice, ingratitude, hardship, etc., etc.
1. A young person can be a mighty instrument in the hand of God, bringing His plans to fulfilment, 1 Samuel 17:48-51.
David was a young man who trusted God to do great things. Therefore, David is known as a young man who did great things for God. The story of Joseph is a good example that just because we do what is right, it doesn’t mean that we will be praised for it, Genesis 39:20-23.
However, in the end, he was honoured by God and justified in the sight of men for taking a stand to do right, even when it was not easy nor pleasurable, 1 Kings 5:1-3.
Naaman went to see Elisha and was healed of his leprosy. We know nothing else about this young lady, but we know enough to surmise that she loved the Lord and the people God called her to serve. She was also a trustworthy and honest servant, John 6:10-13.
Like this little boy, we should be willing to hand over to the Lord anything that He requests from us. We may not know what He will do with it, but if we trust Him with our possessions and our lives, then He will do something wonderful as He did with this little lunch.
2. God isn’t looking for perfect people to carry out His will; He’s looking for faithful people, and age isn’t a barrier, 1 Timothy 1:16.
Paul knew he was far from perfect but understood that God would use him to carry out His will, Galatians 2:11. Peter, whose faith was up and down, denied Jesus three times and was rebuked by Paul because he acted like a hypocrite when it came to the Gentiles. Peter, being far from perfect, knew that God was using him to carry out His will.
3. A young person doesn’t have to be bad.
Living as a rebellious teenager isn’t something a young person has to do; Joseph didn’t, 1 John 1:6-10. We all know that sin is a choice. Notice the word ‘if’ throughout this text; it implies terms and conditions and choice.
4. Sexual immorality isn’t a road a young person has to go down; Joseph didn’t, Genesis 39:6-10.
5. A young person doesn’t have to become unfaithful to God simply because he or she has major difficulties in life, Revelation 2:10.
6. Even in the worst situations and Joseph was in them, God was still with him and will always be with us, Genesis 39:1-2 / Genesis 39:20-21.
7. Throughout his time in Egypt, Joseph remained faithful to God, even though he faced many discouraging moments, moments when he could have doubted God. But he kept growing spiritually, cultivating a heart for God. If Joseph can do it, so can we, Genesis 45:5-8.
8. God never changes. What God did for Joseph, He can do for us, Malachi 3:6 / Hebrews 13:8.
9. Joseph was faced with two choices. He could become a bitter, spiteful, hateful person because of the way his brothers had treated him, or he could choose to be obedient to God and forgive the wrongs committed against him. He chose the latter, and so can we, Genesis 50:16-21.
If anyone had a good reason to hate his brothers, it was Joseph, Ephesians 4:32. We learned earlier in this book about how Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit, made plans to kill him, and finally sold him into slavery. With God’s help and blessing, Joseph became the second most powerful leader in Egypt. When a terrible famine came to the land, people came from miles around to buy food in Egypt.
One day, as Joseph was giving out the food, he saw his ten older brothers standing before him. He knew them, but they didn’t recognise him because he now looked and spoke like an Egyptian. Joseph could have taken revenge on his brothers, but he didn’t. Joseph forgave them. He even thanked God for sending him to Egypt.
Joseph realised that God had used his brothers to work out His perfect plan. Joseph forgave completely. He invited his father, brothers and their families to come to live in Egypt, where he could take care of them. Like Joseph, we need to learn to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Only God can give you the strength inside to forgive.
10. The Bible speaks about being ‘useful to the Master and prepared to do every good work,’ 2 Timothy 2:24.
Joseph made the right choices and so proved himself useful to the Master, and so can we, Matthew 25:37-40. It’s not always about doing ‘big’ things for the Lord, but recognising those needs and doing what we can to meet those needs.