|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genesis 37:1-4 |
1. JOSEPH HAS PROBLEMS WITH HIS FAMILY AND IS REJECTED
We begin this story in
Genesis 37:2 |
"Joseph, being 17 years old was feeding the flock with his brothers." |
The Bible has other stories about teenagers, but this one is the longest, fullest, most detailed one. This life of Joseph is filled with rich lessons for young people who struggle with immaturity, misunderstanding, rejection, abuse, loneliness, discouragement or temptation; for those who've been let down by their family, friends and society.
A. Raised in a Dysfunctional Family. Look at the end of verse two,
 Genesis 37:2 |
"And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah,his father's wives." |
Joseph's father had four wives. His sister, Dinah, was raped (Genesis 34:1-2). His brothers were involved in prostitution (Genesis 37:15ff) and murder.
B. Spoiled by his Father. Look at verse three.
Genesis 37:3 |
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a tunic of many colors." |
Some commentators say that Jacob gave Joseph a coat with sleeves. Tunics without sleeves were for work. Before he got the coat in verse two he was "feeding the flock (the animals) with his brothers" (Genesis 37:2). But AFTER he got the coat only "his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem" (Genesis 37:12) without Joseph (v. 12).
C. Hated and Envied by his Brothers. Verse four says
Genesis 37:4,11,18 |
"when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him . . . his brothers envied him." |
In fact, they hated him so much that when he went to check on them verse 18 says,
Genesis 37:18 |
"Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him." |
Finally they kidnaped him, sold him as a slave; and lied to their father about it.
Perhaps you came from a bad home background where your parents fought and argued or where you were rejected, or where your brothers or sisters treated you unfairly. But God uses even the mistakes of our family. God's power is able to bring good out of bad. In Genesis 50:20 Joseph forgives his brothers saying, "you meant it for evil but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
2.
JOSEPH SERVES IN POTIPHAR'S HOUSE AND IS TEMPTED
3.
JOSEPH IS PUT IN PRISON AND IS HONORED
Joseph had a terrible home background; his brothers wanted to kill him;
he was falsely accused of by his boss's wife; and even put in jail for two
years for a crime he didn't commit. If all this had happened to you and
you were sitting in the jail right now what would you be thinking and
feeling? Joseph knew "the Lord was with him". He was patient and
faithfully served first in his master's house, then in the prison and
finally in the palace.
In Genesis 38,
17-year-old Joseph arrived in Egypt to serve in Potiphar's house. Verse
three says,
Genesis
38:3"Joseph found
favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his
house, and all that he had he put under his
authority."
Joseph
became the vice-president of Egypt at the age of 30 (Genesis 41:46).
We know he spent two years in the Egyptian dungeon (40:4;
41:1). So probably for 11 years Joseph worked in Potiphar's
house.
A. Tempted Often. In verses 7
and 10 it says,
Genesis
38:7,10"His master's
wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me. So it
was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her to
lie with her."
In
verses 8-10 Joseph "refused." He tells her that it would be wrong
to do this against her husband but more than that he says, "How can I
do this great wickedness and sin against God."
B.
Falsely Accused. Finally one day
Genesis
38:12"she caught
him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me". But he left his garment
in her hand and fled and ran outside."
Then
she accused Joseph of attempted rape saying "he came in to lie with
me." When her husband hears this, "his anger was aroused" and
"he took him and put him into the prison." There are at least two
lessons we learn here. (1) Run from temptation. Flee. Get away. Refuse.
Say "No." Don't take a second look. Even if it means you will lose your
job. (2) When falsely accused, respond like Joseph. (1
Peter 2:20) says: "when you do good and suffer, if you take it
patiently, this is commendable before God."
A.
Forgotten by Man. In prison two of the prisoners were the king's butler
and baker. They each told Joseph their dreams. Joseph told the butler that
his dream meant that he'd be freed and given his job back as the king's
butler. Then Joseph said to the butler, "Please remember me ... and
make mention of me to Pharaoh,... I have done nothing here that they
should put me into the dungeon." But verse 23 says,
Genesis
38:23"yet the
chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot
him."
B.
Remembered by God. All through this story we're told that "the Lord
was with Joseph." Later when Pharaoh needs a dream interpreted the
butler remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh calls on
Joseph and who, through God's help, interprets the dream. He tells Pharaoh
that there would be seven years of plenty and then seven years of famine.
He advises Pharaoh to select a wise man to save up food during the good
years to have ready for the famine years. "And Pharaoh said to his
servants,' Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the
spirit of God?'" To make a long story short Joseph is chosen to be the
second in command of all of Egypt.
by Steve Nicholes
LINKS TO . . .
