Volume 8, Issue 1
During the beginning of each New Year it has become traditional in our culture to set personal goals for the coming year. While many of these goals are practical and useful for this life, they might miss any bearing on the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8-But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. (8) For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
Yet setting goals is a useful and biblical exercise. Paul had definite goals that he was seeking to reach(Philippians 3:7-14). In this lesson I want to look at Joseph and consider some attitudes that he manifested that are worthy to be imitated.
This year I will see the big picture
Genesis 50:20-But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
With Jacob dead, the brothers fear that Joseph’s attitude toward them might change, but they had underestimated the genuineness of Joseph’s affection and the maturity of his faith. Like these brothers at times we have a hard time believing that other people are really as kind and nice as they appear to be. We need to learn that people do exist who are sincere, godly and genuine, and there are people who have no ulterior motives. “This is one of the clearest declarations of divine providence anywhere in Scripture. It serves as an important reminder that while the evil of men may appear to be to the disadvantage of the Christians, the purposes and plans of God will ultimately prevail” (Davis pp. 303-304).Joseph chooses to leave the righting of wrongs to God (Romans 12:19) to see God’s providence in allowing evil men to momentarily prosper and succeed, and to repay evil with good. Their actions here demonstrate that their repentance was indeed genuine. “Joseph’s brothers did not stop with this message of confession, but quickly followed it up by coming directly into his presence with an offer to become his slaves. As they had sent him into slavery, so they now would volunteer to be slaves themselves. Sincere confession of sin against someone always includes restitution, and they were willing to do this the best way they knew how” (Morris p. 666). I am impressed that Joseph is not bitter about the years he had lost while in slavery—but the key is that Joseph realized that those were not lost years, rather God was working. Please remember that God never wastes our lives or our time, even being a slave in Popithar’s house, and then spending time in prison was not a waste. This verse is an expression of simple faith. When God says,
Romans 8:28-And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Then that means that all things work together for good to those who love God.
This year I will be more attentive to the needs of others
Genesis 40:6-7-And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. (7) So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?"
Joseph was not a man preoccupied with his own troubles (Philippians 2:3-4).
Philippians 2:3-4-Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (4) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Oh, how many opportunities to teach or serve others we end up missing because our minds are consumed with our own problems. Joseph did not have the attitude that says, “Don’t tell me your troubles, I have troubles of my own”, and observe that Joseph did not think that being in prison was any reason for being sad or depressed! Joseph’s quick concern brings out another aspect of his besides efficiency and integrity; and his immediate reference to God rings true: it was the habit of his mind (Genesis 39:9; 41:16; 41:51, 52; 45:8). But what if Joseph was consumed with his troubles, what if he had not noticed the sadness of these Egyptian officials? What if he had never offered to help them? We often talk about wanting God to open doors for us, but maybe we have the wrong idea about what an open door really might look like. The dejection in the faces of these officials was an open door!
Cont’d next week.