Living with integrity in times of adversity
Reading passage
Joseph was made fruitful in the land of his suffering
Looking at the life of Joseph
Living with integrity in times of adversity
It is important to correctly understand Joseph
A spoilt child?
A righteous man who suffered unjustly?
Through it all he shows remarkable integrity
He points us towards Jesus Christ
So we understand and apply Scripture correctly
Example
God is often along side us in the ups and downs of life – this is sometimes a testimony to those around
A righteous man who suffered unjustly – but maintained his integrity
At Home
His brothers that hated him
A complicated home – explanation
Jacob and Benjamin were favourites
Jacob could not help the family he was born into
He experienced hatred as dad’s favourite
He was hated for his God given dreams
The brothers hated him even more – v8
His father rebukes him – v10
Perhaps it is not easy in your situation?
This developed from the home into the field
He was sent by his father to his brothers
He went
He continued to search for them
He was wearing his coat of many colours – likely his only coat
The brothers planned to kill him – v19-20
The sell him to the Ishmaelites instead – no care for their brother
He was taken away as a slave
When he arrived in Egypt he didn’t understand the language
He is sold to Potiphar – the Captain of the Guard
He continues to trust God
Example of missionary work
Joseph did not through off restraint or adopt the ways of the Egyptians but continued to walk in integrity with God
The Lord was with Joseph
Joseph’s masters recognised that God was with him
Things started to go well but then Potiphar’s wife propositioned him
He resists this due to his master’s trust
He knows the Ten Commandments written on his heart
Potiphar’s wife brings a false accusation against Joseph
Potiphar burns with anger
Joseph was confined to the king’s prison
Was he ever cleared of this?
Joseph was granted favour with the prison warder
Yet he was still in prison
Joseph interprets the two dreams of the baker and the cup-bearer/butler
God gave the interpretation
The butler was to advised Pharaoh of the situation – but he did not
Pharaoh has his dream
The cup-bearer remembers
Joseph is brought before Pharaoh and gives God’s interpretation of the dream
Joseph also gives Pharaoh advice
Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt
Joseph had become the second most powerful man in the world – God’s dreams had come true
He ruled Egypt with wisdom and integrity
God had been with him through it all
Do we have experiences that we don’t understand?
Joseph was on a straight line to God’s purposes
God is working out His purposes
We hold onto God’s revealed truth
We should trust in God
We will one day look back and see the ways He has led us