Joseph

God's Teenage Hero -- Joseph
Devotion to God cannot begin too early.  No one need wait until reaching adulthood to
work for the Lord.  Actually, if young people do little for God now, they will likely do little or
nothing for Him later.

The Bible records the young adult years of some of its greatest characters.  They were
normal teenagers, yet they possessed faith in God which caused them to stand head
and shoulders above their peers.

Joseph—A Faithful Teen
Joseph was part of a large family (eleven brothers and one sister).  He experienced
difficult family problems.  He was younger than most of his brothers and they hated him
severely because of the favoritism their father showed him.  Jacob loved Joseph more
than the other boys, and made no secret about it.  He gave Joseph a beautiful coat of
many colors.

To further complicate matters, Joseph was a ‘dreamer’ (Genesis 37:19).  He dreamed
that his brothers and parents all bowed down to him (Genesis 37:5-11).  His brothers
hated him and his dreams.  Ultimately, they sold Joseph into slavery when he was
seventeen years old (Genesis 37:2).

Did Joseph give up on God and his family?  When treated cruelly and unjustly, did he
retaliate and seek revenge?  Could he have done that?  What would you have done?  
Joseph would be a much better person to idolize than one of today’s sports heroes or
entertainment stars.

Joseph Obeyed His Father
Joseph was compelled to obey his father, not because he feared being ‘grounded’ or
losing his allowance, but because he loved Jacob, his father (Genesis 37:13).

Jacob had sent him on a 50 mile errand, from Hebron to Shechem.  Joseph displayed
no defiance and offered no excuses, leaving promptly.  His brothers were nowhere to be
found in Shechem.  He could have turned back, rationalizing ‘Well, I did what he told me
to do,  I went to Shechem and they weren’t there’, but he pursued them 20 miles further
to Dothan.  That was a major trip, considering transportation in those days.  Would you
have turned back?  

God commands children to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).  Joseph did
that.  God looks unfavorably upon sons and daughters who dishonor their parents.  “The
eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley
will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it” (Proverbs 30:17; 19:26).  Strong
language, isn’t it?

Joseph didn’t raise his voice, rant and rave, and slam the door to his room.  He wanted
to do the right thing.  Such outbursts of anger are always the wrong thing!

Joseph Overcame Temptation
Evidently, Joseph was a handsome young man (Genesis 39:6).  He caught the eye of
Potiphar’s wife, and she pleaded with him to “lie with me” (Genesis 39:7).  How strong
must have been that temptation!  He was far from home, lonely, and at the age when
sexual temptations are strongest.  They were alone.  No one would know.  Her continual
advances could have broken the strongest of moral characters.  Have you ever found
yourself in such a tempting situation?  Then you know how difficult it is!

Within himself, Joseph found the moral strength to refuse.  He would not sin against
Potiphar or God, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God”
(Genesis 39:8-9).  His decision carried consequences though.  She lied about him and
he was thrown into prison (Genesis 39:10-20).

Chastity and purity are vanishing breeds.  Young people succumb to the power of
sexual temptations.  Remember this—when you give up your chastity, you lose
something that you can never get back!  Don’t waste such a precious thing on a physical
urge.  The urges will come again, but what you lose the first time you commit fornication
will never return.  Think of how special it will be to share that intimacy with the person
who shares your life.  Until you marry, “flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18).  You will
never regret waiting!

Joseph Always Made The Best Of Every Situation
Life deals us some pretty unfair hands.  Joseph though, handled his problems well.  He
did not sulk and feel sorry for himself.  He did not complain about the injustices he
faced.

Joseph made the best of every difficult situation.  After being sold into slavery by his
brothers, he became the head of Potiphar’s household (Genesis 39:4-6).  After being
cast into prison, he became the head of the prisoners (Genesis 39:21-23).  After
Pharaoh’s butler returned to wait on Pharaoh and forgot Joseph, he patiently waited for
two years, overcoming his discouragement.  After receiving the chance to interpret
Pharaoh’s dreams, he became second in command in all of Egypt (Genesis 41:37-44).

How could Joseph meet and overcome such adverse conditions and terrible
treatment?  No matter where he found himself, he always did the best job he could,
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  

Another key to Joseph’s success was his ability to find contentment in his
circumstances, “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians
4:11).  Joseph’s faith allowed him to see God’s hand working throughout all his
experiences “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”  (Genesis 50:20; cf.
Romans 8:28).

Life won’t always treat you fairly.  You have to make the best of it.

Joseph Held No Hatred For Those Who Wronged Him
Feelings of guilt evidently consumed his brothers for 20 years following his
disappearance.  At the first sign of trouble in Egypt, the torture of their guilt over Joseph
became evident.  They acknowledged that their sin had finally caught up with them,
“Then they said to one another, ‘We are truly guilty concerning our brother’” (Genesis 42:
21-22).  They had already suffered greatly.  Joseph did not lower himself to retaliate or
‘get even’.

He refused to despise his brothers.  He only returned good for evil.  “Beloved, do not
avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath” (Romans 12:17,19; 1 Peter 2:21-24).

Joseph proved himself to be a real man by forgiving and loving his brothers in spite of
their cruelty against him.

Conclusion
The Bible challenges us to be like Joseph.  His dedication to God allowed him to live
righteously, even under the most trying circumstances.  He proved that we can “flee
youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22).  

If your life was recorded in the Bible, would it be alongside Joseph or his brothers?

--Rob Harbison