Jan's Bible NotesGENESIS 39
The story of Joseph, over the next several chapters, pictures what New Testament truth? In Rom. 8:28 it is stated in one sentence. But here we have that same truth told to us in story form, so that we can actually see a case history of just HOW God can work everything out for our good. Perhaps that is why we are given the detailed story covering many years, because that is the way it happens in life. J. Vernon McGee says there is no one in the Old Testament whose life more clearly shows the providence of God than Joseph. God works out His plan over our whole lifetime. That is hard for us to fathom, so we get easily discouraged.
So which method is clearer to your understanding--which do you like better? The one-sentence truth, or the actual example of someone’s life? This is the neat thing about the Old Testament. It’s just a different way of learning God’s truths. Someone who has studied about Israel and the Jews said that they learn best in story form, which was why Jesus spoke to them in parables. Then I can also see why the Old Testament is told in story form, not in succinct summaries like the New Testament.
God never appeared to Joseph like he did to his forefathers. Yet Joseph knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was in control. So can we. Plus, we have the Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us.
1 What is Joseph’s situation?
2 Joseph is said to be successful, yet it speaks of his master; he is a slave. Doesn’t this seem contradictory? Only to the human way of thinking. What does this reveal to us about God’s way of thinking? Even if your circumstances are much less than ideal, the Lord is with you, and you can be “successful” in that situation. Many tend to think that success (as the world defines it) is a mark of God’s favor and that negative circumstances are proof of sin in your life. Does the Bible teach this? Israel was indeed promised physical blessing in exchange for obedience, and curses in exchange for disobedience, but the church is promised spiritual blessings, not physical (Eph. 1:3). Jesus and His disciples were poor; Paul spent years in prison. Yet we New Testament believers are subtly influenced by this Old Testament thinking, especially those who don't see a distinction between Israel and the church. Don’t we look at our ongoing less-than-ideal circumstances and grumble and doubt that God really loves us? We think that if He loves us, He will make everything "nicey-nicey." When we do thank and praise God, what is it generally for? Is it for when our circumstances FEEL good? Or is it that He is at work in this situation? Are the two synonymous? Our thanking and praising tend to be for selfish priorities, not for God’s priorities. We need to start looking at our lives from a different perspective.
3-6 What is going on here that is part of God setting Joseph up for future administrative responsibilities over Egypt? This reminds me of Jesus’ parable, about how a servant who has been faithful in something small will be commended and given responsibility over greater things (Mt. 25:14-21).
Do things “just happen” in our lives? What about all the interests and experiences you have had? Is there a reason that your life is made up of those things? Are they just a hodge-podge, or do you ever think that maybe in the future, you will see the purpose for them as God brings opportunities into your life that you will find you have been prepared for? In Joseph’s story, we learn that God knows the future, is actively preparing us for it, and some of the ways He does it don’t feel too good at the moment. This cannot be stressed too much! When we really start to grab hold of this truth, it will affect our attitude toward all the things in our lives that give us problem attitudes. Note also that Joseph always diligently applied himself and did the very best he could in each circumstance, no matter how discouraging.
7-20 Potiphar’s wife. Sometimes trouble comes to us that we did not ask for. Sometimes we can even see it coming and are unable to head it off. But now, having read this story, how might we console ourselves if such a thing happens (or has already happened to us, which we are suffering from)? Was God testing Joseph to see if he was obedient? Joseph chose righteousness. Did it go better for him because of his choice? Was anyone happy about his right choice? Was he rewarded for doing the right thing?
What does this story teach about sexual temptation? Joseph was a young, healthy, single, successful, handsome young man. ARE we at the mercy of our hormones? CAN they be controlled? Today we are told that they can’t be and shouldn’t be. The Bible says they should and they CAN. Why was Joseph able to be so obedient to the Lord? Was he in the Bible daily, reading his copy of "Our Daily Bread," actively involved in his youth group, able to discuss his problems with his pastor/youth leader/Sunday School teacher/parent? Was there ANY support in his environment for a follower of God? However old he was when he was sold, probably about 17, he had a solid spiritual foundation. In spite of the sometime negative picture we get of Jacob and Rachel, somehow Joseph was taught well and had some spiritual maturity. What does Proverbs 22:6 say about how we raise our kids? It doesn’t say they will never waver or temporarily depart. If you put down the solid foundation, God will take it from there.
20 Now what is Joseph’s circumstance?
21-23 Again we see what almost sounds contradictory, AND how God is continuing to set him up for what the future will hold. Do we see Joseph discouraged, bitter, complaining? "I obeyed God--now when am I gonna 'get mine'?" He seems to feel, no matter what his circumstance, that he will do his best, be responsible, and try to be pleasing to the Lord. We can do that too, in our circumstances.
Joseph has an advantage over his brothers’ upbringing, in that he has been the least exposed to his father’s old ways and to Laban and his outfit. Whatever spiritual growth Jacob experienced will be seen most in Joseph’s life, since he came along later in Jacob’s life.
How does Joseph's story refute the teaching of many Christians who promise all believers God’s physical blessings in return for faith? Joseph is one of the most godly people in the Bible. Yet trouble came to him, not of his own doing, and in great measure. And because we see the end result of God’s plan, what can we conclude about trouble? IS it ultimately bad, in God’s plan? In Joseph's case, later he did receive such blessings, but we see that troubles were also part of God's plan for him.
If Joseph were a member of our church, and we were praying for him in his troubles, would we be praying to have him brought back when he disappeared, or released from jail? We might. And it would not be wrong to do so. But this story demonstrates that what appears to be “bad” in our eyes may be exactly what God sent, for a reason that only He knows. I believe we should always pray for people in their troubles, but not necessarily that God would end their trouble as quickly as possible. I don’t believe the Bible teaches that or gives us that example. We can pray that in their troubles, people would get their eyes more on God, draw closer to Him, learn to trust Him more, and grow spiritually.
Was it God’s will for Joseph to be in prison? Doesn’t the rest of the story show that in God’s timing, it is necessary? Even the brothers’ anger and evil actions toward Joseph were used of God to bring about His desired end. How encouraging to us, when we think of unhappy relationships we have, or have had in the past. God is able to bring good out of anything and everything. Otherwise, Rom. 8:28 is a LIE.
If Joseph went to a psychologist at this point, what would he probably be told? That he has every right to be angry, at everyone. That he is not dealing with his anger. That he is suppressing his anger, which is not healthy. That he comes from a dysfunctional family, etc. Many people are probably in such situations. But if we learn a different way of looking at life, not the world’s way, we don’t have to feel angry, helpless, bitter or victimized. We can be comforted and encouraged by knowing that God knows what He is doing, even though we don’t.
Copyright 2004 Jan Young