1. Uncompromising Integrity Extraordinary forgiveness A cursory study of Joseph

2. Overview  Poor parenting  1 broken promise & 10 jealous brothers  2 betrayals & 2 abductions  Several bursts of hatred; abuse  More than one seduction  Unjust imprisonment & 24 mo. of bad prison food

3. One of 3 senior public servants  Nehemiah: built the walls of Jerusalem and the community of God after exile  Daniel: served 4 foreign kings in 3 different empires  Joseph: served Pharaoh; Joseph is considered to be a type of Jesus  Integrity & forgiving spirit  Total trust in God & faithful to His promises

4. Integrity  Gen 39:6-20 “How can I do such a wicked thing & sin against God.”  Bought as a slave; seduced often; went to jail rather than to betray Potiphar and his own sense of integrity  Gen40: 1-9 – relayed what he rec’d from God as is; no spin zone!

5. Forgiving spirit  Gen 45:4-8a Forgave his brothers even though they didn’t believe it  Saw their hurtful actions as part of God’s plan to save lives.  Nothing is recorded suggesting he “paid back” Potiphar’s wife, Potiphar, or the cupbearer for forgetting him in prison. This is consistent with his character.

6. Total trust in God  A favored son is envied, sold into slavery  Tempted by master’s wife & imprisoned  Interpreted the dream of cupbearer & baker, but left behind in the dungeon  Gen39:2; 39:21 – he didn’t need to sell himself. People could “see” who he was.  Gen 40:8;41:25 – dreams come from God  Gen 41:42 – A leader in a pagan land

7. Faithful to God’s promises  Gen 41:44+ He receives a new name and a wife from the priestly family  Jewish legend: He maintained his faith & converted his wife  Heb11:22: He instructed sons of Israel to bring his bones out of Egypt & prophesies that God will deliver His people out of Egypt

8. What can we learn?  One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.  Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing someone’s actions, but refusing to let those actions dictate how you live your life in Christ.  When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart. ( Corrie ten Boom )  God’s faithfulness will always shed light on the darkness of our problems.

9. Be encouraged  “And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thes 3:5