Lessons from the Life of Joseph Key Verse: Genesis 50:20

A survey of Joseph’s Life 1) Overview of Joseph 2) Temptation of the flesh 3) His response to injustice 4) Revenge or reconciliation 5) The greater Joseph

Overview of Joseph  Joseph introduced in Genesis 37  Favored son  Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Joseph’s dreams  Divinely given – Genesis 42:9

Overview of Joseph  3 common perspectives on Joseph:  Joseph was a spoiled rich kid who provoked his brothers  Joseph was mature beyond his years; very deep spiritually; and totally innocent  Joseph was a young man of remarkable character and with the maturity of a 17 year old.  Joseph is sold into slavery

Temptation of the flesh  Gen 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph...”  Potipher’s wife  Gen 39:10  Joseph’s response  Gen 39:9 “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”  The result  Gen 39:19-20  Gen 39:21 “But the Lord was with Joseph...”

Injustice instead of exaltation  Gen 39:21-23 Joseph again finds favor with his superiors  Joseph interprets 2 dreams  Joseph is not remembered  Joseph’s response  Gen 41:14-16  The result  Gen 41:38-39

Genesis 41:38-39 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.”

Revenge or Reconciliation  The brothers re-enter the scene  Joseph’s response  Joseph testifies  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. Gen 45:5-8

The Greater Joseph  Hebrews 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  In the flesh  Matt 4:1-11 In the wilderness  Injustice-  Matt 21:12 The cleansing of the Temple  Revenge or reconciliation  Luke 22:39-43 The thief on the cross

Conclusion  Joseph’s temptations:  Temptation of the flesh  His response to injustice  Revenge or reconciliation  The greater Joseph  “...be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Conclusion  The key to victory over bitterness: “Perspective”  “...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,...” Genesis 50:20