15-12-2019 Where is Joseph of today?

Title: Where is Joseph of today?

Title: Where is Joseph of today?

Genesis 39 describes about Joseph’s adolescence. Joseph was 16 years old when his mother Rachel passed away. As Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brother at his age of 17, he stayed with his grandfather Isaac for 1 year and received the thorough faith education.

Joseph had 2 dreams when he became 17 years old. These dreams were not just meaningless but prophetic ones that show about future: The first dream was about 11 sheaves bowed down to Joseph’s sheaf. The second dream was about Sun, Moon, and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph. These dreams were from God indicating that Joseph would become the ruler of nations and in order to fulfill the covenant of the Torch, God will migrate the family of Jacob to Egypt through Joseph. So, until Joseph became a prime minister of Egypt, from age 17 to 30, he spent the prime time of his adolescence as a slave in Egypt (Gen 39:2-3).

1. Joseph lives a solitary (lonely life)

Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers. He was sold to other country as a slave. He didn’t eat or sleep as much as he wanted. Although he served his master with faithfully, due to master’s wife accusation, he ended up in a jail. He must have been lonely and no one seems to be there by his side. God said that He is the God of widows, orphans and the needy (Psa 68:5; 10:14). It means God will take care of the people like widows and orphans: the weakest people at that time.

Joseph understood that there was nobody, but God to help with. So, he didn’t worry or grumble about his life. When we feel lonely, when we cannot find any ways to resolve the issues we encounter, do not bring anyone into your target of complaining or grumbling or blaming. Loneliness is given to us so that we can pray to God, offer praises to Him and kiss with the Word of God.

• Joseph lived a godly life

Joseph lived a godly conscience. He was handsome. If we count his age, he was about 28 years old (Gen 39:6). The wife of Potiphar seduced him for a one-night. She might have promised him a big money and a comfortable life but he refused (Gen 39:8). The wife of Potiphar not only once but continually seduced him. Yet, Joseph didn’t want to sin against God nor against his master Potiphar. He said that he was entrusted to be in charge of all in the house but not the master’s wife (Mal 2:15).

Why do we have to follow God’s way? Because God seeks the godly offspring and they can only come from the rightful relationship between husband and wife.

Conscience is the heart knowing what is good and evil, and choosing the right way and stop the wrong way. So, if we have alive working conscience, we will fight against the desire of sin. Conscience is the foundation of faith to be planted and grow. Conscience is the breath of our spirit. If conscience is dead, our faith and spirit will die too (1 Tim 1:19).

• Joseph had a God-fearing faith

Psalm 2: 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling.

God-fearing faith, reverence, is the mixture of feeling that in one hand, we rejoice that we are with God but at the same time, we fear and give full respect to our God for His love and grace.

Joseph was so happy that God was with him but at the same time, he never forgets that God helped him and blessed him. So, he did not dare to do anything against Him.

Gen 39:9 There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”

What would be the one pick of Satan to destroy the faith of the children of God? That is sexual sin. When you committed a sexual sin, even though there are no one blaming you, you would draw yourself from the presence of God.

The first pick of Satan is a sexual sin, the next is the love of money, and the third is idolatry.

1 Cor 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

All other sins are outside the body but the immorality is inside the body.

Let’s keep conscience. Let your faith and spirit grow strongly in God’s presence and His blessings. Amen!