Response to Adversity

(Sermons, List 4)

Text: Genesis 37:23-24 (NKJV). So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit.  And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Introduction

Although Peter said God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) there are people who seem to be especially blessed, as Joseph was. In his youth, this young man seemed to enjoy more love and attention from his father than any of his brothers. In his adulthood, he became the Prime Minister of Egypt. However, before you are tempted to covet the blessings other men receive perhaps you should consider what they might have endured to obtain them.

For example, Job was the wealthiest and most influential man of his day before he obtained twice as much as he began with. He probably did not consider his gain worth the grief. Of course, Joseph’s case was a bit different than Job’s but his trials were just as real, and they were extended over a longer time period. But the point is this: Both men earned their blessings through submission to God’s plan. They did not perform outstanding feats. They did cling to their faith during extended periods of adversity.

Most Christians never achieve notoriety, even though we are children of the King and joint heirs with His only begotten son. That relationship does not entitle us to better treatment from the world than Jesus enjoyed. We cannot expect to win “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14) without struggles of some kind. Despite popular teaching to the contrary, it isn’t likely God wants all of us to be wealthy. Too often, material prosperity interferes with spiritual prosperity. (3 John 1:2). Agur understood that danger when he prayed, in Proverbs 30:8-9, “Remove falsehood and lies far from me: Give me neither poverty nor riches – Feed me with the food You prescribe for me: Lest I be full and deny You, And say, ‘Who is the LORD:’ Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.”

Question

So how do you respond to life’s challenges?  Do you become bitter, vindictive, or worse?   Must you retaliate when you're provoked? Consider the lessons associated with today's text. Joseph responded correctly to life’s hard knocks, even when they were unjust in the extreme. Because he was consistently obedient, God used him to spare Israel from extinction during a great famine and assure the coming of that Nation’s Messiah.

History

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and a grandson of Abraham. He was born to Rachael, Jacob’s favorite wife, after she had been barren for a very long time. Rachael had a second son a few years later. But she died while giving birth to him (Benjamin). In the mean time, Joseph filled the empty place her passing left in Jacob’s heart. Unfortunately, Jacob’s preference for Joseph upset his other sons. The thing that bothered them most was the special garment their brother wore. That coat was not made of plain cloth. It was multicolored, a too obvious reminder of other preferential treatment the boy received.

      As our story begins, Joseph experienced a series of dreams that added to his problems. I won’t repeat them but they spoke of a future where his family would acknowledge his rule. That was too much for Joseph’s older brothers. They already hated him. Genesis 3:4 says they could not even “speak peaceable to him.” Now they planned to do away with him. Think how terrible and useless their envy was.  Eliminating Joseph would not elevate them in their father's eyes; it would simply add to his sorrow. They could have spared themselves a lot of grief by learning to appreciate their brother, if only for their father’s sake. They did regret their actions and they never recovered from their guilt. Genesis 50:15-21 records their need to hear Joseph restate his forgiveness after many years. 

Self defeat

Joseph added to his problems when he told his family about his dreams, where all of them seemed to be subservient to him. He probably wasn’t malicious. He did want them to share his experiences. They were prophetic and he believed it. That fact helped to sustain him in his trials. There is nothing wrong with God-given dreams. Hang on to yours until they are fulfilled. Be careful where you share them. It might be best for your enemies to learn about them after they have come to pass.

Joseph obeys

       Jacob loved all of his sons, whether or not they knew it. On an occasion when he sent Joseph to check on their welfare he obeyed, not knowing the risk. (Genesis 37.14). Does that sound familiar? God did something similar when He sent Jesus to earth. The difference is Jesus knew the risks and came anyway.

Joseph found his brothers but they did not welcome him. They removed his special coat and threw him into a pit while they debated his fate. Genesis does not say Joseph was hostile. He must have been disturbed but he believed God would deliver him. We might encounter opposition at times too, not only from un-repentant, un-forgiven sinners but also from professing Christians. If so, consider Joseph’s example. He remembered his relationship with God and acted accordingly.

In the pit

Up to then Joseph’s brothers had expressed their animosity only in words. Joseph knew they didn’t like him but he didn’t expect them to get violent. Perhaps he wondered as he waited in the pit: “Is this what happens when I obey my father? Am I to be killed because I wanted to please Him?” “Why me, what did I do to deserve this treatment. I’m not guilty of the sins of my brothers.  So who’s being punished here, and why?”

Because of his commitment, to God and to his father, Joseph might have considered other things too:

1.      Difficulties and trials can be opportunities for seeing God’s power and providence work. Great men of God have known this for centuries. Perhaps David learned it from Joseph’s story. He said, “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’” (Psalm 91:2).

Zechariah learned it in a seemingly impossible situation where God promised and delivered, victory:  "This <is> the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ['Not by might] nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts (Zech. 4:6)." The Apostle Paul described a difficult situation when he said, "a [thorn in the flesh] was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure" (2 Cor. 12:7). When he asked for deliverance God told him the problem was not going away. Paul had to endure it, but not in his own strength. God said,  "My grace is sufficient] for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  Paul responded,  "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9).

2.   The answer to life's problems is in the eternal rather than in the temporal.  Perhaps Joseph knew that what happens here is important only as prepares us for eternity. All circumstances, good and bad, help to shape us according to God's will. (Romans 8:28). He is preparing us for both eternal fellowships with Him and service for Him. He knows what we need to become, and how best to form us in that image. Trust in Him helps to facilitate the transformation. Unbelief only makes things worse.

A slave in Egypt

The plan to kill Joseph failed.  Reuben, who wasn’t in on the plot, managed to save Joseph’s life but he wasn’t around when they disposed of the boy. Anyway, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery and told his father he had been killed and eaten by wild animals. Joseph was still alive but his troubles had only begun. The slave traders took him a long way from home and sold him to an Egyptian.

Potiphar

Joseph was bought by Potiphar, who recognized his value and assigned him to work in his house. Joseph didn’t bemoan his fate. He worked hard and quickly earned respect. He proved to be an exceptional administrator, his master prospered financially, and he was promoted to overseer of Potiphar's entire household. Genesis 39:4 says, “So he (Potiphar) left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.”

Lustful wife

Potiphar’s wife, who failed repeatedly to seduce Joseph, accused him of sexual assault and he went to prison. Again, he did not waste time. He worked for the Jailer and was soon in charge of the institution. Genesis 39:21-22 says “the Lord gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. |And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.”

Joseph’s example

Few Old Testament characters enjoyed either the dignity or the distinction of Joseph, especially under such adverse circumstances. He suffered terrible injustices without hint of bitterness or malice. Persecution that might have destroyed lesser men only challenged him. Remember, after he was kidnapped, threatened with murder, and sold into slavery, he was left to languish in prison on the false charges of a vindictive woman. Fortunately, Joseph did not languish and he survived his trials and prospered. When he was finally freed from prison he became Prime Minister of Egypt.

Fellow prisoners

 Because Joseph was determined to make a bad situation tolerable his own life was enriched and he encouraged other as well. On one occasion he interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh’s servants. One of them was restored to his former position in the Palace. When Pharaoh had a dream he could not understand, that servant recommended Joseph as able to interpret it. And that, of course, was why he was in prison. God placed him in jail in Egypt where Pharaoh could find him and use him to save Egypt from disaster. Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled and his family was spared from disaster.

Contradictions

Joseph was involved in several contradictory roles over his lifetime: He was a victim of his own prophecy, a slave who became commander of Egypt's economic and political affairs, and a fiercely resented brother who eventually enjoyed the admiration of his jealous brothers.

Why was Joseph finally vindicated?  He believed God was in charge of his life and acted accordingly. Like Moses, he “had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:26). Joseph trusted God continually, regardless of circumstances, and always served Him to the best of his ability. Genesis 50:20 records what he said to his brothers after his trials had ended: "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."

As we know today, Joseph lived to enjoy the dramatic results of his faithfulness, and he must have considered the trials worthwhile. Perhaps that can help us look at our trials positively, especially when we are doing God’s will as He revealed it to us.

Our situations

Joseph was not alone in being misunderstood and despised. We might endure similar treatment, not only from un-forgiven sinners but also from professing Christians. If so, remember Joseph’s example. He did not retaliate or quit in disgust. He remembered his relationship with God and acted accordingly.

Repeat

Let me repeat the question I began with:  How do you respond to the hard knocks of life?  Do you become bitter, vindictive, or worse? Must you retaliate when you're provoked? If so, quit feeling sorry for yourself long enough to consider this possibility: God may want to work something out in you that requires the softening and the disciplining blows of adversity. So learn to cooperate and spare yourself unnecessary tribulation. Remember the secret of Joseph's success: He believed God was in charge of his life and he always served God to the best of his ability, regardless of circumstances.

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David E. Beneze, Canon City, CO 06 June 2007. See page 145 of Pastor's Annual for 1978.