The Trials of Joseph

Text: Gen. 42:18-24

Sermon originally by: Ralph Joiner.  Edited/reworked by: M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

98034

Subject: faith; patience; strength

Preached Originally: 06/21/98 - Rapid City, SD

                                  

I. Introduction:

A.     With the exception of Abraham, the story of Joseph occupies more apace than any other in the Old Testament.

B.     Why the unusual interest in the story of Joseph?

1.    His life contained all the elements of true greatness

2.    The average person is not interested in a story that is all sunshine, happiness, and success. We cannot identify with this so it is difficult to learn from it.

C.    True greatness dose not come until one has experienced the fires of pain. In the word of Edwin Poteat:

1.    He cannot heel who has not suffered much, For only sorrow sorrow understands; They will not come for healing at our touch who have not seen the scars upon our hands.

D.    All the elements of a great story are part and parcel of the life of Joseph: youth, ambition, beauty, temptation, sorrow, suffering,  jealousy, hate, forgiveness.

E.     Joseph's life is one of divine providence:

1.    From the time that we see him going to visit his brothers and onward.

2.    We can see Gods hand as He cares for and develops His own.

3.    Psa 37:25 -  "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

 

 

II.  The Trial by Temptation.

A.    Joseph's life would not have been so complete without severe trials by temptation.

1.    Good in this wicked world is never allowed to continue unopposed:

2.    2 Tim 3:12 - "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

3.    No wall is high enough to keep temptation from a man's life.

B.    To those in the prime of life, as was Joseph:

1.    Temptation has a determining influence.  See Jas. 1:12

a.    Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

2.    What one does then will effect the rest of his life:

C.   The temptation of Joseph was no ordinary temptation:

1.    It came to him in the house of Potiphar where he was a slave; he could not run away 2 Tim 2:22 - "Flee also youthful lusts..."

2.    He was in his late 20's, a hot-blooded young man at the peak of sexual development.

3.    It was not a temptation that came to him once and stopped: it was repeated day by day.

D.   Looking at the matter from the standpoint of the world, there were many reasons why he should yield:

1.    The high rank of the woman who tempted him.

2.    The danger in refusing her.

3.    The way would be open for an easy life.

E.    .The Secret of his great victory is set forth in the text:

1.    His fear of and loyalty to God to whom he owed his life to whom he would give an account for  this great wickedness

2.    His gratitude to and respect for his master who had done so much for him.

 

III. The Trial of Adversity:

A.    Successfully dealing with the fiery trial involved in the temptation of the flesh Joseph was better prepared to deal with other temptations which would come his way.

B.    His loyalty to God and to his own conscience resulted in his being cast into prison.

1.    I wonder what he thought that first night he spent in the dungeon?

2.    Did he ask, does it pay to do right?

3.    Was he like Paul and Silas who sang praises to God when imprisoned? (Acts 16:25)

C.   Joseph was not cast into despair by his adversity:

1.    Because Joseph had not forsaken God, God did not forsake him (Gen. 39:21).

2.    He would do what he could to help the other prisoners (Gen. 39:22-23)

 

IV. The Trial of Prosperity:

A.    After 2 years the butler remembered Joseph:

1.    The occasion was the need of Pharaoh for someone to interpret  is dreams.

2.    The dream was very troubling as we can imagine and his best astrologers were helpless.

B.    Joseph was rewarded handsomely by Pharaoh

1.    He was released from prison and made the governor of Egypt, second in authority only to Pharaoh himself

2.    What will be the effect on him?

a.     Will pride rule his heart?

b.     Will he lose sympathy for his fellow man?  Forget his friends? .Forget God who had always blessed him?

c.      Seemingly his heart was filled with resentment for his brothers and his father.

1.    By the names he gave his sons.

2.    The attitude he had toward his brothers when they came to buy grain.

d.     But as the facts unfolded before his eyes he saw the hand of God in it all and promptly forgave the sin committed against him (Gen. 45:5; 50:15-21)

 

IV. Conclusion.

A.    Here indeed was a dreamer, who dreamed lofty dreams,

B.    The combined efforts of Satan and his agents were not able to turn Joseph away from his God.

C.   The story of Joseph's life is forever enshrined in God's eternal revelation.

D.   It points the way to certain victory over sin and temptation (1 Cor. 10:13; Rom. 8:28)

E.  I N V I T A T I O N