Someone asked me today about who my favorite character in the bible is. I want to share with you a man whose life I often look to in my journey of faith. He was a man of integrity who feared God and took responsibility for the call God placed on his life.
The Call
At a young age he began to have dreams about the extraordinary call on his life to be a great leader. Consequently, apart from his own Father, his family loathed him for what they felt was selfish ambition and pride. I think there was something about Joseph that was different and that his brothers knew it. In a dog eat dog world, we are constantly under pressure to perform, to rise to the top even if that means pushing others aside along the way. When someone genuinely possesses a gift or potential to succeed we become jealous and vindictive. Joseph, being the youngest son had the call of God on his life. Something we will see that man cannot disrupt or discontinue. God would have his way as Joseph walked faithfully in obedience.
A Child of the Light
When the opportunity came for his older brothers to do away with the Joseph threat, they seized it and did the unspeakable evil of selling him to a caravan of Midianite vendors for 20 shekels. The bible often teaches that jealousy, pride and selfish ambition are default modes of the human heart. These boys allowed the evil inside them to take over, exposing their true motivations and insecurities. The reality is that anyone who is willing to take hold of the calling of God on their life will inevitably confront opposition. The world hates people who choose to live a blameless life because it exposes their folly and pride. As the bible informs us, darkness has no relationship with light. Darkness hates light because light allows us to see everything as it truly is. Joseph was a man of the light, unwilling to allow corners of darkness in his life. He didn't allow this devastating event to harden his heart or blame God.
God will protect his people.
Joseph was then send to be a slave in Egypt at a man named Potiphar's house. It says that Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and so he delegated him the highest of responsibilities and became the attendant. He found favor with God and began to prosper. He did not compartmentalize his life but knew that service to God would also consist of service to people. I believe he continued to remember God's call on his life and wondered at times what God was doing by putting him in this situation as a slave. Regardless, he didn't believe that God owed him anything, his life was one of open arms, taking responsibility of whatever God had entrusted him to.
"When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant"
Those that Love God Hate Sin
Joseph feared God. When temptation came in form of Potiphars wife offering him sex, he literally RAN in the opposite direction. If you are a man reading this, this would not be our first reflex. The temptation of lust is as strong one and more often then not can be the stumbling block in a mans life. We are weak! But through the power of God and right decision making there is the ability to overcome such a temptation. He ran! Can you see the passion and urgency of this reaction? RUN JOSEPH RUN!
Sin breaks our relationship with God, numbs our spiritual ears, breaks relationship with people and compromises the calling of God on our lives. Joseph understood that God's calling on his life included refusing temptation. We are a product of the decisions we make and Joseph was a man of integrity because he made the right decisions. I hope to run away from sin as he did as if it were a burning building, a toxic poison, a plate of mushrooms. Take your pick..
Consistency
Joseph continued to face opposition and was wrongly accused of taking advantage of Potiphars wife. Watch out for needy women Joseph! He was then thrown in jail and immediately began taking responsibility for the people in the jail. Again he was lifted up as a leader in the jail, serving the inmates and being a light in a dark place. Regardless of location, situation or condition, Joseph's character was consistent. He served well wherever God put him. He made a choice in his heart, that he wouldn't self-deprecate and feel sorry for himself. He chose to serve.
The Call to Ministry
God has been undeniably clear to me of the way he wants to use my life in becoming a pastor. I have felt the weight of this call and often become overwhelmed in considering the implications of such a responsibility. Thankfully, God has provided me stories of men like Joseph that I can learn from as I continue on my faith journey.
A Servant Leader
I learn from Joseph that ministry is not about title but is a character position. God needed 22 years of character development in order to mold in him the man he was to become. I learn that it isn't how compelling my preaching is or how knowledgeable I am in the Word but the condition of my heart towards God. Do the words I speak, preach and teach reflect the life I live. Reputation is what people think of you, integrity is who you are when no one is looking.
Worldly Success
Jo took every situation as an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with God and to serve others. Often we put a worldly definition of success that often involves results; how many people get saved, how big my church is, how many ministries I'm involved in, how many people respect and love me, my title and position...
Success on God's terms.
Fortunately, God's definition of success is different then ours. Success in the eyes of God is a faithful obedience in every and all situations. Joseph didn't just check out from faithful service, waiting to be rescued out of his horrible situation but allowed God to use his hands, feet and mouth as a tool wherever he was. He was a useful tool.
Ministry is a call to hate sin!
He did not swerve from the truth or compromise even when he could have gotten away with it. To a common slave, adultery with Potiphers wife might have seemed like a goldmine of an opportunity but Joseph was not a common slave. He was a slave to God and knew he wasn't accountable to only Potiphar but to the Lord. His first impulse was to run away from temptation and sin, a fantastic response to the true identity of sin. Sin is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. A strong foundation in the truth, an intimate relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit protects us from sin and gives us the proper perspective of what sin truly is.
The Promise
Like always, the real hero in the story is God. God's favor was over Josephs life and all he had to do was walk faithfully and turn away from evil. Living under the promises of God means trusting in faith that he is in control of our future. Our future is something God controls, our character is what we control.
Joseph went on to become the second most powerful man in the world at that time. His character was unshakable.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
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