Last night in Bible Class we discussed the story of Joseph and his dreams (Genesis 37) that he shared with his brother and father/mother. His discussion about his dream seemingly caused strife among his brothers and caused them to plot and kill him. The coat of many colors was one thing, but when the dream was shared, then the adversity within the family seemingly intensified.
What are your thoughts on this story of Adversity and what are your opinions on why such adversity existed in Joseph's life? Also feel free to talk about his advancing as well.
Pastor G
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4 comments:
There are quite a few lessons to be learned in Genesis 37 regarding Joseph and how he dealt/handled the adversity that surrounded him. We can first see that the adversity Joseph faced was not caused by him, it was brought "TO" him by others. Never once in the text do you see Joseph complaining or looking for a pity party that would conform him to his situation. Yet we see Joseph truimph over the adversity by trusting in God and only God.
The key word in the title of this blog is the word THROUGH! It could have easily been stated as advancing IN adversity. Joseph was never IN adversity he was going through it. Through clearly states that he was not going to be consumed to it. His actions and thoughts toward his adversity set the stage as to how the sitation would affect him. Even though his brothers hated the fact that he had FAVOR with his father, Joseph did not allow this hate dictate or question who he was.
We can often times get caught up in our haters in a negative way. We can allow our Haters to be our elevators or we can allow them to control how we go through adversity. Folk will hate on those who have the FAVOR of God upon their life. We have to be grateful to God for first of all choosing us to bestow his favor on. Others will notice it and thats when the hate will start, the adversity will start because they are wanting what we have. The common phrase asscociated with God's favor is that IT IS NOT FAIR! Not everyone has it and not everyone will experience it. SO we can expect to have haters, we just have to remain faithful to Christ and stay focused in order to advance through the adversity that may result from having the FAVOR of God on your life.
Great observations here in this text. The anger that was directed at Joseph was displaced. The coat was not a Christmas wish nor was it a birthday gift, it was because his father loved him more than his other brothers. A quick study of this story will reveal that these "brothers" were born to Jacob, but their mothers were maids to Rachel. They had the same father, but did not come from the same womb. My point is this...it matters not where you come from, but how you handle where you are and prepare for where you are going. Joseph did not behave as his half brothers (evil and wicked) and so how you conduct yourself today can dictate where you end up in th future.
The hate that Joseph experienced from his brothers came because of what he had in him...PROMISE. Most "dead end" folk who don't trust God, but find themselves in "stuck" positions usually end up seeing what they could have had, if they would have only done what you have done, TRUST GOD and allow him to direct your path. The road may not be easy nor paved, but there is a path that He has set before all of us, and it is our decision to make if we stay where we are or trust in Him who will never leave us nor forsake us.
The story of Joseph is one that no matter what the situation any of us can relate. We can go to "Hades" and back but when God has His hand on you and He said it and you believe it then consider it done.Haters or no Haters!
My thing is that it took awhile for Joseph's dreams to come to pass and alot of things He endured I am pretty sure He wasnt expecting to happen. Like with Us God has made the promise and we know the promise but when you have situations to occur, that happens to not work in our favor we tend to look at God like "Dude" this isnt what you showed me and promised me but we have to remember He didnt say how we was going to get there He just said we would get there and His word will not come back void! At those times that is when we have to simply TRUST God!
I look at Joseph's adversity as preparation for him. Joseph was a young man when he dreamed the dreams and revealed him to his half brothers as well as his mother and father. His experience with adversity came at a very early age and yet he triumphed through it. With the respect to the Body of Christ today, spiritually there are some young lads as Joseph was in age but the difference between them and Joseph is that those lacking spiritual maturity linger in their adversity when they already know what God has promised them. Joseph never removed his focus from the PROMISE. That was key for him to go THROUGH the adversity. Yes, we as Christians get caught up in our situations and circumstances but all we have to do is SPEAK those things as though they were. Sometimes we can prolong the journey in reaching the promise God has given us by HOW we go through things to get to where we need to be.
Your right Tiffany, God never said how we would get to where we needed to be just that we would get there. That right there lets me know that in this journey we will have adversity, but like Joseph we will advance THROUGH it if we keep our eyes on Him and not be distracted.
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