Genesis chapters 37, 39 to 50 is the story of the life of Joseph. Please take the time to read in your bible about the purpose of God in his life, keeping in mind how he was misunderstood, ridiculed mistreated by his brothers and how it took Joseph about 13 years to begin to experience God’s full purpose in his life after the many unjust situations and their consequences he had lived through.
Of all the cruel treatment Joseph experienced at the hands of his brothers as we read in Genesis 37:1-36, the chapter does not mention that Joseph was emotionally wounded, unforgiving and embittered against his brothers, and or most importantly against God who Joseph could have easily blamed for allowing him to experience the unjust treatment he did from his brothers.
Joseph did not allow bitterness to take root in his heart because of bitterness and unforgiveness, as a result he was able to acknowledge, respect and submit to God’s purpose for his life in spite of the harsh situation and circumstances he had experienced and the unpleasant situation he was experiencing being in prison. Joseph did not forget God and because of this “he prospered” and as a result others recognized that God was with Joseph and were blessed because of God’s presence was with Joseph.
Genesis 39:2-6
2 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Genesis 39:6-10
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
If anyone could have been emotionally wounded, angry and embittered because of the unjust situation and it’s consequences which they had experienced and continued to be in, it was Joseph. When Potiphar’s wife repeatedly approached him saying, “Come to bed with me!”, Joseph was able to freely refuse because his heart was not bitter and calloused as a result of experiencing the undeserved treatment from his brothers, but most importantly he did not blame God. As a result of a heart free from bitterness and resentment, he was able to respond to her in a manner that honored God. “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9.
We cannot expect God to be with us and bless us if we have the root of bitterness and unforgiveness influencing us. Joseph did not allow bitterness to take root in his heart even after unjustly being put into prison and as a result in;
In Genesis 39:20-23, we read that God continued to bless Joseph. “But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
Joseph obviously acknowledged his unjust circumstances and wanted to be freed, nevertheless, he continued not to allow bitterness to take root in his heart.
“Genesis 40:14-15
14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”
Because Joseph did not allow bitterness and unforgiveness to callous his soul, we see many examples of how Joseph continued to acknowledge and honor God in spite of the unjust situation.
- Genesis 40:8, “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
- Genesis 41:16, “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
- Genesis 41:25, Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
- Genesis 41:28, “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
- Genesis 41:50-52, 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
- Genesis 42:18, On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
However, the most notable example we see of Joseph not having the root of bitterness and unforgiveness influencing his emotions or decisions is during the second encounter with his brothers. He clearly was able to understand and accept God’s will, purpose and providence in his life in spite of all the unjust hardships he experienced in the past.
Genesis 45:4-9
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
What we can learn from Joseph is that in spite of the mistreatment by his own brothers, false accusation and unjust imprisonment, Joseph remained faithful to God. In all the unjust, undeserved and harsh situations that Joseph experienced, he continued not allow bitterness, unforgiveness and anger to poison his soul.
Psalms 73:21-22, “21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant;”
Proverbs 17:20 “…A man of perverse heart does not prosper…”
Pastor John
