WHEN LOOKING AT A BIBLE STORY ALWAYS ASK,
“WHO AM I IN THE STORY?”
SETBACK #1: JOSEPH’S BROTHERS ACTUALLY HATED HIM.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.
Genesis 37:3-5 NLT
SETBACK #2: JOSEPH’S BROTHERS ABUSED HIM.
When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
Genesis 37:18-20 NLT
When Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Why shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. He’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
Genesis 37:21-24 NLT
Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” Genesis 37:31-32 NLT
SETBACK #3: JOSEPH’S BROTHERS ENABLED OTHERS TO ABUSE HIM.
Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders…” And his brothers agreed. So when the Ishmaelites… And the traders took him to Egypt.
Genesis 37:26-28 NLT
Meanwhile, in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh—the king of Egypt. captain of the palace guard, the chief executioner.
Genesis 37:36 TLB
SETBACK #4: JOSEPH’S BOSS TREATS HIM WRONG FOR DOING RIGHT.
Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household… She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, no one else was around when he went in to do
his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!”
Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.
Genesis 39:6b-8, 10-12 NLT
SETBACK #5: JOSEPH IS FORGOTTEN BY THOSE HE’D BEEN FAITHFUL TO.
But I ask one thing. When things are going well for you, remember me. If you have the opportunity, do me a favor and mention me to Pharaoh. Perhaps he will get me out of this place… Sadly the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, he forgot all about him.
Genesis 40:14-15, 23 VOICE
HOW CAN I MAKE AN AMAZING COMEBACK LIKE JOSEPH DID?
By determining to be faithful to God in every situation.
But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her… No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except… you …his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.
Genesis 39:8b-9 NLT
By depending on God in every challenge.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can explain it for me. I heard that you can explain dreams” Joseph answered, “I cannot! But God can explain the dream for you, Pharaoh.”
Genesis 41:15-16 ERV
As they discussed who should be appointed for the job, Pharaoh said, “Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God.” The king said to Joseph, “It is obvious that you have greater wisdom and insight than anyone else. So, I am putting you in charge of my country, and all my people will obey your orders.”
Genesis 41:38 TLB
By detecting God’s presence in every circumstance.
God was with Joseph in the pit.
Jacob's sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and brought him safely through all his troubles.
Acts 7:9-10a GNT
God was with Joseph in the prison.
Now the Ishmaelites had taken Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful.
Genesis 39:1-2a GNT
God was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house.
Joseph was thrown into the prison But even there, the Lord was with Joseph, and God…. Before long, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison! The jailer did not have to look after anything for which Joseph was responsible, because the Lord was with Joseph and made him succeed in everything he did.
Genesis 39:20-23 GNB
By deferring to God’s plan, in faith.
Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.” Genesis 50:19-20 MP
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