Joseph, Jesus, and Me

Genesis 50:15-21

Favoritism. 2. Fleeing. 3. Forgiveness

VBS - We have been hearing Matthew 28:20 - “I am with you always,” and we have been looking at the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis.

So, if you missed it this week… you might be wondering why Joseph’s brothers are very worried and afraid at this point and passage...

If you go back to chapter 37 of Genesis, you will see the rest of the story...

You see… Jacob, Joseph’s father showed favoritism and showed more love towards Joseph than he did for the other children.

Jacob’s favoritism caused the other children to hate Joseph. And when the setting was just right… the brothers plotted against Joseph and even sought to kill him. They threw Joseph into a pit, sold him to some traders, and then told their father Jacob that Joseph was dead...

And from this… we understand that showing favoritism can really mess up our children… and we should not do this because of the envy and jealousy that is birthed from this...

Favoritism - To show favoritism is to give preference to one person over others with equal claims. It is similar to discrimination and may be based on conditions such as social class, wealth, clothing, actions, etc.

The Bible is clear that favoritism is not God’s will for our lives. First, favoritism is incongruent with God’s character: “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). All are equal before Him. Ephesians 6:9 says, “There is no favoritism with him.” Colossians 3:25 teaches God’s fairness in judgment: “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism” (James 2:1). The context concerns the treatment of rich and poor in the church. James points out that treating someone differently based on his financial status or how he is dressed is wrong.

Favoritism is a serious offense against God’s call to love one’s neighbor as oneself.

As humans, we tend to form judgments based on selfish, personal reasons, rather than seeing others as God sees them.

And in the home… favoritism/partiality/playing favorites… does a lot of damage. It causes envy, jealousy and strife. It causes pain, hatred, and violence...

This child likes what you like and this one doesn’t… and so we spend more time with this one. We talk more with this one. We laugh more and we play more with this one than that one...

And the other children see it… and they are impacted by it.

*Be on guard against “playing favorites.”

Now, moving on to Chapter 39 - Joseph is sold to an Egyptian officer, Potiphar, the captain of the body guards.

Potiphar’s wife wanted to have a relationship with Joseph and Joseph knew that was wrong… So Joseph ran from temptation...

2. Flee Temptation - Joseph had to run from temptation. Joseph didn’t put himself in a place to be tempted… but he was still tempted… and he knew what he had to do...

He had to run from it.

Fleeing from temptation means we recognize it as an enemy and we go the other way, with no hesitation and no compromise.

We naturally flee from danger. When the building we are in catches fire, we run to a safer place. When a hurricane is about to make landfall, we flee the coast. When a rattlesnake is near, we run away, get a gun a kill it...

Unfortunately, when many people see temptation coming, they do not flee. Rather than flee temptation, they play in it, deflect it, postpone it, or analyze it; some embrace it.

As we flee from temptation, we run toward something else, and Paul tells us what that should be: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Run to God. Run to Jesus. Do what is right in His eyes, always. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path… (Prov. 3:5-6).

And that is exactly what God did for Joseph… even when he put in prison for doing the right thing.

Joseph was then put in jail… for doing nothing wrong. But God blessed, protected and used Joseph in the jail house.

Scripture says that Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:2). By the time he was released from prison and appointed as head over Egypt, Joseph was 30 years of age (Genesis 41:46).

Therefore, thirteen years passed from the time Joseph was sold by his brothers to the time he left prison. Some of that time, Joseph was in Potiphar’s service before he was wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife; the rest of the time, he was in prison.

And then… Joseph is made ruler of Egypt, under Pharaoh… and now… His brothers are scared to death that he is going to make them pay for what they did to him...

And what does Joseph say? “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?” I am not God… God is your judge.

“Yes brothers, what you did to me was evil… but God meant it for good… to save many people...”

And what does Joseph do for his brothers?

3. Forgives - Joseph forgives his brothers...

How do we know Joseph forgives them? How do we see him forgiving?

Joseph provides for his brothers and family. He comforts them and speaks kindly to them.

Is that good evidence that he has forgiven them? Yes.

Joseph canceled his brothers debt… Joseph chose to withhold anger and justice, and chose to give grace, love, and mercy instead...

Instead of throwing the brothers into a pit and selling them into slavery… instead of putting them into chains...

Joseph didn’t forget what had happened. He just chose to love them. He just chose to treat them with grace and compassion.

Attention, affection, and or honor… was not taken away.

We may say the words, “I forgive you...” But then we do this: “I will not look at you, be with you, show you any attention.... I will not give you a smile, a hug, no affection… I will not call you… I am going to make you pay in some way...”

I forgive you, but I am going to make you pay in some way. I am not going to play with you, shake you hand, come to your party, Sunday School, or to church services...

“I forgive you spouse… but silent treatment, not attention, affection, or honor for you....” No… No… Not forgiveness!

This is what destroys relationships...

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you...

What does God do? What does Christ do? While we are still sinners… Jesus lays down His life and gives us grace, mercy, and love instead.

Instead of giving us what we deserve... He gives us love, attention, affection and honor instead.

And what the Romans and Jewish leaders meant for evil, God meant it and allowed Jesus to be crucified… so that He could save many through faith in Him...

Joseph saw his brothers through God’s eyes, and responded to them with forgiveness, and showed them attention, affection, and honor.

He provides for them, comforts them, and speaks kindly to them. That is what God calls us to.

4. God was with Joseph always.

God is with Joseph all the way through the story. God provides for Joseph, uses Joseph, and helps Joseph along the way.

God was with Joseph during hard times, painful times, times when he couldn’t hear God, feel God, or see God...

God was with him through it all… working through it all… to bring about good in the end...

Romans 8:28 - We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose...

God is working through the Good and the Bad. God sees the favoritism, the temptations and trials. God sees the injustice and the pain...

And God is with you through it all. God is working through it all… and He is calling you to follow Him, and allow Him to work in and through your life.

Favoritism - Do we need to forgive or ask for forgiveness for showing favoritism?

Fleeing - Did you not flee in the past? Are you still playing with temptation and sins today?

Forgiving - Are you withholding attention, affection, and honor from your family, church family, or others?

What is God God calling you to do today?