The Injustice League: Joseph

You got this

When I was about four or five years old, there was a night when I was sitting in our basement simply watching some TV show, when my oldest brother Nathan decided he wanted to watch something else. My second oldest brother, Andrew luckily came to my rescue and attempted to turn it back to whichever channel I had on. Soon enough the two of them began brawling, which was nothing new. This definitely wasn’t a fair fight, considering Nathan was around 14 and Andrew would have been about 8. I was yelling at the top of my lungs for them to quit fighting before one of our parents came downstairs, but the next thing I new, Nathan took a swing directly for Andrew’s right eye. Our mom and dad rushed down to the sight of Andrew on the floor, weeping with his hands over his now black eye, Nathan most likely trying to defend himself by saying “he started it!”, and me essentially just being confused at the whole situation. Now I think we can all agree that my innocent, kindergarten self had nothing to do with this altercation; all I wanted to do was watch something on our little, cube TV. However, I had to end up facing some of the consequences of the incident. My dad is a very calm man who rarely gets angry, and usually left the major disciplining for mom, but for some reason, the wrath of Mike Martin rose against us all. Without hearing any type of explanation from the three of us, he lined us up, oldest to youngest and gave us each a spanking. This was the first and only spanking I’d ever gotten from my dad, and in that moment I was livid over the fact that I had gotten one even though I didn’t do anything wrong. I wanted justice for myself, to be compensated suffering that my behind had to go through. In my little five year old mind that was defined by a full fledged apology from my dad and a shopping spree to Toys R Us. To this day, some odd years later, I have received neither of those things.

Maybe you can identify with having the short end of the stick in your family, or maybe you were the child that managed to get away with everything. Regardless, I believe that we have all faced situations that we’ve deemed to be unfair. Whether it’d be a referee giving a bad call or being accused of something you didn’t do. The Bible is filled with countless stories of people being treated wrongfully, although they did not do anything to inflict it upon themselves. But it is important that we remember that God’s sovereign will is more important than our human desire for justice. Now this is not to say that advocating in the area of social justice is wrong; I firmly believe that God has called people to challenge society for change. What I am trying to articulate is that with our desire to be vindicated and treated fairly, we must also realize that through the injustices we face, God’s sovereign plan will prevail (REPEAT).

Maybe you can identify with having the short end of the stick in your family, or maybe you were the child that managed to get away with everything. Regardless, I believe that we have all faced situations that we’ve deemed to be unfair. Whether it’d be a referee giving a bad call, being accused of something you didn’t do, or INSERT SOMETHING HERE. The Bible is filled with countless stories of people being treated wrongfully, although they did not do anything to inflict it upon themselves. But it is important that we remember that God’s sovereign will is more important than our human desire for justice. Now this is not to say that advocating in the area of social justice is wrong; I firmly believe that God has called people to challenge society for change. What I am trying to articulate is that with our desire to be vindicated and treated fairly, we must also realize that through the injustices we face, God’s sovereign plan will prevail (REPEAT).

Today I want to focus on a story that most of you have probably heard from a young age. It’s about a teenager who was living a pretty good life. He was loved by his father, had a pretty cool jacket, and kept getting these prophetic dreams. But suddenly, his life took an unexpected turn that became nightmare, after nightmare.

Let’s pray.

Our story starts in , where we are introduced to a 17 year old named Joseph. Like I said before, he was loved by his father, “more than any other of his sons” as it says in verse 3. Now being the only girl in my family, I know firsthand what getting special treatment feels like (despite getting that spanking of course). I always got new clothes, new toys, and never had to share a room. This favouritism that Jacob showed towards the son of his old age is famously symbolized by his robe of many colours. Slowly, but surely, this fuelled a vile envy within the hearts of Joseph’s brothers.

Our story starts in , where we are introduced to a 17 year old named Joseph. Like I said before, he was loved by his father, “more than any other of his sons” as it says in verse 3. Now being the only girl in my family, I know firsthand what getting special treatment feels like. I always got new clothes, new toys, and never had to share a room. This favouritism that Jacob showed towards the son of his old age is famously symbolized by his robe of many colours. Slowly, but surely, this fuelled a vile envy within the hearts of Joseph’s brothers.

And having dreams that symbolized his family bowing down to him didn’t really seem to help the situation. This is where the first nightmare began.

Joseph’s brothers started scheming ways to kill their brother. Eventually, they came to the consensus to tear off his robe, throw him into an empty pit, and told their father that his beloved son was devoured by animals. So once Joseph reached them, they carried out their plan with no hesitation. They left him, exposed in the dark hole alone. And instead of ending the dreamer’s life, they sell him for twenty shekels of silver to Ishmaelites. When they returned to their father, they brought back the shreds of the garment, now dipped in goat blood to make it seem as though his beloved son was slaughtered. Now imagine what it would feel like to have your own flesh and blood hate you so much that they would be willing to sell you into slavery. To have the people who are supposed to love you , betray you so deeply. Think of the sorrow that he must have felt while laying in that desolate hole. This isn’t just. This isn’t fair.

But God had a plan.

We skip to chapter 39 where we discover that Joseph was bought from the Ishmaelties by an officer of Pharaoh called Potiphar. Now it didn’t take long for him to find success. Soon, he became the overseer of his master’s house and was placed in charge of everything that he owned. Not only was he finding favour in the eyes of his superior, but this chapter also mentions that he was blessed in the gene pool. So here we have our hero, overcoming the trials set before him. Going from being sold into labour by his brothers to being second in command in his master’s home. If only our story could end happily ever after there.

But it doesn’t.

Potiphar’s wife takes notice of Joseph, and attempts to seduce him. Now Joseph, being the man of integrity that we all know and love refuses, as it would be a sin against his master and against God. But this is the start of yet another nightmare.

One day, Potiphar’s wife caught Joseph while he was alone, grabbed his garment and once again tried to tempt him to sleep with her. He fled the scene as fast as he could, and it was clear that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with this adulteress. But she held onto the garment and accused our hero of rape. He was then taken by his master into the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. There he went again from being favoured and recognized, to a monster. How could this happen to him? That’s not fair.

But God still had a plan.

As we move along to chapter 40, we meet two of Joseph’s new cell mates, both officers of Pharaoh, a cupbearer and a baker. One night, each of the men had troubling dreams. So through the power of God, Joseph offers to interpret the dreams. Sadly, the baker’s dream foretold his death, but the cupbearer ended up being restored to his position, as Joseph had interpreted. But before the cupbearer is released, Joseph asks him in verses 14 and 15: “Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the pit”. All he asks for is to be remembered. Maybe he too could be restored. Maybe he would once again find favour in the eyes of men.

But the cupbearer did not remember him. How can someone forget the man who gave him back his freedom? How could it slip someone’s mind to put in a good word for the man who spared his life? That can’t be fair.

But God had a plan.

And now we’re brought to chapter 41. Joseph has spent a total of two years in prison. That’s two years of his life spent confined for a horrid, reputation-damaging crime that he did not commit. But after two years, Pharaoh had a dream. And he was troubled too. He called upon magicians and wise men, but no one could interpret this dream. Finally, after two whole years, the cupbearer remembered our imprisoned hero. He went before Pharaoh, and again through God’s power was able to successfully interpret the dream. And it wasn’t long before this that Joseph was back in a position of authority.

And now we’re brought to chapter 41. Joseph has spent a total of two years in prison. That’s two years of his life spent confined for a horrid, reputation-damaging crime that he did not commit. But after two years, Pharaoh had a dream. And he was troubled too. He called upon magicians and wise men, but no one could interpret this dream. Finally, after two whole years, the cupbearer remembered our imprisoned hero. He went before Pharaoh, and again through God’s power was able to successfully interpret the dream. And it wasn’t long before this that Joseph was back in a position of authority.

He was appointed as the chief minister in charge of preparing for the famine that was about to take place, which ultimately gives him authority over all of Egypt. The nightmare was over. He no longer has to worry about the family that betrayed him as he has managed to succeed without them.

But lo and behold, look what the cat dragged in. The same boys who had plotted Joseph’s demise were now bowing down before him, just like in his dreams. Now I don’t know about you, but at this point of the story I am dying for Joseph to give his brothers a taste of their own medicine. We want the antagonists of this story to suffer because of what Joseph was put through. Now even though he does test his brothers to see of they were truly remorseful, Joseph doesn’t resort to revenge. Why not? Because as he says in “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today”.

It is clear that although it was difficult, God had an important reason for Joseph to face such intense instances of injustice. He was needed to work at Potiphar’s house for a reason. He needed to be in prison when he was so that he could interpret the dreams of his cellmates. He had to wait for the cupbearer to remember him so that he could interpret Pharaoh’s dream and eventually take authority in Egypt.

TALK MORE ABOUT THE BROTHERS AND RECONCILIATION.

But how was Joseph able to withstand such trials? Sure, it all seems worth it in the end, but what about the process? There is no mention in the story of him becoming bitter at his brothers, Potiphar’s wife, or the cupbearer for what they did to him. I know if I were in that, position, I would have found it very easy to want vindication for myself. But it was the mindset that Joseph had that kept him going. Back in the first chapter of our story, God gave Joseph dreams of the sheaf that he was binding in the field standing upright, while the sheaves of his brothers stood upright. And of the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. I believe that these visions, these images of encouragement served as reminders of God’s plan for his life. Rather than becoming bitter or prideful in his need for justice, Joesph held onto God’s promises for strength. It is also important to note that multiple times throughout Joseph’s hardships and successes, it is mentioned that “God was with him”. It says in that when Joseph served in Potiphar’s house, he saw that “the Lord was with [his servant]” . He never left his side. And he will never leave ours.

So, will you allow God’s will to take precedent over your desire for justice? To get even? To be vindicated? Will you choose to look past the injustices you may face in your life and not become bitter or prideful so that you may see the sovereign plan God is putting into fruition? INSERT VERSES HERE.