What You Can Learn from the Life of Joseph

The life of Joseph is one of the most inspiring stories from the book of Genesis chapters 37 to 50; and still being read and watched as a film today. The famous accounts of Joseph’s life were his brother selling him into slavery, his interpretation of dreams in prison and of the pharaoh’s; and becoming the ruler of Egypt.

“because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him” (Genesis 37:3-4)

Joseph’s story in the Bible is probably one of the most emotional stories in the Bible as the events in his life touches family relationships, hardships, and God’s amazing faithfulness in his life that all readers could learn from.

Among the 12 brothers (excluding Benjamin), Joseph was the favorite son of his father Jacob. He was the special one to Jacob because “because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him” (Genesis 37:3-4). And this resulted to the betrayal of his brothers who plotted evil against him and he ended up being sold as a slave. From his place of comfort, he was led to a land unknown before him and there the plans of God in his life unfolded, in the land of Egypt.

God was always with Joseph and he succeeded in all things he does. He also had the gift of interpreting dreams. In the end, Joseph became a ruler of Egypt after interpreting the pharaoh’s dream. God reconciled the family of Joseph and the book of Genesis ended with the descendants of Jacob in the land of Egypt and the death of Joseph which brings us to Exodus, the story of Moses and slavery of Israelites in Egypt.

Here are a few things that you can learn from the life of Joseph:

Sometimes, you have to undergo difficulties in life so that God can produce the fruit that matches your God given destiny. In the case of Joseph, it was the fruit of humility, compassion, forgiveness and mercy so that he would become the kind of Ruler that pleases the LORD and be a blessing to all people.

Joseph did not hold on to hate and anger when he saw his brothers again. Even though he already had the position to take revenge when he became the ruler of Egypt, he opted to move on and forgive.

Also, Joseph had to be humbled down when he experienced being the number one favorite in his home to becoming a slave in Egypt. If God had not allowed this to happen, how can Joseph as a Ruler have compassion on the people? So, if you are experiencing humiliation in life whether through people around you or your situation, take it positively and look to its brighter side. God has something great in that experience.

Joseph was also faithful in all things. He accepted that his life will never be the same and so he had to move on and do his best in his present situations. And he succeeded in all things he do even as a slave, as a prison, and as a Ruler because God saw how Joseph worked with all of his heart no matter how small or big it was. And God was with him in all things he did.

When you do things and serve with all your heart, whether someone is watching or not, whether it’s a big task or the smallest, God will surely bless the work of your hands as He did to Joseph.

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