431 - Looking at Life from the Twelve Tribes of Israel 11 - Joseph (Part 1)#
(JP Text Group - shalom organized)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival.
Today is Sunday, let's take a look at the eleventh lecture on life from the tribes of Israel, Joseph (the first half).
Genesis 49:22-26:
22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall. 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Let us pray first.
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you, thank you for preparing this wonderful time for us. We come before you, you provide for us, let us know how to walk in life, and through this time, let us be renewed and strengthened! We learn from Joseph the wisdom in life, manifesting God's glory, receiving blessings from heaven, and being a blessing to many! We also entrust this time to the Holy Spirit to guide and lead every brother and sister, so that they can receive your abundant help! Thank you and praise the Lord, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
Among Jacob's twelve sons, Joseph is ranked eleventh by age, yet at the very beginning of 1 Chronicles chapter 5, it mentions that the birthright belongs to Joseph. I have shared with everyone before, what privileges does the firstborn have? It is to inherit a double portion of the inheritance and to have honor among his brothers. Originally, all of this should have fallen to Jacob's first son, Reuben, but because Reuben's character was too indulgent and had an inappropriate relationship with his father's concubine, the birthright ultimately fell to Joseph, who was the first son born to Rachel.
In Genesis 30:22-24, it mentions:
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
Rachel finally bore a son. One can imagine how great her expectations for Joseph were! From the Bible, we can also see that Joseph's life is full of legends. When blessing the other sons, it was not as profound as today; most of what is mentioned here is that Joseph had very good behavior in the past, and it also mentions everything he received seems to be what he deserved. Who does this resemble? It resembles Jesus Christ mentioned in the New Testament. As children of God, we not only need to receive God's life, but more importantly, we need to live out God's life.
Jacob's blessing to Joseph begins with: Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well. Thank the Lord, what does this indicate? This refers to the many good behaviors that are worth learning from him. Although the firstborn has many blessings, he also has to bear corresponding responsibilities. If the father passes away in the family, the firstborn can receive a double portion of the inheritance, but he must also lead his younger brothers, take care of them, help them, and shoulder the responsibility for the family's prosperity.
From this perspective, Joseph's brothers really did not have this ability. Some had no major faults, but they also had no great ambitions; however, Joseph was different. From a young age, God placed visions in him. He was obedient to God and willing to honor God, and in the end, we see that he indeed bore much fruit, not only in his own family but also in foreign lands, to the extent that people from other nations saw God's glory through him.
Among the many sons, Joseph's performance is considered the best, just as we are all sons of God, and Jesus's performance is the best. Whether in life or behavior, he is worth imitating. Once again, I emphasize that believers not only need to be saved but also need to live out good behaviors to build themselves and others.
Many people only care about living well for themselves, regardless of whether it harms others' interests, which is selfish; but Joseph was not like this. Joseph bore much fruit, and his branches ran over the wall, bringing good blessings not only to his own family but also to those outside!
Such a person should logically have smooth sailing, but the reality is quite the opposite. He would encounter many persecutions. Why? Most people are self-serving. When they see someone so great, even better than themselves, they usually do not praise him but rather become jealous and even engage in sabotage. This leads to the archers sorely grieving him, shooting at him, and persecuting him. It was not because Joseph did anything wrong, but because he upheld good behavior and held onto the truth, resulting in persecution.
Brothers and sisters, do not think that just because you have not done anything wrong, merely holding onto the truth and wholeheartedly helping others, why do you still encounter such things? The enemy does not want you to succeed because you have built up too many people, so the enemy wants to pull you into the pit to make you weak and fall! After reading Joseph's life, we see that he truly had a heart for goodness, yet he faced persecution from his relatives and jealousy from foreigners.
However, from verse 24 onward, we see that his bow remained strong; his hands were made strong and agile. Why did he ultimately become stronger and receive greater blessings? This is because the shepherd of Israel, the rock of Israel helped him. Who does this refer to? It is not Jacob; Jacob really did not help Joseph much. Jacob was blessed by Joseph. Where did all of Joseph's blessings come from? They came from God. So even if you come from a poor background and have experienced many failures, if you can learn to rely on God like Joseph and learn Joseph's character, you can also receive similar blessings.
Because of Jesus, the Almighty will bless you with all the blessings of heaven above, the blessings of the deep that lies under, and the blessings of the breasts and of the womb, which He is willing to give you. So how should we act? Very simply, we need to learn to live like Joseph.
Let's take a look at Moses's blessing to Joseph in Deuteronomy 33:13-17:
13 And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, 14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, 15 And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, 16 And for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let these come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Did you see that? Moses's blessing to Joseph is very similar to Jacob's blessing, with just two points: first, may the God of heaven grant various blessings to Joseph and his descendants; second, may the grains, new wine, oil, and all kinds of treasures of the earth be for Joseph and his descendants. Why do both of these men bless Joseph in this way? Because his influence is indeed too great!
Jacob and Moses are separated by hundreds of years, but there are three points in their blessings that are the same: first, the blessings are vast, as they both hope that all kinds of blessings will be upon Joseph; second, extraordinary power and honor will come upon Joseph; of course, their blessings are viewed from a spiritual perspective; third, being separate from his brothers indicates that Joseph is completely different from others; he is a person with very distinct characteristics.
Let's take a look at how Joseph is indeed different from his brothers. If you can find the reasons from the Bible and imitate Joseph, you can also receive corresponding blessings. From this point, it can be seen that Joseph indeed has the authority of the firstborn because he led the entire family into prosperity. Hallelujah! At the same time, we can imitate this spiritual Joseph tribe and see if those who are similar to Joseph have also received such blessings. The answer is yes. Just learn from the spiritual Joseph, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, and you can also receive blessings like Joseph. Learn to live like Joseph.
Let's look at his character traits and principles of conduct. First, he hates evil and is upright. According to the account in Genesis 37, when Joseph was a child, he lived with his brothers and reported their evil deeds to their father. Perhaps his brothers did many things that were excessive, but Joseph knew that these things were wrong and reported their evil deeds to their father. This shows that Joseph was kind and upright, did not participate in his brothers' evil deeds, and would never bow down or compromise with evil forces or bad practices, nor would he associate with them.
He reported his brothers' evil deeds to his father not out of glee or to gain favor, but because he hated evil and was upright. He felt that this matter was incorrect and hoped that his father could timely stop his brothers from continuing to do evil and return to the right path, lest they fall deeper into sin. It is evident that he had such vision even as a child, which is indeed not easy.
Sometimes, we may encounter people around us, especially relatives and friends, doing evil. What would you do? Would you act like them or distance yourself from them? If so, it seems that there would be no friends left! Joseph, precisely because he was different from his brothers, received his father's love and trust, but at the same time, he also received another 'blessing', which was the jealousy of his brothers. Eventually, his brothers conspired to kill him, and he was sold into Egypt and became a slave.
If we stop here, would you still want to be a person who hates evil and is upright? If this is the outcome, would you continue to hold onto your beliefs or compromise with the world? This answer is left for you to ponder. It is clear that if you insist on your beliefs, you may face many problems and even encounter persecution and attacks from others; if you compromise with the world, you may temporarily gain some worldly benefits, but the outcome will be like that of Jacob's other sons, with some becoming increasingly evil, while others may return to the right path, which is a high probability.
Joseph chose to uphold his beliefs, and in the end, he became a foreign slave, but he still did not forget his father's teachings and did not give up on the God he believed in. Despite everything, Joseph never gave up on his faith. Too many people pray, and when God fulfills their requests, they are very happy; but if things do not come to pass, they become disheartened and weak, even saying they do not believe! If something like what happened to Joseph happened to you, how many people could continue to hold onto their faith in God? But Joseph faithfully served the Lord, upheld his beliefs, and never compromised.
Let's read a passage from Genesis 39:2-4:
2 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Joseph became a slave and went to Potiphar's house, yet Joseph still looked up to God in everything. As a servant, he worked diligently, which is worth learning from. Why? Because when we are weak and in trouble, if we can believe in our God, we will do our best in the tasks at hand. Imagine, Joseph had become a slave, originally the most beloved son in the family, and in one night, all the glory disappeared. Now he was working hard to serve others without any dignity. In such a disparity, how many people can continue to believe in God and do their best in their current tasks?
Joseph's performance was different from that of other slaves. Perhaps other slaves worked unwillingly but had no choice, but when Joseph became a slave, he did his best to do his work well. Joseph was in the house of his master the Egyptian, and the Lord was with him, and he was prosperous in everything. This indicates that his master did not treat him kindly but gave him more work, yet Joseph did everything well.
Many believers work in companies, and perhaps because the boss or manager treats them harshly and gives them more work than others, they start to complain: "Should I not be here? Is God trying to train me or what? I do not want to do this work..." In fact, we should learn from Joseph's actions at this time. He may have received more work than others, but he relied on God and was prosperous in everything.
I do not know how you understand being prosperous in everything. Many people think that being prosperous means not encountering any setbacks or storms, that everything goes well, and blessings fall directly from heaven! This is not the case; being prosperous in everything means that no matter what problems arise, if he relies on God, he will do everything well! Even if there are setbacks, difficulties, and frustrations, he still overcomes them by relying on God. For him, God is his greatest strength and help. This is what being prosperous in everything means!
We can also achieve being prosperous in everything because we believe that the God we trust can overcome all difficulties and has already overcome this world, so you can also overcome. Therefore, you should be a person who is prosperous in everything. The moment you accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwelled within you, and God is with you. So when you encounter problems and unfairness, do not complain; learn to seek wisdom from God like Joseph, uphold your faith, and you can be prosperous in everything.
His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and his master made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
This brings us to the second point to share: Uphold your faith and stay away from gains and losses.
First, when he was a slave, he did what he was supposed to do, and he did everything well! Many people have grand ambitions, whether they want to be the top in the church or achieve the best performance in the company. Their intentions are good, but can they first be faithful in small matters? This is something Joseph did very well. As a slave, he was the most capable slave. His master discovered his uniqueness; he was smart in his work, and as a result, he rose up.
Other spiritual giants have this characteristic. Discover it for yourself. His master saw that the Lord was with him. Do not forget that his master did not believe in God, but how did he discover that God was with him? Because Joseph upheld his faith and lived out a different style from everyone else. No matter what work his master assigned him, he could do it well; no matter how difficult the tasks were, he could always get through them!
Through many observations, his master discovered that God was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper. This also indicates that Joseph lived out God's style in Potiphar's house. Perhaps his master praised him, saying: "You did this well!" Joseph would say: "Because my God is with me, giving me wisdom to do this beautifully!" He would give glory to God. So one by one, his master discovered that the God he believed in was indeed great, and he changed his position, making him the steward of the house. In that era, it was almost impossible for a slave to become a steward, but Joseph achieved it because his God elevated him! Joseph was also wise and capable in everything, which is something we must pay attention to.
Many believers just want to wait for God to send down blessings from heaven but are unwilling to go out and gather the manna back home. They even become lazy and end up with nothing. Joseph was very diligent, and afterward, Joseph found grace in his master's sight, served him, and his master made him overseer over his house, putting everything into his hand. This indicates that his master observed him for a long time and found his character to be excellent. This is what we should imitate. If one is selfish and often does evil, he cannot have this position, so we must uphold our faith and stay away from evil. When the time comes, God will naturally elevate you.
Many people clearly do not have that character but still want to sit in that position. How can they do well? This is a wrong mindset! Joseph never thought about becoming a steward, yet he became one because he was faithful in small matters. His master believed that this person's character was so good that he would also be faithful in big matters, so he entrusted everything to him, and the master was very at ease and never inquired further.
How do we know this? From another aspect of his character, the character of staying away from evil. A certain incident happened in Potiphar's house: Potiphar's wife saw that Joseph was young, strong, wise, and handsome, and secretly wanted to seduce him.
Genesis 39:7-9:
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Through this incident, we see that Joseph is a person who fears God and stays away from evil! After he became the steward, he was the greatest in that house. Generally speaking, if a disloyal steward encounters such a situation, the master is very unfortunate; perhaps that master would be killed! There have been many such incidents in history. What is good? Potiphar encountered Joseph. We are not here to praise Potiphar but to focus on Joseph's character because he is a person who upholds his faith, so he is trustworthy. He is a person who upholds the truth and stays away from evil, and such a person is worthy of trust.
How many people feel disappointed because they entrusted their matters to the wrong person, thinking this person could help them, but when difficulties arise, they find that person does not care at all? They completely trust that person, only to find that person has dug a pit for them to fall into. How many people end up feeling very pessimistic and desperate just because they entrusted their matters to the wrong person?
If you encounter someone like Joseph, wouldn’t you feel very fortunate to have such a friend in your life? Of course, Potiphar also had insight; he knew what kind of character Joseph had, so believers should imitate Joseph's character, uphold their faith, and stay away from evil!
For Joseph, this was a small matter that could change the course of his life. Because his master's wife liked Joseph, if the steward colluded with his master's wife to replace his master, it would not be difficult. However, Joseph did not do this because he knew that his master completely trusted him. This is one aspect; secondly, he is a person of faith. Therefore, this reveals Joseph's excellent character. The reason he did not do these things is that he said: "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" He knew that everything he had was given by God, and his position and glory today were all granted by God, so he had no pride or arrogance.
Let us think again; many people serve the Lord with arrogance and pride, even boasting. On what basis do you boast? Everything is given by God. If you obtained it through schemes and strategies, you will lose it very quickly. If your heart is greedy, you cannot withstand this temptation.
Too many people abandon the truth for the sake of fame and fortune, indulging in desires and betraying the truth, even betraying the Lord and friends, being selfish. There are too many such people. We should imitate and learn from people like Joseph, uphold the truth, remain steadfast, and overcome various temptations through God. Hallelujah! This is where Joseph differs from his brothers! If you can uphold this and live your life this way, God will also place you in a high position and bless you abundantly because you can bear it.
The third point: Extraordinary wisdom and a broad mind.
Because Joseph rejected the temptation of Potiphar's wife, he was wrongfully imprisoned. In prison, he was a very good prisoner. Perhaps he had a cheerful personality and did not moan, sigh, or despair like others. He performed very well in prison, and even the prison warden noticed that this young man was different and full of wisdom.
Perhaps he often encouraged those who were desperate, interpreting dreams for them, sharing various truths, and advising them not to cause trouble. The prison warden discovered that this person had unique talents and let him manage the other prisoners, and Joseph did very well. The prisoners were very willing to follow him, to the extent that later the chief butler and the chief baker, after having dreams, were the first to think of asking Joseph: "What should I do?" Joseph interpreted their dreams succinctly, and everything came to pass, which was extraordinary wisdom from God! Worldly wisdom may gain some reputation, money, and praise, but wisdom from God can lead to glory from God.
Many people want to obtain wisdom like Joseph, focusing on dreams, visions, and prophecies. Why do they like this? Because it is a shortcut; when encountering issues, they do not need to study the Bible or seek the truth. Just pray, and God tells them what to do. How wonderful is that! This is actually a lazy mindset. How did Joseph obtain these? He established a good relationship with God through long-term communication, prayer, seeking, and relying on God, which is the outflow of his inner life!
If you want to obtain these, what is your purpose? Is it to frequently interpret dreams for others, prophesy, and gain their admiration? If so, this returns to selfishness, which is not wisdom from God. The purpose of doing all this should be to manifest God's glory. Such a person is humble; even in prison, without position or reputation, he is willing to do such things.
Many people can do such things when they are in high positions, but once they are not in that position, they do not do them, which indicates that they care too much about their gains and losses! Therefore, brothers and sisters, if you want to receive such gifts and blessings, you must first establish a long-term good relationship with God, and this extraordinary wisdom will naturally arise.
Many people want to obtain God's wisdom but are unwilling to establish such a good relationship with God. They hope to receive wisdom like Solomon, just by sleeping one night. This is not the case. Solomon did receive wisdom that night, but afterward, he began to seek God, which is why he obtained such wisdom.
Many people hope for a miraculous, enlightening experience to receive everything. This is impossible. Joseph's wisdom did not come in a day; it was the result of more than ten years of hardships, living under others' roofs, learning to rely on God in everything, and listening to the voice from God.
Thank the Lord! Therefore, may you take God's word as your foundation, meditate on it daily, and you can have clear guidance from God. Later, the suggestions and feasible measures he proposed to Pharaoh were enough to prove his extraordinary wisdom. Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret, and no one in the country knew its meaning. Joseph easily solved the problem, which was wisdom from God!
Joseph told Pharaoh that seven years of abundance would come, and what should be done? One-fifth of the grain should be collected and stored to prepare for the seven years of famine. During the years of famine, grain should be sold from the storehouses to ensure that the people of the nation would not be affected by the famine.
Joseph's suggestions to Pharaoh were all free, and he did not expect to be made the prime minister of Egypt just for giving advice; he simply wanted to help. Therefore, if you have wisdom from God, uphold your faith, and stay away from evil, you will sincerely help others like Joseph, not focusing on what others can give you in return.
What is the characteristic of worldly people? After helping you, they ask what they can gain. If they cannot gain anything from helping you, they will not help you. Why should they help you? We should not learn from such people; what they can obtain is very limited. You should learn to help others without seeking returns, just for the glory of God. What you receive will be abundant blessings from God! Hallelujah! After Joseph told Pharaoh these things, he did not seek anything else, and good things happened.
Genesis 41:38-41:
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Many people are very envious of everything Joseph has. Many believers also say: "If only I could have the authority and ability like Joseph!" Let me ask again, what will you do after you obtain these? Will you boast about yourself or exploit the people? Or will it be for the glory of God and to benefit others?
Before these things come, you need to accurately position yourself. If you are willing to receive blessings from God like Joseph and give them freely to become a blessing to many, then you should learn to do well in the tasks of a slave when you are a slave, and do well in the tasks of a steward when you are a steward. If you cannot do small things well, you will not be able to do big things well!
All that Joseph did before was excellent. Now that he is to govern all of Egypt, he can still do well. Hallelujah! Previously, he faced various temptations without losing himself, still glorifying his God. Now, when governing all of Egypt, he will still not be arrogant or proud. Amen! Therefore, we learn from Joseph; he has many excellent qualities, is not proud, does not seek personal glory, and is deeply favored by Pharaoh. His brothers conspired to harm him and sold him to foreigners, and he endured more than ten years of hard life as a slave and prisoner. Those days were not easy. Imagine how young he was at that time! Did he not think of his family? Did he not cry out to heaven? Was he not sad inside?
Now that he has become the prime minister, how did Joseph treat his brothers when they came to buy grain? If it were you, how would you respond to past enemies now seeking your help? If you have a narrow mind and a strong desire for revenge, like some people, then his brothers would have no way to live. He would certainly think this is a golden opportunity to seek justice and take revenge!
But Joseph was not such a person. Joseph did not remember their past evil deeds. Although he did give them a small lesson, it was only to test whether they recognized their past mistakes and found that they had changed. Joseph's comfort came to them. After his father died, his brothers projected their own fears onto Joseph, worrying that he would seek revenge, so they did not dare to ask him directly. Instead, they sent someone to Joseph, saying: "Before our father died, he commanded us to ask you to forgive our transgressions, and we are willing to be your servants."
Let’s look at Joseph's response in Genesis 50:19-21:
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Through these words, we finally understand why Joseph was blessed! Through these events, we should know why Jacob and Moses were so willing for God to grant all kinds of blessings to Joseph! Because giving blessings to such a person will cultivate more people. Amen.
Conversely, if a person like Dan, who is narrow-minded and malicious, were to receive blessings, would you still hope for God to bless him? After God blesses him, does he not become even more arrogant? If you want to receive more blessings from God, you must learn to imitate Joseph's character. He lived according to God's will and manifested God's style. He is a broad-minded person. Hallelujah! He possesses wisdom from God yet has a broad mind!
Think about it, did more than ten years of inhumane life just pass by? Such harm is not ordinary! If Joseph had not received comfort from God and had not understood these matters from God's perspective, who could easily let go?
You may have also suffered some harm from others, and some of that harm is indeed deeply etched in your heart. But how will you choose? Will you choose to continue harboring hatred and refuse to forgive, or will you choose to have compassion and forgive them from God's perspective? If you are willing to live a blessed life, I would rather you think more about the blessings Joseph received, and understand how he released the pain he suffered in the past. Only then will these blessings follow him! If his heart was filled with hatred, these blessings would not come to him!
It is not that God is unwilling to bless believers; it is that too many believers hold onto hatred and refuse to forgive, preventing blessings from entering! Some may not fully understand what this means. Let me share simply: God is willing to fill our hearts with blessings, peace, and joy. But if we constantly cling to the harm others have done to us, our hearts will be filled with hatred and unforgiveness. We may even lose sleep at night, have troubled dreams, feel anxious, and become depressed. These are not given by God. But if you do not let go of past hurts, how can peace and joy fill you?
Many people simply pray: "Lord, let your peace fill me!" But they are unwilling to let go of past hatred. During prayer or while listening to hymns, they may feel peace, but once the music stops or the prayer ends, they immediately return to the past.
What is the best way? Learn to let go. Some may say, "I want to let go, but I can't." As long as you have the heart to do so, the Holy Spirit can help you. You can pray: "Lord, I am willing to let go of the hatred and unforgiveness from the past, but I cannot do it. Please help me, Holy Spirit!" If you pray this way, the Holy Spirit can help you.
How did Joseph understand this? Joseph received comfort from God. Joseph clearly stated: "You meant it for evil against me." He understood the harm he suffered in the past. If it were not for his brothers' malicious harm, he would not have reached his current position. All the stumbling blocks in the past now appear to be stepping stones for Joseph to rise to the highest place. Once Joseph understood this, he was released.
If it were not for the grievances and pain Joseph suffered in the past, he would not have learned to cling tightly to God. When he was in a high position, perhaps he would have been pushed down by others! If he had not understood these matters from God's perspective, he would not have cherished the blessings he currently possesses, which can save many lives during the years of famine.
Seeing that the blessings he possesses now come from God, he understood that God's intention was good, to preserve many lives, not only to save his brothers and family but also to save many lives. This indicates that at this point, Joseph was already concerned about the lives of the people.
Our inability to let go is merely due to a narrow mindset and limited vision. We always focus on our small piece of land at home, on trivial matters, which prevents us from seeing God's greater blessings. If you can stand at a high place and look down, many things will become clear. Hallelujah! I hope every brother and sister can view the world from God's perspective, from Jesus's perspective, and from the perspective of the Gospel. When you look at the problems you are currently facing, you will find that they are truly insignificant. Amen. Our lifetime is very short; do not spend it calculating others or your own gains and losses. Instead, like Joseph, rely on God in everything, and God will accomplish His beautiful blessings in your life. You can not only save yourself but also save those who listen to you.
Finally, let me share one more point: Joseph is very similar to Jesus in many aspects. He is a shadow of Jesus Christ, or we can say Joseph foreshadowed Jesus.
Let me briefly share with you as you read the latter half of Genesis; it may help you to see their astonishing similarities.
First, Joseph is the most beloved son of his father, and Jesus is the beloved Son of our Heavenly Father. Joseph was sent by his father to check on his brothers, and Jesus was sent by the Father to visit and save the Israelites, who are also the brothers of Jesus. As a result, he was hated, plotted against, and abandoned by his brothers.
Jesus came into the world to bless the Israelites, but the scribes and Pharisees, those Israelites, did not appreciate it. They thought Jesus had ulterior motives, so they abandoned and killed Him. Jesus had no choice but to turn to the Gentiles, just as Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and entered Egypt.
When Jesus served on earth, He served the Israelites like a servant and also served the church. Later, the establishment of the church was primarily for the Gentiles. After Joseph became famous in Egypt, Pharaoh gave him a wife who was also a Gentile. He married a Gentile, and Jesus established the church, accepting the Gentiles. This is often referred to as Jesus being the bridegroom and the church being the bride, which is the current situation.
Similarly, what other characteristics do they share? Joseph was exalted after suffering, and Jesus was also exalted by the Father after suffering! Lastly, there is an unfulfilled part: when famine came, Joseph's brothers were compelled to go to Egypt to buy grain, and in the end, they recognized each other. This matter has not yet been fulfilled spiritually. What does it refer to? One day, the world will face a global famine and great wars. When disasters come, the Israelites, that is, the current Israelites, will have nowhere to turn and will seek help from the God of the Gentiles. What they do not expect is that the God of the Gentiles is actually the Jesus they abandoned. In the end, Jesus will recognize them, and they will be reconciled as brothers, and forgiveness will be granted, concluding everything.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus is blessed; He is our example, just as Joseph is blessed and is our model to follow. May every brother and sister imitate Jesus and Joseph in life, and God is willing to grant you all kinds of blessings, the blessings of your ancestors, like the everlasting hills. God is willing to bestow these blessings upon Joseph, upon Jesus, and also upon you. May every brother and sister resolve to rely on God in everything and live for God's glory, and you will surely receive abundant blessings. Amen.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Thank you for allowing us to see life through the twelve tribes of Israel and for letting us learn from Joseph. I am willing to rely on God in everything like Joseph and to be blessed like Joseph, becoming a blessing to many.
You bless the work of my hands and make me a channel of blessings! I help more people, not for myself, but to manifest God's glory! Please grant me all kinds of wisdom, and let me meditate on your words daily! Thank you and praise you. Please use me; I am here.
Lord, thank you for comforting and encouraging me through these words. Serving you in my life is the greatest glory. As a new week begins, let me experience you in everything I do, seeing your beauty and blessings in my endeavors. I am willing to receive your love and pass it on! Thank you and praise you; all glory belongs to you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
New Public.jpg