GOD, THE CENTER OF JOSEPH’S LIFE

Genesis 39:6b-41:57, Key Verse 41: 51

Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 

Who likes proud and complaining people? Just as I thought, no one. But we all love Joseph because in all situations he was humble and thankful. Because of his struggle to believe that God was the center of his life, he was always humble and thankful and even became the tool through which God could feed the world, save many lives, and keep his redemptive plan moving forward. Through today’s message, may God bless us to invite God into the center of our life like Joseph. 

Part I: Joseph was put in prison (39:6b-40:23) When Joseph was in charge of Potiphar’s house, his situation started to look a bit brighter and his life had improved. But then one terrible temptation came. You see Joseph was well-built and handsome and Potiphar’s wife probably flirted with him and then tempted him every day. To a young man who was in his twenties, it was an unbearable temptation. But Joseph did not listen to her and did not even go near her. Like when you play with fire, you are bound to get burned. Joseph avoided her like you would avoid a raging forest fire. One day, he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the other household servants were inside. Potiphar's wife caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" Joseph could have justified himself by sleeping with her, thinking that he was just following orders as a slave. Also, the custom of the time allowed for such behaviors. 

In such an environment, it seemed to be very natural to accept her suggestion. So Joseph could have enjoyed sin once. He could enjoy the pleasures and he could manipulate her to trade for his own freedom. However, if Joseph fell into the temptation once, he would lose his purity and fall into a pit without limit. Then the Spirit of God could not be with him. He could not be used by God for his redemptive work. In order to be used by God, we must win victories against worldly temptations (2 Ti 2:19-22). Joseph was in the position where he could fall into temptation or win a victory against it. No doubt, it was a powerful trial for Joseph.

How did Joseph overcome such a powerful temptation? Look at 39:8, 9; “But he refused."With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" Joseph first remembered his master’s grace upon him. He did not want to betray his trust. He knew that the Lord was looking at all of his actions. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” Joseph feared God and lived in the sight of God. He fought against his sin with all of his strength. 

When Joseph was caught by Potiphar's wife, he did not hesitate but he booked and he left his clothes behind. He refused sin with his whole body. When we are young, we have an unlimited possibility to grow. At the same time, we have a great possibility to sin because the desires of our sinful nature are very strong. There are many young men who want to be great men, but fail because they fall into their temptation. Such temptation cannot be overcome by our own will power. A psalmist agonized over this topic in Psalm 119:9, 10, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” Then he got the answer; “By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” 

Only when we live according to God’s word, can we be filled with the Spirit and overcome temptation of sin and live a pure life. When we live a pure life, we can be used by God preciously. Joseph could overcome his severe trial, but his situation became worse. When Potiphar’s wife was rejected by Joseph, she claimed that he tried to rape her. When Joseph ran away leaving his clothes, she was enraged. She turned from a woman who was filled with lust into a woman who was filled with anger. She thought that Joseph insulted her. She knew that the clothes would be used as evidence against her if she did not accuse him first. She appealed to Potiphar and the other slaves’ potential jealousy. 

When Potiphar heard her story, he burned with anger. If the story was true, severe punishment should be given to Joseph. Probably capital punishment would be proper. However, Potiphar did not kill Joseph. Furthermore, he did not put him in a prison for common criminals but in the prison where the king's prisoners were confined. Joseph was put in prison with a charge of rape. He knew that he was totally innocent, and Potiphar’s wife was totally wrong. However, he was silent. His silence reminds us of Christ who did not open his mouth like a sheep before a shearer. The world was so wicked that it trampled down Joseph who struggled so hard to a live pure life. Joseph wanted to be a leader, but he was a slave and now he had gone even lower as he was now a prisoner. He had hit the bottom, cut a hole in it and continued falling down the bucket of society. He went down alright--however, there was God behind the scene. 

When Joseph was in prison, what was the most painful thing? It was probably people’s misunderstanding and condemnation. Most of all, he could have doubted the love of God, and his relationship with God could have been damaged. “Why did my situation become worse when I tried to live before God?” “Is the Lord truly with me and does he truly love me?” He could have fallen if he allowed such doubt to creep into his mind. But he did not waver because he walked with God. The world could bind his body in chains, but it could not bind his faith. When he walked with God, even the prison was heaven. God was with Joseph and helped him. 

Look at 39:21; “The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” The Lord’s grace given to Joseph was not to be released from the prison immediately, but to give him strength to overcome this difficult situation. The Lord was with Joseph and strengthened him inwardly. So Joseph could overcome his challenging environment. He was faithful even in prison through the Lord’s help. Then Joseph found favor in the eyes of the prison keeper and he was made responsible for all that was done in the prison. Even in prison, Joseph revealed the Lord. He revealed God’s presence wherever he was, and the Lord confirmed it with his help. Joseph’s experiences in Potiphar’s house and the prison were necessary for him to work as prime minister in Egypt later.

Jim Morris was a star baseball pitching prospect and a young man like Joseph. He was drafted 4^th overall coming out of college in 1983. However because of arm injuries and a retirement, and a comeback, he did not make it to the major leagues until 1999, some 16 years after he started. How long did Joseph live as a slave and prisoner? It was for 13 years. 13 years is too much for a young man to waste as a slave and prisoner. However, in God’s plan, it was not wasted, but a necessary process for him to become a great man. Joseph thought that he was qualified to be a leader at the age of 17. But the Lord put him in a fiery furnace for 13 years until he became 30 years old. We know the difference between Saul and David. Saul was raised up as a leader without discipline, and David was trained severely for 10 years after he was anointed as king. Moses received 40 years of discipline in the desert, and Apostle Paul had to spend 3 years for special training after he met the Risen Jesus. 12 disciples of Jesus also received 3 years of training from Jesus.

When Joseph was in charge of the prison, sometime later the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who offended their master were put in prison. A cupbearer was responsible for all kinds of drinks. The baker was responsible for all foods. According to tradition both of them were put in prison because poison was found in the food and drink of Pharaoh. When both of them denied it, they were put in prison until the truth could be found. Joseph took care of them not superficially but wholeheartedly. One day he saw that both of them were depressed. Both of them had different dreams and they did not know the meaning of them and they were anxious about them. 

Joseph told them, “"Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams" (8b). Joseph heard the story of the cupbearer and interpreted it. It was the dream for him to be restored to his position in 3 days. Joseph asked him to remember him when all went well and he was released from the prison. When the baker saw this, he also shared his dream. But his dream was a bad one. Without any compromise, Joseph interpreted its meaning, saying that he would be executed in 3 days. After 3 days, everything was fulfilled as Joseph had interpreted. But the cupbearer forgot Joseph completely. The cupbearer went back to his high position and good life and Joseph had to remain in prison without any hope to be released. Thanks a lot buddy!! His prison life seems to be meaningless and only painful. However, it has God’s amazing will. Joseph’s dream was to become a leader. 

But to be a leader, most of all he must be humble. Also he had to have an inner quality to embrace every kind of person and serve them. He also should learn patience instead of acting according to his emotions and passion. Joseph received humility training by falling to the bottom of society. He also learned how to serve all kinds of needy sinners in the prison. In addition, he learned how to be patient by waiting on God’s time. There is a saying, “Gold is refined in a refinery and man is purified in trails.” The Lord put him in the fiery furnace and disciplined him to be a true man of faith. Joseph’s faith grew deep through these trials, and his inner character became mature. When his faith grew deep and his inner person could embrace the whole world, God raised him up and began to use him preciously. 

Part II: Joseph became a prime minister (41:1-57) Many people easily give up and complain against God even in far less severe trials than those of Joseph. However, Joseph trusted in the Lord even in a hopeless situation. Then finally the Lord’s sovereign will appeared in a dream. After two years, Pharaoh had two strange dreams. He saw many weird cows and heads of grains in his dream (1-7). Then he woke up. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. Then the cupbearer remembered Joseph and introduced him. Joseph was quickly brought up from the prison to Pharaoh.

When a poor foreign prisoner stood before the mighty Pharaoh, he could have trembled violently. But Joseph was not fearful at all because he stood there because of the Lord, and the Lord whom he served was the Creator God who ruled and controlled everything in the world. When he stood before Pharaoh, he could use it as an opportunity to show that he had a special talent. He could ask his release and generous reward on the condition that he could interpret the dreams. But he humbly testified that he did not have such ability at all. If he had, it was because the Lord revealed it to him. In the past, he received his family members’ jealousy because he showed his superiority by sharing his dreams. 

But now he denied his own ability and glorified the Lord for all things, and gained the trust from Pharaoh and all of his officials. He learned humility and patience through his slave and prison life. Instead of pointing out the inability of other magicians and wise men of Egypt and boasting of his ability to interpret, he acted in humility and self control, and he gave all the glory to the Lord. Joseph testified even 4 times that everything came from the Lord. His interpretation was so clear and had authority that no one could doubt what he had said. The Lord gave him his wisdom. He said that 7 years of great abundance was coming throughout the land of Egypt, but 7 years of extreme famine would follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt would be forgotten, and the famine will ruin the land. 

He even suggested an idea to overcome the famine. Egypt was used to living in abundance because of the fertile farmland near the Nile River and they were not ready to think about the coming famine. In order to solve the problem, a national plan was necessary. Joseph’s first suggestion was to look for a wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. His second suggestion was to appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the 7 years of abundance. The plan seemed good to Pharaoh. He said, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" and appointed Joseph as prime minister. He gave Joseph his signet ring and a wife. Joseph had been made from a slave in prison to vice-Pharaoh in one day.

Joseph had been a foreigner and a prisoner. He was not in any high position and he did not have any special education for such a high position. He was only 30 years old. But amazingly he became the second man in command in Egypt. Now the reason why Joseph had to go through such painful discipline as a slave and prisoner became obvious. When a man gets such a high position, suddenly he can ruin his life out of his pride. But Joseph was well disciplined. He realized that it was the Lord who disciplined him. The Lord gave Joseph the dreams and fulfilled them 13 years later after long and with severe discipline. 

Here we learn that ‘the Lord exalts and he humbles’ (1 Sam 2:6-8). Joseph could have been proud without limit when he became prime minister. He could have killed all of his enemies using his power. He could forget about the Lord and did what he wanted to do in the time of blessings. He could stay in his kingly room and order his servants to bring him Hot Pockets all day. But he served the Lord by walking with him whether in the time of troubles or in the time of blessings. This was well revealed when he named his sons. Read verses 51 and 52. “Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." 

Joseph remembered the Lord in the time of his glory and honored God. In all things, he said, “God has made me….” God was the center of his thoughts and life. “The Lord” was subjective and “he” was objective. He acknowledged the Lord’s sovereign will over his life and he gave thanks to God in all circumstances. He loved the Lord and walked with him. His life of faith was completely God-centered. In this way, he overcame his pride and performed the duty of prime minister successfully. Joseph might have wanted to go to Canaan and meet his family members after he became prime minister. But he could not find any time to do so because he gave his whole heart to fulfill his responsibility.

In conclusion, God was the center of Joseph’s life everywhere and all the time. When God was the center of his life, anywhere was heaven. When God was the center of Jesus’ life, even the cross was the entrance of the Kingdom of God to Jesus. We pray that we may overcome our own difficult situations and weaknesses and pride, and live a victorious life by humbly inviting God into the center of our hearts and our lives like Joseph and like Jesus Christ our Lord!