Joseph was a true hero and he changed his world. There’s a lot of things we can learn from young Joseph. In his story, we discover how we can overcome envy, how we can face adversity, how we can resist sexual temptation, how we can have faith in the promises of God—but the most significant takeaway truth in the life of Joseph, in my opinion, is how to forgive those who have horribly wronged you.
If anyone could’ve had an excuse for turning out bad, it was Joseph. He lived in the middle of a family dominated by lying, deceit, immorality, manipulation, and even murder. He could’ve blamed his mom and dad for all of the problems of his life. He could’ve played the victim card big time, yet amazingly he turned out to be a very godly young man with a sterling character. So, if you live in a messed up, dysfunctional home take heart because it was really bad for Joseph and he was able to come through it.
Practical Principles
- Joseph knew that God is sovereign. Nothing comes into the life of a Christian that has not been first approved by God. God is in control and Joseph knew that.
- Joseph knew that God is good. The things that come into our lives by God’s sovereignty are ultimately for our benefit and for the benefit of others.
- Joseph forgave. Forgiven people should be forgiving people. If you want to live a happy, healthy, and blessed life, learn how to forgive.
Relevant Reminders
- When we’ve been hurt, we have a choice. We can rehearse what happened or we can release it.
- Envy is, as Shakespeare called it, the green-eyed monster. It makes you pull others down to your level.
- In a lot of ways, Joseph was like Jesus Christ.
Applicable Actions
Maybe you are bound up in bitterness right now and you haven’t been able to forgive. You need to. The more you know about God’s willingness to forgive you, the more you’ll be willing to extend that same forgiveness to others.
