Joseph The Learner Joseph A Type of Jesus

Joseph The Learner

Joseph A Type of Jesus • His experience: given over by his own people. 30/20 pieces of silver. • His suffering: stripped naked, put in a well (tomb), rejection • His “death” as far as his father thought. • His resurrection/rise in Egypt • He saves his people. • He forgives those who abandoned him.

• But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isiah 53: 3) • “As for you, you meant evil against me, but (A)God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[a] should be kept alive, as they are today. ” ( Genesis 50: 20).

What a Turnaround in Fortunes: • One day he was his father’s favourite son • The next, he was a slave on the way to Egypt, • The first born of Rachel, Jacob’s favourite wife. • Look where that led him to. • One day, he was a brother • Now he is a bother.

• One day he wore his beautiful coat. • The next he was stripped naked. • One day he was the gifted dream interpreter. • Now all his dreams are shattered. • Beloved of his father. • Now hated by his brothers

How did Joseph React? • No record of Joseph complaining • No record of his pleading with his brothers. • He did not swear at his brothers, nor threaten them. • “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ” (1 Peter 2: 23). • Accepted God’s sovereignty: nothing happens without God’s permission. • Your adversity is God’s university.

1. Humility. • Don’t you know who I am: my father’s favourite • I wear the best coat in the neighbourhood. • Everyone can find themselves in the pit. • 6”Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5: 6 -7) • Occupy you dark dungeon with humility.

2. Acceptance Often the first response to adversity is “why me? ”. . . ( why not me) • No self pity. (Anderson) • Did not grumble. • Thy will be done. • No name it and claim it; no “I will make you the head and not the tail”

"No, I've never asked the question, "Why me? " but I have asked the question, "Why not me? " I am not promised, simply because I am a Christian, that I will be delivered from all difficulties in this world. I am, however, promised that in the midst of difficulties, God through Christ will be present with me, and will give his grace to help me cope with the difficulties and bear witness to Him. After all, the stars shine brightest in the desert. “ (Norman Anderson)

3. The Pit is a Place of Reflection • The Pit may be : • • • Loss of employment Bereavement Financial loss Broken relationship Disease • Mature faith turns affliction into an opportunity for reflection. • Reflection leads to self discovery, praise and perhaps repentance. • (Genesis 37: 2). Joseph may have reflected over his being a tattle-tale, spying on his brothers.

3. Reflection Don’t brag: (The immaturity of youth) • His dreams that one day his brothers will bow to him, were true. But did he really need to brag? (Genesis 37: 11 -15) • Mary Mother of Jesus: “and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ” (Luke 2: 18+19) Not all of God’s personal revelation is for immediate celebration. • In Decapolis, people brought Jesus a deaf and mute Man: Jesus heals him and “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone”. (Mark 7: 36)

4. Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones, But It is Well with my soul? • We place too much emphasis on the physical and material. • Why is “our daily bread” not at the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer? • Paul was not healed of his “thorn in the flesh” • Job was riddled with disease. • Lazarus the poor man was not healed of his ulcers which dogs licked, but his soul was saved.

5. Trust in God: • Hebrews 13. 5 -6 we read “God has said, 'never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. ' so we say with confidence, 'the Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. what can man do to me? '“ • May have heard his father Jacob repeat God’s promises: “I will…watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28 verses 13 -15) • (Jeremiah 17: 5). Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength • (Psalm 118: 8) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

6. Patience • Doubtful whether Joseph’s brothers or his new masters gave him a programme or a schedule. • He must have been dying to know: what next? Where are you taking me? When will I see my father? • He says, "Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46: 10) • “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ” (Isaiah 40: 31) Be still and know

7. Surrender: • Do not deserve the dizzy heights, if you are not prepared to visit the valley first. Jesus “Instead, entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. ” (1 Peter 2: 23) • Do not lean on your own understanding. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3: 5 -6)

8. Chosen by God, rejected by men Men’s no, is often God’s yes. God often chooses the least likely in the eyes of men No prophet is accepted in his own hometown Men honour the eldest, handsomest/strongest: God chose the youngest and shortest (cf David) • “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118: 22) • God chose his son to be born in the humblest hamlet in Palestine (Bethlehem) and to live in Nazareth. • • • He was not a professor of theology; just a carpenter • Jesus chose fishermen, not sophisticated boffins.

9. Do not Lose Sight of Your Calling • If God gives you a vision, Satan will provide a villain on the way. • “What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” ( 2 Tim 3: 11 -12) • Joseph must have known, his life had a major purpose. • He could have lost heart and given up at so many junctures. • “press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. ” (Philippians 3: 14)

Summary: Joseph learnt: • Humility • Acceptance • Well with my soul. • Trust • • • Reflection Patience Surrender Chosen By God Calling