Genesis 39

Bible Passage:  Genesis 39

Whenever we talked about heroes, we would often think about superheroes like Superman, Spidey or the X-Men.  Or maybe the hero that saves the damsel in distress in the movies or the war heroes that liberated the oppressed in the wars.  Or it may even be your father, teacher or classmate.

They are heroes not just because of their ability to save people and fight for the weak.  They are heroes also because they inspire us to be like them… to be better in our lives and to do more than what we can or are doing now.

When asked who his hero was, one of my good friends in church said – Joseph.

Indeed, from Genesis 37 to the end of the book, we will be reading much about Joseph and his life is a series of inspirational lessons for us to learn from, aspire to and follow.  And when I think more about it… yes, Joseph is indeed my hero too… and when I grow up.. I want to be just like him.

“How Can I Do This Great Wickedness and Sin Against God?”

It is hard to read chap 39 and not talk about how Joseph resisted the advances of his mistress by uttering these immortal words…. words that all of us would do well to remember and use as a motto in our lives.

As this has been talked about many times before, I do not want to dwell on this too much.

Except to say that it is remarkable that Joseph could still preserve his integrity and holiness after all that has happened to him.  I mean… look at him.

If anyone had a dysfunctional family, he had. Father and uncle with a long history of feud.  10 brothers from different mothers.  Mother died while giving birth to his brother.  Sister got raped and brothers massacred the rapist and gang.  Brother commits incest with one of father’s wives.  Another brother has children with his daughter in law. And his brother plainly did not like him one bit.

Whew!  One would not be in the slightest bit surprised if he had turned out as a bad apple.

But he did not.  Remarkably, Joseph displayed the great consistency in his faith in God and refused to commit a grave evil after all the bad things that had fallen on him.  Even when no one could see it.

Why?  And how?

The Bible does not give us a clue as to why was Joseph so different from his other brothers.  But it is obvious he loves the Lord God dearly and knew clearly what a believer of God should do.  He was close to God enough to be careful with his actions wherever he was.  And that is a very important lesson and reminder for us today.

Which leads me nicely to the main point that struck me today about Joseph…

Bloom and Excel Wherever You Are

Joseph would eventually bvecome the second in command over all of Egypt.  But in his early years, he was a household servant.  He could have complained about his lowly position and consider it as a waste of time.  But he was faithful in the assignment that God had given him.  So faithful that his master, Potiphar elevated him to second in command in the household.  This would be excellent preparation for the responsibilities that would later come Joseph’s way.

Sometimes in church, we may be given church work that we may deem as too ‘lowly’ and not befitting our abilities.  We think that since we are capable of doing more, we should be doing more and not be ‘wasting’ our time and talents on this lowly work.

But Joseph’s example encourages me to be patient and not feel frustrated if I am in a position with lower responsibilities.

Another point.  You know, most of us will do our best as long as circumstances reward our efforts.  But what happens if we work for a less than ideal boss?  Or if our company seems satisfied with mediocrity.  Or if we are treated unjustly?  Are we as willing to pursue excellence when things are not going our way?

Joseph is an encouragement to anyone who lives and labours in a less than perfect world.   Unjustly jailed because he spurned the advances of his mistress, he soon became the warden’s assistant in the prison.  His proven ability was so strong that his keepers did not even bother to check his work.  They trusted him implicitly.

So despite being framed, Joseph continued his pursuit of excellence by applying himself to the task at hand rather than focus on his misfortune.  He turned his hardships into opportunities for diligence and focus.

God honoured his attitude and blessed him so that we see the successes he had later on.

But it reminds me again that wherever we are and whatever we do… if we honour God in our work and pursue with an attitude of excellence, God will reward us.  It may not be, like Joseph’s case, a reward of power and prestige.  But the Bible makes this promise…

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Colossians 3:22-23

God will reward you according to how you do your work cause our labour for Him will never be in vain.

Joseph is also now my workplace hero.  Cause he shows me and inspires me to the same level of integrity and excellence in my work that will bring glory and honour to God.