Character study on Joseph, JC 9/02

Joseph demonstrated “Hebrews 11 faith”

Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

Genesis 50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.  25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

Joseph expected God to deliver what He promised because he had seen God’s faithfulness and power.

Heb11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

      Joseph knew that God had a bigger plan, and he exhibited that throughout his life.

Joseph’s faith resulted in faithful character (Spiritual STUD!)

• Stayed the course by persevering through injustice and uncomfortable circumstances

2Thessalonians 1:3-5 “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer”

Revelations 2:3  "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary

• Took the high road of self-control in tempting situations

2Peter 1: 2”Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love“

• Uncommonly forgave those who hurt him because he acknowledged God’s sovereignty  

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Ephesians 4:32  “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

Hebrews 12:14  “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”

• Depended on God’s plan and submitted to His leading

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Joseph modeled character that exemplifies what NT believers should strive toward

Titus 2:6  Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7  in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8  sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

God wants us all to have Joseph-like faith.

Questions for discussion:

1.      What can you expect when you exhibit faith in your choices and character?  What does God promise to those who have faith?

2.      If you’re going through hard times how do you know if it’s God refining you or if God is trying to get your attention?

3.      Can you think of ways that you had to build self-control into your life?  What has helped you to do that?

4.      Do you have any Joseph-like experiences?  (Things that may have looked bad but it was part of God’s bigger plan to bring about good.)

5.      What may have happened to Joseph if he’d given into temptation?  What if he had developed bitterness toward others?

6.      How has Joseph’s story inspired you to exhibit faith in your life?