OT: Character Sketch of Joseph

CHARACTER SKETCH OF JOSEPH

Old Testament History and Literature

1. What The Scripture Says About Joseph
1. Major Events
2. Scripture’s Evaluation of Joseph
2. How Joseph’s Life is an Example for Christians
1. Joseph’s Leadership Qualities
2. How Joseph’s Story Applies to Christians

What the Scriptures Say About Joseph

Major Events

The story of Joseph is found in Genesis 37-50. He is seventeen when Scripture begins to detail his story. Joseph is one of two sons of Jacob (Israel) and Rachel, and he had ten half brothers. He was a shepherd, and his father’s favorite. Jacob had made Joseph a coat of many colors, and his brothers were sorely jealous. Joseph would have dreams that implied that his brothers and parents would serve him one day, and this added fuel to the fire for the brothers. One day they sought to exact their revenge on Joseph, and threw him into a pit with no water. Not long after, the bitter brothers sold Joseph into slavery for silver, and connived a story for their father that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animals.

Joseph finds himself in Egypt and works diligently for Potiphar, a prominent Egyptian. He did well there, and was put over all the Potiphar owned. While he was away, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph, but he escaped from her. She was very cunning and powerful, however, and had convinced her household and husband that Joseph had tried to persuade her. Joseph was thrown into prison. While in prison he interpreted dreams for the Pharaoh’s household staff. Pharaoh had a fitful dream and called upon Joseph to interpret it. Joseph predicted the rise and fall of nations and of feast and famine in the land. Pharaoh was so impressed that he promoted Joseph to oversee the abundance of the land to be stored for the famine. At the close of Genesis 41, Joseph is indeed very powerful and successful in Egypt.

During the famine, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for supplies. Joseph does not let on his identity but tests them. He sends the brothers back for Benjamin to see the veracity of their story. He also tests them by hiding “stolen” money and items in their grain sacks. Finally the brothers pass all tests of character and it is a very touching moment when Joseph weeps with joy as he reveals himself to his brothers. He blesses them abundantly and sends for his father and makes arrangements to provide for his entire family to move to the land of Goshen in Egypt.

Scripture’s Evaluation of Joseph

The Bible portrays Joseph as a diligent worker, a discerning follower, and a benevolent brother. Joseph’s diligence is shown as soon has he introduced in Scripture. As a shepherd he took his job seriously and reported to his father, his overseer, of his brothers’ indolence in the fields. Joseph also started out as a slave in Egypt and worked his way up to the master of prominent Potiphar’s household. Again Joseph found himself in the pit again as he is in the Egyptian jail, but not for long. By God’s sovereignty he is promoted from the lowly prisoner to second in command over all of the land. Joseph’s work ethic was to do what God gave to him with diligence!

As a discerning follower of YHWH, Joseph’s mind was attuned to Him. When God have Joseph dreams, he did not second guess himself. He recognized it as a gift from the Almighty and used it to His glory.

Being a benevolent brother must have been very hard for Joseph. He knew his worth and value, but his brothers did not. They treated him with the dishonorably, and had hurt Joseph deeply. When they are finally reunited, one would notice that Joseph does not immediately run into their arms. He has to test their remorse. When he realized that his brothers’ hearts were changed, he finally revealed himself to them with his whole heart. Out of his benevolence and forgiveness he provides for their needs, and allotted a place for them in Egypt.

How Joseph’s Life is an Example for Christians

Joseph’s Leadership Qualities

God formed Joseph in to a leader that had essentially saved both Israel and Egypt. Because Joseph listened to God, he did not fail when he was sent to Egypt. In a land that was completely foreign to Him, he obeyed God’s voice and prospered. Genesis 45:7-8 says “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God”. God gave Joseph character, faith, and a vision.

Joseph built up character through the hardships he faced. His brothers hated him, his father hushed him, his family washed their hands of him, his master’s wife tricked him, and he was forgotten by those whom he had helped in prison. Through all of this Joseph was stripped so that he was only able to rely on God to see him through, to deliver him. And he was obedient.

Another leadership quality that Joseph had was integrity. He could not lie to his father about the shepherding style of his brothers. He wanted his father to prosper with the least bit of waste. Joseph also showed integrity when he refused Potiphar’s wife. We know this must have been a difficult position for Joseph, but because he had already set his mind to following God, he did not fall to her advances.

The last leadership quality that Joseph had was vision. Joseph was a careful planner. He had long term goals and ideas that were will constructed and accurate. When Pharaoh asked him for advice, Joseph responded with a clear plan. He had a strategy for the famine to come. When he sent his brothers for his family to move to Egypt, Joseph had a proposition ready to make the move easiest for them. 

How Joseph’s Story Applies to Christians

Joseph’s story has an abundance of practical truths for Christians. It also contains a few keys for parents. First, it is important not to pick favorites from one’s children. Second, It is important, however, to spend time with one’s children to instill in them a knowledge of the Holy One, and to listen to His voice. At the age of seventeen Joseph already understood this. 

Third, Christians must be diligent with the work that the Father has given them. This is a testimony of His goodness, and he will bless the efforts of his children. Fourth, Christians must have a mindset that reflect’s God’s character, and they must stick to it. If Joseph had not guarded himself against temptation, he would have been at the mercy of Potiphar’s wife. Fifth, It is important to know your spiritual gift, and to use it for the glory of the Father. Joseph knew that his dreams were from the Lord, and utilized it to further God’s kingdom. 

The last thing that Christians can learn from the story of Joseph is forgiveness. If Joseph did not learn to forgive his brothers, he would have missed out on the blessings of having a family surrounding and supporting him. He would have also been out of God’s will, since He had divinely purposed for Israel to move to Egypt for provision.

Book Critique: The Knowledge of the Holy (Tozer)

This book has inspired me to open my mind to the complexity of the Almighty God. The Knowledge of the Holy impresses the reader with the absolute magnitude of an infinite God. It encourages the reader to explore the details of His intricate personality to the greatest extent that created beings could discover. This book does not just gloss over well-read descriptions. The text brings new and old adjectives to light, makes point of new concepts, and defines terms in such a way that it only brings more glory to the Most High.

The beginning of the book emphasizes the importance of knowing who God is. Of course when we assume that God is a god that he had the highest score in every single aspect, and we do well to think that highly of Him. However, God is not just the Great One, he is infinitely higher than we can imagine, and higher than it is possible to imagine, as the word “infinite” suggests. Our knowledge of our Father is directly correlated with the how we react to Him, and to how we allow Him to work through us to others. When we know that our God is more powerful and just than anything we can imagine, then we can believe that for ourselves and hold on to the promise that He will never change. This translates to knowing that we have power through Christ, and that his omnipotence can more than tackle any struggle that we have.

The text also stresses how incomprehensible God is to us, and why is encouraging to us. As finite creature we attempt to put a label on God, to wonder about Him based on our own experiences and learning attitudes. We “judge” the Creator based on our own report cards. Tozer stresses that this is a very grave thing; it is imperative that we understand that a Great and Holy God has an eternal personality that will be impossible for us to grasp, much less question. It is clear that our providential Father has used Tozer to renew Holiness to His names.

Discipleship in the Church: Position Paper (Hmk #1)

Sara DeVol

Box 161

Discipleship in the Church

February 7, 2011

There Are More Christians Than Disciples In the Church

The tragedy in our churches today is the lack of disciples being raised up from the multitudes of christians. Even more disheartening is that those believers in Christ, who had never been truly discipled, are content to bask in the glamour of the gospel; they accept Jesus into their hearts and take advantage of God for all that He can do for them. These believers have not yet captured the intensity of the great commission, and have yet to empty themselves to be used as God’s vessels. How sorrowful it is that so many believers listen to sermons week after week and are still like the newly born babes in Christ that are described in 2 Peter; they are seeking and longing for the nourishing milk of the Word, but have not put away their hypocrisy, deceit, and slander. Who will feed them if we have no disciples ready to meet the spiritual needs that new christians require?

The hundreds of congregations that meet every sunday are full to the brim with worship leaders, pastors, youth workers, evangelists, ushers, deacons, and board members, women’s ministry leaders, children’s clubs, and other ministries. These churches give altar calls, hold revivals, and pass out conversion cards and Bibles and reap a harvest of new believers. They have the workers, they have the means, and they even have the message of Christ and the power of His sacrifice, but the church today lacks trainers and mentors willing sacrifice the precious time it takes to invest in new believers.

An article recently written titled “Where Have All the Converts Gone?” states that of the new converts to christianity, less than one out of ten of them will stay in church. These new christians have not only heard of the gospel message, but have responded positively by accepting Christ into their hearts. Half of the battle has already been won by then! Where church members need to step up next is in truly involving these new believers into their lives. Jesus himself simply called his twelve disciples to just follow Him; and although he taught them many things, he mostly taught them with his actions. The disciples learned the love of God by being followers of Him. In the same manner we are to show new christians how to “follow” us. This means more than pointing out a reading plan for new believers; this means that we make one on one connections with them. This means taking time out of our busy schedules to learn their names, the struggles they go through, to pray for them, and to show them how to live righteously so that they might be effective in discipling others some day. 

It is to the distress of the kingdom that these new believers are not sought after with diligence to be discipled in their new faith. They need to be taught more than the salvation message. They need to be closely guided and mentored through the storms that lay directly ahead of them. They must learn how to thoroughly search the scriptures and to defend their faith. They need to be filled with the holy spirit, and to receive the baptism of the holy spirit. They to learn to seek after God, to humble themselves before him and to pray for his provision and protection. They must learn how to fast and pray. They have to learn the love of the Father, and how to share their faith with others. They have to be baptized. Properly trained disciples are the fruit of the church. They are the testament to the faith that we believe in. When they learn to abide in Christ, their will be full, and they will be spilling out with the love of Christ. When a true disciple of Christ is living the faith set out before them it creates a powerful reaction: more people will be interested in having changed hearts, and even more lives will be changed. 

Notes on the Christian Family Sermons

Christian Family - 01

God in His infinite wisdom has made man the head of the home. He emphasized this in His Word beginning with the creation account of Adam and Eve and then throughout the New Testament. This does not mean that women are incapable of leading the home, or that they are inferior to men or less intelligent. In fact God has made several women successful ministry, from women pastors to even the founder of Zion Bible Institute. Instead God created it so that men have authority and responsibility as leaders. This means that when it comes to roles in the church women should not be the primary leaders. This is shown specifically because Adam was formed first, and that Eve was the one who was deceived, and yet Adam was the one responsible for her sin. 

While studying the Bible one will find many female spiritual giants. These include Ruth, Queen Esther, Sarah, Deborah Ruth or many others, however either they were not called specifically into being a permanent leader for a male leader was planned for next or because they had forced themselves into power. Christ himself did not diminish the gifts of women in scripture; in fact Christ broke the oppression that was so prominent in a time when women were hardly treated better than slaves. Jesus healed women, ministered to their hearts, minds, and bodies, and surrounded himself with their nurturance. All this was a shock to a culture that did not even allow a woman to have rights. It is so however that Christ did not include women in his twelve disciples, his leaders, nor did he train them in leadership.

When we recount the creation of man in Genesis we can see further into God’s providential plan concerning headship. Firstly, the Creator chose to form Adam first, and then Eve out of his side, instead of two separate equal lumps of the earth. This is important because God brought Eve to Adam, not Adam to Eve, and that points to headship. Secondly, God chose to tell Adam about the forbidden fruit, and had entrusted him the responsibility of informing Eve as well, as the spiritual leader. Thirdly, God recognized the need for Adam to have a helpmeet, and that it was not good for him to be alone. However, God did not fulfill Adam’s need right away, instead He left him in the situation until Adam could realize his own need for a companion while he was naming the paired male and female animals. This act brings so much clarity to God’s intentions for the people He made in His image. God knew that Adam needed a specific helpmeet created for him, and that why he gave women specific roles that are to be used intelligibly. Proverbs acknowledges wise wives as having good business skills, as being nurturers, as having value and as women of integrity and wisdom. 

The scriptures point to the husband’s headship. Having that authority comes with the responsibility of the protection of his wife. This means nurturing her, encouraging all the freedom required to grow to be the asset that had created uniquely for him.

Christian Family - 02

God instituted and ordained marriage. He wanted there to be healthy families and meaningful relationships. The Bible closely identifies the husband and the wife, and considers marriage “the grace of life”. However after sin entered the human race the roles became perverted. Satan has tried to destroy homes by having husbands view women as objects (sexual or otherwise), by compromising his leadership.

Worldly love is object oriented, like idolatry. Our love must be different. It needs to be sacrificial. The Bible commands husbands to love their wives, this also means serving her. All skewed views that the husband has on relationships falls away as he becomes more aware of the love that Christ has for us. 

Self-sacrificing love means a daily dying to self. As the head of the home it is the husband’s responsibility to set the example of going the extra mile, out of his normal tasks and duties but to help out so that his wife is appreciated and his children learn responsibility. The role that a father has should pattern The Father’s love for us; but it is impossible without the holy spirit’s guidance.

Christian Family - 03

Christ sacrificed Himself in order to set us apart. He did this so that we would not have any spot, wrinkle or blemish. This means that we were sanctified by His blood, that our ownership changed when He purchased us, and that we would be associated with the church instead of the world. His word continues to restore us and progressively sanctifies us.

With Christ as the example of headship, the husbands are supposed to pattern Christ. Husbands that dedicate their lives to serving God naturally influence their children and family to do the same. If a husband takes the responsibility of setting up family devotions and prayer, it will be instilled in his children and in turn in his grandchildren as a legacy of his own commitment to Christ. This is how a father is the ‘sanctifier’ for his family.

A husband also ‘sanctifies’ his wife the same way that Christ sanctifies His bride the church. If a husband is giving his wife unconditional love he is nurturing her talents and virtues so that she can be a Proverbs 31 wife. This gives her freedom from frustration which is often the root of unfullfilment.

Christian Family - 04 

Christ sacrificed for and sanctified his church. He is also the ultimate servant. He served his bride, the church, with healings and miracles and wonders. He showed us how to be humble servants, to “wash each other’s feet”.  Even now Christ intercedes to Heaven for his bride, the church.  Ultimately He gave up his own body for the sins of the world in the highest act of servant worship. 

In the same way that Christ turned us from the world to being the church, husbands are also “ecclesiating” their wives. Wives are “called out” from other Christian women. He is servicing her, signifying her, and nourishing her. 

Paul commands husbands to love their wives the way they would love their own bodies, as they are one flesh. He serves her by praying with her, by encouraging her, by ministering to her needs. A godly husband will allow his wife time to develop herself and have her own quiet time or devotions. This is a picture of how God our Father and Provider supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Christian Family - 05

The bond between a husband and wife should be an unbreakable covenant. This bond reflects the faithfulness of Christ. When we sin He is always faithful and just to forgive us. Forgiveness and repentance is so much a part of the whole covenant. We are secure in salvation and we cannot lose it except by our own free will. A spouse should always be confident in their marriage without questioning dedication, for better or worse. This is the choice that they have made at their ceremony.

God’s forgiveness is depicted in the story of Hosea. Even though his wife left him for adultery and prostitution Hosea never stopped loving his wife. He searched for her and bought her back at an auction. In the same way God continually pours out restoration and forgiveness.

The word of God indicates in Genesis 2:24 that a man must leave his family and cleave to his wife. Cleaving is not the same is welding, because welding is two similar elements. Cleaving is like a “gluing together” of two different things without losing the make up of the original objects. 

Christian Family - 06

The society today is not much different from new testament times. People were and still are morally depraved and sexually degenerate. It was more than acceptable to have prostitutes for pleasure, concubines to live with, and wives for procreating (Demosthenes). Orgies, homosexuality, sexually abused children was common. Perversion was acceptable. Divorce was as easy to attain as pirated music is today. For any reason a man could leave his wife, and women had no options. 

Even in today’s “modern” and more “highly evolved” society things haven’t changed much. Especially in the church. Where the divorce rate in churches was 1 in 500 marriages, today’s current generation closely rival’s secular society. 

When Paul calls women to submit to their husbands, it is often misunderstood. This kind of submission is not the same kind of submission that slaves and children fall under (hupakouo). A wife’s submission should be voluntary, as she is deciding to relinquish her rights “in honor preferring one another...” If a christian women is married to a non christian she must submit in all manners as unto the Lord. This means that in spiritual matters she is to follow the commands of the Lord.

Husbands and wives need to have mutual possessiveness and mutual submissiveness. This is mutual fulfillment in marriage, and it is only through the Holy Spirit.

Christian Family - 07

Many women today are trying to find new interpretations of Biblical passages that say that we are all equal in Christ the way that slaves are equal because we no longer have slaves.  They say that all distinctions were superseded by their union in Christ. They must be careful in capturing the context as crucial. They must distinguish between position and function. This command was not bound in culture. Headship was founded in the bible as an institution and slavery was not. 

God has commanded the wife to reverence her husband in all situations. Having reverence is really like having a healthy fear based on respect and affection. This reverence or fear is something that protects the relationship. This fear prevents from harm or danger. Reverence is also built on respect, practically meaning that wives can honor his decisions made.

This command from God is not based on the marital situation. Whether or not the wife has a christian husband or not she is still commanded to reverence him. When wives were brought out of sinful lifestyles in new testament times they often had to return to homes were promiscuity and pagan practices were still observed. No matter the toll on the wife Peter still outlined that a wife’s response must be reverence. Her duty of love is not selfishly on her own happiness but is an attitude that reflects God’s irrevocable love. This is her “silent witness”.

The graces of a woman comes from her fellowship with her Creator. Her godly spirit shows that she has died to herself and her fleshly emotions and  has chosen to have the mind of Christ.

Christian Family - 08

Man’s sin nature is imbedded into everyone, including children. It is imperative that Christian parents realize their responsibility to train these little sinners into morally upright Christ followers. Mothers and fathers teach best by example. If the heart of the parent is fully anchored on God and if they parent understands and receives Godly discipline he will be able to show his children how to live. When we deal with out own faults and spiritual downfalls, they are less likely to reappear in our children. If we don’t address these matters then they are often even more exaggerated in the child as he grows older.

Parents must protect their children from bad manners, ungodly values, detrimental attitudes, and negative influences. When children understand that their parent’s relationship with God is authentic, then they have a healthy view of spiritual matters, and don’t view spirituality as a prison of rules, but as freedom in Christ.

Prior to the fall, man was naturally drawn to God and to worshipping the Creator. After the fall man reversed his worship to himself and idolatry. He is now inclined against worshiping God. The only thing that can overcome this concept is the unconditional love of Christ and the work of the holy spirit.

Parents are the first line of authority and didacticism in training up their childrenThe church must reinforce the values that are taught in the home, as a secondary teacher.

Christian Family - 09

Families should have very well defined spiritual goals for their children. They should set internal spiritual goals such as that their children understand prayer. They also need to set practical ways to live out their faith like having their children active in a local church ministry. Children also need to be encouraged to have a passion for the great commission, so that they can be a witness to others. These goals can be accomplished by parents with the help of the Holy Spirit, with prayer and by pursuing three spiritual goals of their own.

The first steph is to set an example to their children. It is imperative that parents are filled by the holy spirit, otherwise they would be striving by their own strength. That will produce great children but not Godly children. It is not hard to show ones kids the value of reading the bible, of prayer, and of attending church and of worshipping God  if the parent has no hesitation to doing those things himself.

  The second step is through formal instruction. Teaching your children Biblical principals yourself is of utmost importance. It is commanded in Deuteronomy. The parent must do this diligently and with patience and planning.

The third and final step is through informal instruction. The Bible calls us to be ready in season and out of season. It is imperative for the parent to find biblical lessons from everyday experiences in order to practically teach their children. This should be so easy because God’s work and involvement is apparent everywhere.

Christian Family - 10

Our world today is entirely perverse and completely depraved. It has always been and it always will be. God has commanded us to be separate from the darkness of the world. He shows us this best through his protection and sanctification of Israel. He chose to raise up a holy nation to be separate from the corrupt world system.

Parents must set a Godly example in a world that is fully turned away from the Creator. This society is perverse in every manner. They can take away prayer and the Bible from schools but encourage diabolical literature. Higher education emphasizes immoral concepts. All Biblical ideas are being tossed out with the trash. This includes all authority, punishment, free religion, and even nationalism.

The devil is cunning and sly. We must watch closely for corrupt attitudes that could escalate into devastation. One should not spoil his child, not teach him the Bible, remove him from all personal responsibility and fight around him, and see what happens. These little habits can corrupt the whole of a man.

Nothing can stand up to the word and the truth of God’s word actively working in a Christian parent. This parent disciplines appropriately, regularly reads his or her Bible, and exercise the fruits of the spirit. Moms and dads are always speaking with their actions that what they do is right, and what they say is okay.

Conclusion

The deep and thorough research that has gone into preparing these sermons has taught me so much more than stories or experience ever could have. I have a new appreciation for the Bible because I can see clearly how it is applicable to every day life. I now understand the infinite connections in the gigantic web of God’s plan.

Concepts that I always had questions about are now made self explanatory when compared to the examples that the Scriptures lay out. I understand the trinity and unity in headship so much better. I understand the importance of discipline and reproof and reverence because I can see how God uses these things to protect and promote me in His kingdom for His work.

The concept of the “first shall be last” is patterned all over scripture, but definitely in headship. When a leader has God-given authority he must serve the people he is over, whether it be his wife, family, church, or other institutions. In this way he is like Christ to his bride the church.

The command to “leave and cleave” is so much clearer now that I understand what cleaving really entails. I feel protected and love by God that he had planned this for my life, that He had instituted a concept that would enhance my abilities in Him and instill unity and protect me from harmful decisions.

Most importantly I understand that developing my walk with God and pursuing his righteousness consistently holds long term benefits for my marriage, family, and ultimately the world as a whole