Of all his twelve sons, Jacob favored Joseph because he was the son of his old age (Gen. 37:3). Joseph needed the time as a manager of Potiphars household and a manager of the prison before he became a manager of all of Egypt. Examples of Servant Leadership, Workplace. One day when they were tending their flocks away from home, Jacob sent Joseph to see if all was well with them. His siblings misled their father into thinking that Joseph had been attacked and eaten by a wild animal. He put them through painful tests, but those plans and schemes had a goal. As a person who loves to solve problems, this principle really drives me nuts sometimes. But never once does it say anything about Joseph having to lose pride before he could be a proper leader. These are the generations of Jacob. In Greece, the female name Josephine is Iosifna and used mainly on the island of Crete. Patience and grace are important, as Joseph illustrated. It made him grateful for his private cell, the favor bestowed on the chief scribe to the warden. Wow! Joseph showed tremendous discipline as a leader. And this is where Josephs brothers finally return to the story. Dutripons Latin Bible concordance (Paris 1838) identified 16 people named Joseph in the Bible, 9 of whom featured in the New Testament: Joseph I. Joseph (Genesis). Acknowledging our guilt; resting in His grace. He doesnt get it, doesnt trust my words, and cant understand why I would force him to take the medicine he hates. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. I dont even recognize myself from only 3 or 4 years ago. Whether you are looking for a lesson for a youth, a young adult, or someone well over middle age, part of what makes Josephs life useful for learning virtue is that it follows him from a young age until his death, and even beyond. He brought his whole family to be closer to him, and was finally reunited with his father once again. Every story contains instructive lessons about behavior, righteousness, and what it means to live by Gods Word, whether you are seeking a lesson for a kid, a young adult, or someone who is well past middle age. Relying On Gods Direction Will Help You get Ready For The Future: God gave Joseph the gift of dream interpretation throughout his life. Character Formation. 0000021595 00000 n He was the first son born to Jacob through Rachel, and therefore, he was his fathers favorite son. Will a professing Christian go to hell if he never shares the gospel? There are no steps. Jacob knew that his sons did not like Joseph but had no idea just how much they detested him. He felt ambivalent about them. Joseph did everything right, and still spent thirteen years as a slave or prisoner. Joseph could have become complacent or selfish or a big complainer. Joseph resisted her repeated attempts to persuade him to sin. He was the favored son of his fathers favorite wife, Rachel. These spoke of God as three personsFather, Son, and Holy Spiritexisting together in a single being. There are definitely times to take action and work for change, but there are also times when God simply calls us to wait. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? Learn about good storytelling and the over-arching narrative in the Bible with this free course. His brothers, already jealous, became furious. This was the main purpose that God had for Josephs life. He did a great job and rose to the top position in each setting, but no one was going to let him out.