Be Thou An Example Like Joseph

                              Be Thou An Example Like Joseph

                                                                       Noah Olson

One Biblical Character that I love to go to for an example is Joseph. Looking back at his life we can see that he was one who was faithful unto the almighty God. I want to look at 3 different things today. Temptation, Forgiveness, and Love. As we look at Joseph's example, let us try to mirror our example to one faithful character.

Joseph throughout his life was faced with many trials. He was faced with the hatred of his brothers, (Gen 37:4) the betrayal of his brothers by beating him and selling him(Genesis 37:12-36), and being asked to commit fornication twice.(Gen 39:7-12) But throughout all of this, he found grace in God's eyes.(Gen 39:4)  With the examples shown, he resisted the temptation and followed what God would have him to do.. (Gen 39:9). Are we willing to face temptation like Joseph? Are we willing to resist the devil? We are tempted every day, but are we willing to resist it? Some do but many fail. We need never blame God for our failure(James 1:13-16) but ourselves. Joseph never blamed God for what happened to him. He trusted God would be with him even through the hardest of times(1 Cor 10:13). He faced temptation with God right beside him. We can but how? How can we resist the devil? Consider  what James says in James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
We must submit to God, meaning study God's word and use it against the devil.It is effciant and works(Heb 4:12) Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11. Joseph faced the temptations of this world by remaining steadfast and unmovable and always abounding in the work of the LORD(1 Cor 15:58)



Second and Thirdly, I want to look at the great Love and Forgiveness that Joseph showed his brothers. Years after being in Egypt and interpreting dreams(Gen 39-41) Joseph was made 2nd in all of Egypt(Gen 41:40). After all he had been through, he was exalted because he was humble. We see in Gen 42, that his brothers journeyed to Egypt. We see that they lacked food and asked for some from Egypt. Reading Gen 42-44 we can see that they encounter their brother, but no nothing of him and do not recognize his identity. We see that with the great power that Joseph had, he could have returned the favor of what they did to him many years ago. BUT, he would not. He forgave them for what they had done. Are we willing to forgive our erring brother? Do we show great forgiveness to our brethren? If we cannot forgive we cannot be forgiven(Matthew 6:14-15). What great love and forgiveness he showed unto them. God has done the same unto us. He sent His son to die for us(John 3:16) so that we might live with Him if we are faithful. If God has so forgiven us, why can't we do the same to our brothers and sisters? Why can't we show the great love that God has given us? We need remember that true forgiveness is forgetting (Is 43:25) although it is hard to do. Joseph is one example of forgiveness that all should consider and follow. 

 One biblical great that I love to look at. One who knew the truth and obeyed it. One who resisted the devil's temptations and showed love to his brothers even though they didn't deserve it. We don't deserve God's love, but it is through his grace and our obedience that we can be saved. Let us always look at God's Word for our knowledge, truth, and examples of faith.
















  

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