Through the story of Joseph, God tells us about three moral challenges that many Christians easily fail in life.

Rejection

The first is rejection. Rejection is the act of denying your interactions and relationships with others. The pain of rejection can hurt pretty deeply in the heart of the person experiencing rejection. Joseph was rejected by his brothers because he told them the revelation of God. After that, His brothers sold him to be a slave. A 17-year-old boy, being rejected by his family was a devastating experience.

Joseph’s brothers rejected him because what he said was unacceptable behavior in a hierarchical society. Nonetheless, Joseph was not afraid to tell the truth of God. As a result, his dream came true in 13 years. He saved his entire family.

Have you ever hesitated to prove your faith in the name of Jesus with others? Have you ever ignored God's Word when it touched your heart and encouraging you to do something? What about when you are lying in bed trying to sleep and you suddenly have the urge to pray? Have you ever dismissed that thought? It could a Christian rejection of the working of the Holy Spirit in us.

For Christians, God prompts us to pray before he wants us to do something. Christians should respond sensitively to God's guidance.

Discrimination

To discriminate against people because of socioeconomic status and racial differences, another is type of rejection. It hurts someone's God-given dignity, and it is a deep wound in their soul, and that pain doesn't go away with just two Tylenol pills overnight. Rejection from those around you can be one of the hardest things a person can go through.

People can reject other individuals because of their own preference, but God never reject people because of their differences. God's rejection is only for those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior.

False Accusation

The second is a false accusation. False accusation means to say or state the opposite of the truth for one’s own benefit. False accusations are one of ten wrong actions that God doesn’t like because it can ruin someone's career, reputation, and family life. Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph. As a result, Joseph, an innocent man, became a prisoner and it deeply wounded his heart.

Sometimes people can unintentionally share false information about others or gossip about someone behind his or her back. It could be a different type of false accusation. Christians should not make the mistake of misinterpreting the meaning of God's Word and passing it on to other Christians, leading them astray because God will make the price of their lives be on their hands.

Being Forgotten

The last one is being forgotten. Joseph voluntarily helped a man when he was in trouble with an inexplicable dream and pled with him to remember him when all went well. However, the man who was the cupbearer did not remember Joseph, and he forgot him. Joseph’s heart was deeply hurt.

Why did the chief cupbearer so easily ignore Joseph and his earnest request? The cupbearer underestimated Joseph because he judged Joseph by his appearance. Joseph was no longer seen as a helpful person in his life. However, Joseph had values that the chief cupbearer did not know about. It was the value that God put on all humanity when God created them. In theological terms, we call it "the image of God." No one has the right to ignore the image of God in people.

The act of pretending not to see people is another kind of ignoring that diminishes the individual's God-given values and dignity. Especially, in a community of faith, Christians should try to welcome all who come to church because God never ignores his people. Solomon warned in Song of Solomon to catch the little foxes that make holes and spoil the vineyards. It means the little things that we ignore can destroy whole vineyards. If you see people come to our church, please greet each other and welcome them in the name of the Lord.

Joseph’s Support

Psychologists suggest that people need a trusted friend, therapist, or counselor who can provide strategies for coping when they feel rejected, discriminated against, or ignored.

Joseph also had the most trusted person to go to whenever he was rejected by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and forgotten by the person he helped. He had God.

Joseph said in 41:20 “People try to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God is our refuge and strength. When we are weak and troubled, He will always raise you up.

“When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.”

“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

Joseph’s  Blessings

God's blessing was to grant Joseph full recovery from his past sufferings. God fully restored Joseph's reputation and dignity before the people.

God put Joseph on the stage to meet those who rejected him, those who falsely accused him, and those who had forgotten him. When Joseph became the prime minister of the country of Egypt, the king's cupbearer, who forgot him, Potiphar's wife, who falsely accused him, and Joseph's older brothers, who rejected him, all came in Joseph’s presence, and confessed their mistakes and asked for forgiveness from Joseph. Joseph forgave them. That is God's way of complete restoration.

When I was about 18, I was severely harassed and assaulted by 6 or 7 people. They were a year older than me. After that, I was bedridden for about two weeks to recover. That incident is an unhealed wound for me. It was an action taken 30 years ago, but the results of that pain still linger in my mind. Since no one has ever said sorry to me I have never verbally forgiven them yet. I believe that complete healing comes from a sincere apology and complete forgiveness. But I still have unapologetic pain, it is not complete recovery.

Conclusion

I will share two biblical truths through these passages.

Joseph did not follow the customs of this world in any behavior, values, or expectations but pursued spiritual excellence to glorify God. As a result, God gave Joseph his spiritual knowledge and understanding to know God's will for a particular individual, and he received administrative skills to manage people and the ability to accumulate material wealth.

Joseph's story is a snapshot of how God will restore us when Jesus Christ comes to judge those who treat us unjustly in the wrong ways. Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

01.29.2023 Pastor Cloud Poy

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