2. Pharaoh appointed Joseph second in Egypt. “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt” (Gen 41:40- 41). Joseph’s position would have been something like a prime minister in many modern nations.

4. Joseph bragged to his brothers about his dreams (37:5-11). His dream about the sheaves. His dream about the celestial bodies. Bragging causes much strive. “Charity vaunteth not itself” (1 Cor 13:4). The sinful Gentiles boasted (Rom 1:30). When we boast, we focus on what we can do, rather than on what God can do.

6. Joseph’s life changed spontaneously (Gen 37:12-36). Our lives, too, can be changed spontaneously. “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Js 4:13-15). We need to live knowing that our lives can change spontaneously.

8. Joseph resisted the temptation with Potiphar’s wife (Gen 39:7-12). We need this same resolve in resisting temptation. When we are angry, we must not sin (Eph 4:26). We need to put on the whole armor of God so that we may stand in the evil day (Eph 6:13). Our Lord prayed that we would not be led into temptation (Matt 6:13).

10. With all Joseph endured, he remained faithful to God. When Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, his reply was, “How can I sin against God?” The L ORD showed Joseph mercy while he was in prison. When prisoners were troubled by dreams, Joseph said that the interpretations belonged to God (Gen 40:8). Humanly speaking, Joseph had every reason n ot to be faithful.

12. Joseph’s brothers greatly wronged him. Yet, he forgave his brothers (45:1-8). We must forgive those who wrong us. Our forgiveness from God is dependent upon our forgiveness of others (Matt 6:14-15). We are to forgive one another as God in Christ as forgiven us (Eph 4:32).

14. Joseph kept his word to his father. Joseph promised Jacob that he would bury him with his fathers (Gen 47:29-31). Joseph kept that word (Gen 50:4-7). We need to keep our word. We are to let our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No” be “No” (Matt 5:37). We are to speak the truth to our neighbor (Eph 4:25).

16. God continually sharpened Joseph’s life. Over and over Joseph was knocked down, but God would lift him up. “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Gen 45:7). God can work in our lives as well. He will work in any situation (Rom 8:28). How does He do so? Our character may become stronger. We may be able to minister in new ways. We may depend on God more.