I can think of no other character in the scriptures that communicate the Biblical thought of faithfulness like Joseph. Yes, we could also consider God’s servant Job, and it would certainly be appropriate to do so; however, even Job is recorded to have engaged in some complaints, but not Joseph. Surely, Joseph complained. After all, he was human, and all humans complain. Personally, I feel certain that there were moments in his life, as he endured the seemingly undeserved trials, that he became frustrated and complained, but that is mere speculation on my part for I have not found evidence recorded in scripture that states that he did.
Yet, Joseph endured hostility from his own and from those of the world. He was persecuted for righteousness sake. There are rabbinical teachings that suggest Joseph a type of Messiah. If David is a type of the Messianic King that Israel awaited, Joseph is a type of the Messiah that suffered. Looking backwards, it’s easy to see that God was preparing His people to understand that Messiah would suffer at the hands of the wicked. Three specific passages that contain information alluding to this truth are found in Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and Zechariah chapter 12. The Psalm written 1,000 years in advance mentions his hands and feet being pierced. Isaiah explains that He bore our transgressions, that He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and that by his stripes we are healed. While Jews may argue that these scriptures do not refer to Jesus, the Holy Spirit through Peter validates God’s truth (1Peter 2:24).
We find in Joseph a uniqueness when compared to all of his brothers in that he is the firstborn of Jacob and Rachel, the wife of Jacob’s affection. The scripture plainly states that he was favored above his brethren by his father, so much that his father made him a special coat of many colors. Joseph had a dream that revealed that his family would bow down to him. The revelation of this dream enraged his brothers with jealousy and hostility; ultimately, stripping him of the honor that was given him from his father and throwing him into a pit.
Matters only worsen when his brothers conspire to sell him as a slave for a few pieces of silver, he is betrayed and treated with the utmost contempt. These parts of the story are so reminiscent of Jesus, the suffering servant described in Psalms, Isaiah and Zechariah. The fact that his brother Judah sold him for 20 pieces of silver and that Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver is amazing by itself, but add to that the fact that Judas is a variation of the Hebrew name Judah and the circumstance becomes undeniably prophetic. Trials and suffering will continue for Joseph. Nevertheless, God’s favor and the hand of His blessing will remain on his servant’s life through the whole process.
The testing of God is so prevalent throughout the pages of this story. From the pit, to Potipher’s house, and from Potipher’s house to the prison and from the prison to the palace, Joseph is tested every step of the way. Behind the scenes, there is a providential string that ties his purpose to Messiah, which ties his purpose to the life of New Testament believers.
This is one of those stories, like Job that make little sense to our minds early in our walk with God. Sometimes, these type of stories may even alarm the new convert into thinking, “Why would God allow such atrocities to happen to these men who loved Him so much and were faithful to Him to begin with?”
This question provides a springboard for thinking through the scriptures. Trial, tribulation and testing are repeatedly found throughout the pages of God’s word: Because of the fall, Adam worked the ground with sweat on his brow, Abraham tarried for the promised seed, Jacob toiled for years before he became Israel in God’s eyes, Moses struggled with the people, David, anointed as king, hid in the cave of Adullam, Solomon wrote about the process of the trial in Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
This theme of struggling and contention will continue in the lives of all humans until the new heavens and the new earth, but only believers have the availability to understand the meaning of all this. Jesus said:
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that earth is not the home or final destination of the people of God. Furthermore, true followers of God cling to the promises and word of God whether or not, they see the promises manifested in their lives currently:
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The words of the preacher [Solomon] must resonate in the hearts of true believers. Born again believers have the Spirit of God living in them, as they approach the scriptures without guile, the Spirit speaks to their yielded hearts and reveals this ancient truth—this earth is not their home. They must embrace deep within that they are pilgrims on a journey in a strange and foreign land and always moving towards the celestial city. Refusing to cling to this ancient Biblical truth, will result in exasperation. The seedling of the gospel that quickly sprang to life will be vulnerable to the scorching of the sun (Matt 13:20,21). The parable never reveals what the stones in the ground specifically were that prevented the root. Instead, it just lets us know that there were stones in the soil that prevented the root from venturing down and when the persecution came, there was no way for the seedling to receive enough nourishment to be sustained—it withered and died.
In these times of trial, the unlearned journeyman is tempted to go against God and His word. He or she will find themselves weary on the battlefield of life and the memories of Egypt (the old life) will begin to whisper their name, promising a welcome home party that will, in reality result in self incarceration.
Solomon, the preacher pondered life through jaded eyes, a man who had yielded to disobedience, taken foreign wives and built altars for their gods; thereby, inviting the gods of their nativity upon the soil that belonged to Yahweh. Should it be surprising that his perception of life would be so pessimistic towards the end? Even still, the preacher came to a rightful conclusion:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Within the stories of Job and Joseph, the pages drip with revelation of a world that is hostile towards the people of God; yet, whispering in the tragedy is the voice of triumph. The narrative of God urges the character and reader alike to forge forward in spite of the pain providing hope that the truth of God’s word is the map towards the destination of God’s will. The treasure searching heart can find meaning for trial and tribulation within the lives of these men. The focus here is Joseph, but let’s glean at least a thought about Job.
The scripture reports Job as a perfect and upright man. The meaning is that he walked with God. His heart’s desire was to please God. He craved moral integrity. If he knew it was wrong, he didn’t do it. If he needed help, he cried out to God. He was a man that loved the Lord. If we were not given revelation, we would be like Job and face trials in such a way that they would have no meaning. One day, we would believe that we were doing right and living for God, and the next day, it would seem that God had forsaken us and left us as a play toy for Satan to torture. Instead, God invites us backstage into the trial of Job, and we learn that there is something larger taking place upon this terrestrial world than human eyes can see. God is waging battle against spiritual entities, and somehow, He’s choosing to engage the battle through the lives of earthlings that are willing to partner with Him in this ancient war.
The trial ensues this way. I imagine it’s a day like any other in the life of Job. The providence of God’s blessing hand is upon him. The sun is shining and pillowy clouds glide across the sky. As Job walks adjacent to his fields, the green grass waves as the gentle breeze skips across its tops. Surely, he views the birth of at least one animal during this morning stroll. Whether it be a camel, a sheep or an oxen, I do not know, but it’s hard to imagine that just based upon the sheer number of his herds, that he has not seen at least one birth during this week if not this specific day, and then the report of the messenger with tragic news that all of his children are dead in one moment of time. And what Job doesn’t know at that moment, or at any moment that I have found is what we are given privilege to know:
Job 1:6-12 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
God, Himself is in a battle, and He has created humanity for the purpose of joining Him in this warfare. It is reasonable to understand from the scriptures that Satan and his cohorts fell before the creation of Adam and Eve in the garden. It is this writer’s contention that when the Lord told Hid disciples that He saw Satan fall like lightning to the ground (Luke 10:18) that He referred spiritually of a past event and not the future expulsion in the book of Revelation
(Rev. 12:9). So Satan and his angels have rebelled instead of choosing to serve God according to their created purposes. God must and will judge all rebellion, and in His mercy, He judges righteously, even against fallen angels.
The fallen angels saw God’s glory. They were with Him by His side when He created. God had this conversation with Job:
Job 38:1-13. 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
There is a spiritual level of kingdom business, the angelic rebellion, that God is dealing with and that human minds have limited knowledge about. At the same time, humans have been strategically placed by the hand of God like pieces on a chessboard to engage, with God in the continuation of His plan to rid His creation of evil. I cannot completely explain it, but it seems to me that in some way, God will use mortal man that has not seen His face to judge immortal creations that have:
1 Corinthians 6:2-3. 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
It is within this context, that the conversation between God and Satan and the sons of God [fallen angels], gains greater clarity. God is saying to the fallen ones, “No, you could have obeyed me because a myriad of your celestial brothers remained faithful. In addition, watch the life of my servant Job play out before your eyes. In the end, He will choose me without ever seeing me with his eyes. Job’s response towards the end of his trial reveals one important aspect related to God’s will for the trials that we face:
Job 23:8-12 NASB 8 “Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. 10 “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 “My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
There were times in Job’s trial that he felt alone; yet, he knew in his spirit, that the right response was to stay true to God in spite of how severe the trial was.
Job 42:1-5 NASB 1 Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” 4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;
The scripture nowhere describes that Job saw the Lord with his physical eyes. What is really being said here is that the trial that Job faced gave him a deeper revelation about who God is: 1) he realized that he thought more highly of himself than what he should have [V3b] 2) Job thought that he knew the Lord prior to the trials that he faced, but he realizes now that holding onto the Lord throughout this trial opened his spiritual eyes towards God.
Peter writes in one of his letters a reference to how the trying of gold is similar to the trying of the believer’s faith:
1 Peter 1:3-9. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
This is an excellent New Testament passage to give us clarity on why God uses trials in our lives. There is an eternal inheritance that we gain through salvation. Believers will be granted to rule and reign with God as they work with Him now, doing Kingdom business, they prepare “tomorrow’s” eternal reward. The reward is imperishable; therefore, the faith must be put to the test. This is an inheritance offered that cost Jesus His life. If faith is the key that accesses the reward, the faith will have to be tested and refined. Through the process of the test, we will have access to the promised power of God. Victory has already been purchased for the saint; but, just as the fire refines gold, the trials will come to refine the faith.
Joseph
It is doubtful that there is a better Old Testament character to illustrate the thought of refined faith than Joseph. The propulsion towards power in Joseph’s life travelled through years of unwarranted pain and heartache. As in the life of Job, the reader is compelled to ask, “Why, Lord. Why would you allow such sadness to take place in a person’s life that clearly loved you and wanted to serve you?”
We must become aware of the sovereign and providential hand of God working in our everyday lives. God is not only changing us by using circumstances, He is testing our allegiance towards Him and His will; furthermore, and maybe most importantly, He is positioning us for our purpose that He has prepared for our lives:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Father must test our allegiance to His plan, because our first birth in Adam has made us partakers with the sinful nature. While new birth in the last Adam, has given us new life, new purpose and new power through the Holy Spirit, the process of sanctification is an ongoing symphony between God and the believer of presented opportunities that challenge the believer with a choice of submission or subversion. God does not partner with rebellion. He expels it as He did Satan! The sinful nature of man from the fall is intended to lie dormant in Christ through faith, but Satan is constantly wanting to incite rebellion in the heart of God’s people and God is constantly showing Satan that there are people like Joseph and Job, that while not perfect, will choose His ways over the ways of evil and the world around them.
Imagine how many times in the enticing from Potipher’s wife that Joseph could have given in, or how many opportunities for bitterness while he lie in that Egyptian prison. Romans chapter 5 describes God’s plan in tribulation:
Romans 5:1-5. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
As already revealed, justification states that God is pleased with us and sees us righteous because of our faith in the sacrifice of His Son. Now, having the debt of our sin paid for by the cross of Jesus, we have access to grace, which is undeserved favor and forgiveness, but it is also the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit on the heart of the believer, which is how God transforms the inner man. I had a Pastor in the past that said once, “Grace is an inside job!” Yes, grace is a supernatural inner work of the Holy Spirit that is reflected outwardly in the life of the believer. Now, being saved, we can have hope in the glory of God. We have hope in our new life. We have hope in His plan. We have hope in our relationship with Him in eternity.
Verse 3 says that we also glory in tribulation:
Tribulation- g2347. θλίψις thlipsis; from 2346; pressure — afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. persecution 1, burdened 1, to be afflicted
a pressing, pressing together, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits__ Strong’s
The trial produces tribulation and tribulation results in a pressing. My mind automatically gravitates towards the Garden of Gethsemenee whenever I think of “pressing”. Gethsemenee was a garden located on the Mount of Olives. The name Gethsemenee means the press. The idea is that the olive press would have been located there. One of the ultimate purposes of olives is to yield the fruit of the oil. The thought of olive oil is closely associated with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, as a matter of fact the KJV says:
1 John 2:20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
The word unction in the KJV is translated as “You have been anointed by the Holy one and you know all truth.” Without the cross, there is no Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no anointing for the New Testament believer to carry on the work of God. The anointing we receive through His sacrifice started in the Olive press of Gethsemenee in the tribulation and anguish of His soul as He yielded His will over to the Father’s will. The trials and tribulations will yield these results in the lives of believer’s.
The Apostle Paul learned through multiple trials that tribulation produces something in the life of the believer. The word in the KJV patience used in Romans 5:3 is endurance in newer translations. Endurance is a better thought in our modern language. The Greek word transliterated would be hypomone. Greek words are often compound in nature. The Greek language uses a lot of prefixes and suffixes to add meaning to root words. This word is split at Hypo/hupo, which is a preposition meaning under and mone, meaning remain or continue. The extreme literality would be remain under. In the context of the verse, the idea is to remain under the tribulation with hope and expectancy that God will execute His plan.
The definition further clarifies this thought:
Endurance- g5278. ὑπομένω hypomenō— to stay under. remain; to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: — abide, endure, patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind. take patiently 2, tarry behind 1, abide 1, patient 1, suffer, abide, not recede or flee: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments.
The word for experience in this passage is character in new translations. This is where the thought of God testing our allegiance to His plan can be reconnected. God allows trials and tribulations in the life of the believer, because true believers are going to rule and reign with Him in eternity. We were created for that opportunity. The opportunity to partner with Him in His purposes. He also created the angels for the same purpose and according to some thoughts a third of that number rebelled against Him. Should we expect that just our profession alone will be enough to get us in? If Jesus had to be tested to prove His faithfulness in both the wilderness and the garden, doesn’t it stand to reason that the trying of our faith to prove our allegiance to king and kingdom would also be required?
He uses circumstances in our lives to change us. The trials of life have a way of bringing to the surface hidden areas in our heart’s that God wants to deal with. In the garden, Jesus was pressed beyond measure. The burden of the world’s sin was placed upon His humanity to carry with Him to the cross. In anguish, and alone, as His disciples slept, He groaned in the spirit and pleaded with God for the possibility that this trial would not have to end this way. In the end, His only desire was to please the Father and to finish the work that God had placed before Him. God has plans for our lives. We are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). The trials, like a salve, expose the remnants of the fall in our lives known as the flesh, and flesh must be crucified. Our fleshly or earthly wants and desires will get in the way of God’s spiritual plans for us. When the trial reveals the dross in our hearts (Prov. 25:4) through the fire, this is the time to let the cross have its work in us. This is the time that we cry out to the Lord and allow Him to remove the unclean mess or rebellion that we see being revealed in us through the trial we’re facing. As we allow the cross to have its work in our lives and circumcise the flesh, these areas are replaced with the resurrection fruit of the Spirit.
When God positions us for His purpose, His plan for our lives will always intersect with His master plan, and His plan never deviates from His word. The Trials and tribulations that Joseph experienced reflect this truth. There is an interesting find in the Joseph narrative when turning the pages of scripture. There would have been 9 successive chapters related to the Joseph story; however, there is what feels like an intrusion in chapter 38. It is understood that the original Biblical languages were not divided by chapters. This interesting occurrence follows Chapter 37 where Joseph was sold by his brother’s and Jacob was told that Joseph had been mauled by wild animals.
Suddenly, the narrative shifts to a story about Judah, Jacob and Leah’s fourth born son. The emphasis of the story surrounds the fact that Judah deviates from God’s plan by taking for himself a Canaanite woman, which is the very thing that Abraham forbad Isaac to do and the very thing that Isaac forbad Jacob to do. Judah sires three sons with Shua the Canaanite.
Afterwards, he finds a woman named Tamar to wed his first son Er. The Bible’s testimony of Er is that he was wicked and the Lord slew him. In an attempt to preserve his seed on the earth, Judah has his second son marry Tamar and produce offspring with her, as this was the custom of the day. Onan refuses and spills his seed on the ground. The scripture states that the Lord took his life also. After two of his sons are killed, Judah refuses to give Tamar to his third son out of fear that he, too, will die.
From there, the story only gets more complicated in that Tamar dresses up like a prostitute and deceives Judah into impregnating her and she ends up giving birth to twins. The firstborn was named Pharez and the second was named Zarah.
Back to the Joseph story. The trials of Joseph’s life positioned him in a place where he was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. From there, God elevated Jospeh in Pharaoh’s court and used him to manage a famine that affected the entire surrounding regions. The placement of Joseph in Pharaoh’s court was God’s providential hand preparing a place for Joseph’s family to have a place of supernatural shelter and provision throughout the famine.
When it was all done, Joseph received the revelation that he needed from God regarding his trials and it was recorded for us in scripture when as he revealed who he really was to his long lost brothers:
