There was an accident in around 1950s in Korea, where a boy accidentally fell on a railway track in front of an oncoming train. The father of the boy grabbed him and got the boy out of the way. But he was hit by the train and died for his son. About 2000 years ago, Jesus died after being severely persecuted. And in this way, he saved many people from the dead. I still remembered my parents, who devoted all of their lives for their children. There are common threads in each of these stories. The man, Jesus and my parents gave all their lives to save and protect their children and their family. They all believed that people and family mattered.
Joseph remained with God through trials and hardships
For the past two weeks, we have been watching Joseph and his family. His relationship was not so successful. He was cocky, his father favoured him. His brothers were jealous of Joseph. His family sold him as a slave to Egypt. The relationship of the family was broken. In Egypt, Joseph had a hard time. He had to endure his trials and hardships. He may have realized the importance of family. His family was not with him. They are far away. These hard times, Joseph came to know more about God. We are told God was with Joseph and we know that God cared for him as a Father. And God helped him through his trials. Genesis 39:3 says, “The Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did.” Living in this broken world, we ourselves might be troubled. We may be going through hard times. We need to remember that as with Joseph God is with us. God will care for us. He will give us success if we are with him.
The story of Joseph is very interesting one. The bible says that Joseph went through hard times, but he was with God. Joseph trusted in and believed God. God was with him. Joseph was given the gift of interpreting dreams. While Joseph was in the prison, he came to know two servants of the king of Egypt, the cupbearer and the baker. They had trouble in dreams and Joseph interpreted their dreams. Their dreams come true.
We do know why Joseph was known as a man of God. Joseph said, “I cannot do it, But God will give Pharaoh the answer he wants" (v16). He was humble. He believed that God was with him. That God cared for him. That God gave him much wisdom and knowledge. And he interpreted the dreams. That situation that Joseph found himself in this can apply to our own lives.
Joseph was transformed by God
We have found out that Joseph was transformed. From a proud and arrogant and cocky young man, his brothers hated Joseph. They tried to kill him. They sold him as a slave. He was deserted, Nobody cared about him. But, God was with him and cared for him. Life was not that easy for Joseph. He changed his mind to follow God, but trials came upon him. He was passing through a dark tunnel in his life. But, he focused on God rather than the world. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he overcame. Because he believed that God was with him and cared for him. Joseph was thrown into the prison. Yet, he still continued to follow God. He never lost his faith in God. And, God was with him and took him out of the prison.
We could say that Joseph had a dysfunctional family. The family relationship was broken. They didn’t like each other. They didn’t trust each other. Even though they were known as a godly family, they did not communicate well. They did not have any good relationships. They were not doing well and they did not help each other.
Joseph lost his family members. He was sold to Egypt. But he came to God. He was sincerely with God. God cared for Joseph. God blessed him. The purpose of our life is to live and work for God. We are to serve him and his people. Joseph was sold as a slave, but he followed God. Even though he was thrown into the prison, he remained with God. God gave him the wisdom of interpreting the dreams, which he did by saying there would be “Seven years with plenty of food are coming to the whole land of Egypt. But seven years when there won’t be enough food will follow them" (v.29-30).
Joseph was blessed by God
Pharaoh knew that God was with Joseph. And he multiplied his blessings. Verse 40 says, “You will be in charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders.” Pharaoh gave everything to Joseph. Joseph was in charge of everything.
Joseph became a great man enduring hardships, suffering, trials and struggles, but he remained dependent upon God. So God blessed and gave him much wisdom and knowledge.
We can apply this to our own lives. We might have difficult times. We might have trials and troubles in this world. But we mustn’t forget that God is with us. He will lead us. He will care for us. He will give us wisdom. Believe in Jesus in this broken world. He is our Lord and Savior. He is our hope. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, he will help show us the way to go. May God bless you.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook
For the past two weeks, we have been watching Joseph and his family. His relationship was not so successful. He was cocky, his father favoured him. His brothers were jealous of Joseph. His family sold him as a slave to Egypt. The relationship of the family was broken. In Egypt, Joseph had a hard time. He had to endure his trials and hardships. He may have realized the importance of family. His family was not with him. They are far away. These hard times, Joseph came to know more about God. We are told God was with Joseph and we know that God cared for him as a Father. And God helped him through his trials. Genesis 39:3 says, “The Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did.” Living in this broken world, we ourselves might be troubled. We may be going through hard times. We need to remember that as with Joseph God is with us. God will care for us. He will give us success if we are with him.
The story of Joseph is very interesting one. The bible says that Joseph went through hard times, but he was with God. Joseph trusted in and believed God. God was with him. Joseph was given the gift of interpreting dreams. While Joseph was in the prison, he came to know two servants of the king of Egypt, the cupbearer and the baker. They had trouble in dreams and Joseph interpreted their dreams. Their dreams come true.
We do know why Joseph was known as a man of God. Joseph said, “I cannot do it, But God will give Pharaoh the answer he wants" (v16). He was humble. He believed that God was with him. That God cared for him. That God gave him much wisdom and knowledge. And he interpreted the dreams. That situation that Joseph found himself in this can apply to our own lives.
Joseph was transformed by God
We have found out that Joseph was transformed. From a proud and arrogant and cocky young man, his brothers hated Joseph. They tried to kill him. They sold him as a slave. He was deserted, Nobody cared about him. But, God was with him and cared for him. Life was not that easy for Joseph. He changed his mind to follow God, but trials came upon him. He was passing through a dark tunnel in his life. But, he focused on God rather than the world. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he overcame. Because he believed that God was with him and cared for him. Joseph was thrown into the prison. Yet, he still continued to follow God. He never lost his faith in God. And, God was with him and took him out of the prison.
We could say that Joseph had a dysfunctional family. The family relationship was broken. They didn’t like each other. They didn’t trust each other. Even though they were known as a godly family, they did not communicate well. They did not have any good relationships. They were not doing well and they did not help each other.
Joseph lost his family members. He was sold to Egypt. But he came to God. He was sincerely with God. God cared for Joseph. God blessed him. The purpose of our life is to live and work for God. We are to serve him and his people. Joseph was sold as a slave, but he followed God. Even though he was thrown into the prison, he remained with God. God gave him the wisdom of interpreting the dreams, which he did by saying there would be “Seven years with plenty of food are coming to the whole land of Egypt. But seven years when there won’t be enough food will follow them" (v.29-30).
Joseph was blessed by God
Pharaoh knew that God was with Joseph. And he multiplied his blessings. Verse 40 says, “You will be in charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders.” Pharaoh gave everything to Joseph. Joseph was in charge of everything.
Joseph became a great man enduring hardships, suffering, trials and struggles, but he remained dependent upon God. So God blessed and gave him much wisdom and knowledge.
We can apply this to our own lives. We might have difficult times. We might have trials and troubles in this world. But we mustn’t forget that God is with us. He will lead us. He will care for us. He will give us wisdom. Believe in Jesus in this broken world. He is our Lord and Savior. He is our hope. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, he will help show us the way to go. May God bless you.
Rev Dr Je Cheol Cook