Bible lessons: Character, qualities of Joseph

                                          By Babatope Babalobi  babalobi@yahoo.com

The Bible story of Joseph shows he is one the greatest characters in the Bible. What are the qualities of Joseph that makes him a great Bible lesson in good character and leadership quality?

1. He was a special child given birth to answer in long prayer – Genesis 30 vs. 22 – Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
2. He took away the reproach of barrenness on Rachel – Genesis 30 vs. 23 – And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”
3. 3.      He was more righteous than his brothers, refused to participate or join them in evil – Genesis 37 vs. 2 – This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad waswith the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
4. His father loved him. He was the son of Jacob’s old age – Genesis 37 vs. 3 – Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.
5. He had a divine gift of dreams – Genesis 37 vs. 5 – Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more., Genesis 40 vs. 8 – And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”, Genesis 41 vs. 25 – Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
6. He  loved his brothers, but his brothers hated him – Genesis 37 vs. 5 – Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.
7. He was a prophet – Genesis 37 vs. 7 and 9 – ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” ⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
8. Envied by his brothers because of the gift of God in his life – Genesis 37 vs. 11 – And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
9. Hardworking, persistent and does not give up easily – Genesis 37 vs. 15-18 – ¹⁵ Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” ¹⁶ So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.” ¹⁷ And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. ¹⁸ Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.
10. Favoured by God – Genesis 39 vs. 3 and 21 –  ³And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. ²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
11. Even as a slave, he was very prosperous.
12. God’s presence was with him in Potiphar’s house – Genesis 39 vs. 2 – ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian., in Prison, Genesis 39 vs. 23 – The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,^[a] because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper
    1. a.      In Potiphar’s house – Genesis 39 vs. 2 – ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
    2. b.     In Prison, Genesis 39 vs. 23 –  The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that wasunder Joseph’s authority,^[a] because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lordmade it prosper. and
    3. c.       In Egypt Genesis 45 vs. 13 – ¹³ So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
13. Always experiencing divine promotion, even when all seems down and out.
    1. a.      In the pit – Genesis 37 vs. 28 – Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
    2. In prison – Genesis 39 vs. 23 – The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,^[a] because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
    3. c.       As an immigrant – Genesis 41 vs. 41 – And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
14. Feared God – Genesis 39 vs. 9 – There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because youare his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
15. Hated sin – Genesis 39 vs. 9 – There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because youare his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
16. Genuinely born again – Genesis 39 vs. 9-10 – ⁹There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because youare his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” ¹⁰ So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her
17. He fled from sin – Genesis 39 vs. 12 – that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside
18. Focused, diligent in his secular business – Genesis 39 vs. 11 –  But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work
19. He was prosecuted for righteousness

• By his brothers – Genesis 37 vs. 18 – Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.
• Ignorantly by Potiphar – Genesis 39 vs. 20 – Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 

20. Always giving glory to God –

        a.      Genesis 40 vs. 8 – ⁸ And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

       b.       Genesis 41 vs 16 – So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It       is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace”

        c  .       Genesis 45 vs. 7, 9 – ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁹ Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

21.  Even unbeliever attested that he had the spirit of God – Genesis 41 vs. 38 – And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

22. He was wise, tested his half brothers to know whether they still hate his (Joseph’s) brother, Benjamin – Genesis 42 vs. 34 – And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

23.  An accurate dreamer. His dreams came to pass. Those that hate him, bowed before him four times.

• 1^st Genesis 42 vs. 6 – ⁶ And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth
• 2^nd Genesis 43 vs 28 – And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves
• 3^rd Genesis 44 vs. 14 – And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground
• 4^th Genesis 50 vs. 18 – Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we areyour servants.”

24.  He was forgiving – Genesis 45 vs. 4 – And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt

25.  He loved his Father – Genesis 45 vs. 9 – “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry

26.  He did not forget his family even when he became prosperous – Genesis 47 vs. 12 – Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.

27.  He was a good manager – Genesis 41 vs. 57 – So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

28. He became a changed man physically – Genesis 42 vs. 8 – So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You arespies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land! . He recognize his brothers because they were still the same, but his brothers did not recognized him because he has grown so fat

29.  Faithful to his master – Pharaoh – Genesis 47 vs. 23 – Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

30.  Good businessman – Genesis 47 vs. 16, 20 – ¹⁶ Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” ²⁰ Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 

31.  Made profit from his business – Genesis 47 vs. 14 – And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

32.  He did not seek vengeance or vengeful – Genesis 50 vs. 21 –  Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

33.  He had a happy marital life and saw his great grand children – Genesis 50 vs. 23 – Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.

34.  He died at a good old age – Genesis 50 vs. 26 – So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Prayer: O God of Israel, make me this Joseph of this generation in Jesus name.