Your teachers give tests to increase your knowledge and prepare you for bigger challenges, and God gives us tests in life to increase our faith and prepare us for the challenges ahead. A teacher prepares her students to pass the test, and God does the same. Whether we listen to the teacher and God and are ready for the test is up to us. On the other hand Satan sets up temptations so that we might fail He does not want to see us succeed. God never tempts us, but He gives us this promise. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)
In this last study we see that Joseph’s faith was tested and he was tempted. Joseph’s heart remains pure and we see how God works in his life. Joseph was just 17 years old when he had to go thru his first big test of faith. Joseph’s brothers hated him because his father loved him more, one day Jacob told Joseph to go to Shechem to check on his brothers. Joseph walked about 50 miles to find them, when they were not in Schechem he walked another 15 miles to find them in Dothan. Joseph had pure motives he wanted to obey his father. His brothers when they saw him decided they wanted to kill him, Rueben suggested that they throw him in a pit instead, so they threw him in a pit, Judah later suggested instead of killing him and having his blood on their hands they should instead sell him to the Ishmealites. So that is what they did.
Through out the story of Joseph and the trials that he faces Joseph’s faith remains strong. There is no biblical record of Joseph ever complaining to God, there is no record of him denying his faith even thought he went to live in a pagan land. I can only imagine that his faith was nurtured in his home as a young boy. His father Jacob had probably shared with young Joseph the trial he had with his grandfather Laban and how he had tricked him and made him work 14 years to marry his mother Rachel, and then how he had to work an additional 6 years. Jacob probably told Joseph how God was with him during this trial and despite Laban’s mistreatment, how God had blessed him and how when he had fled from his brother Esau who wanted to kill he had nothing and then 20 years later he returned home a wealthy man with a large family. Now Joseph is in a place where his own faith will be tested and have a chance to grow. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3). In school someone else cannot take your test for you, and it is the same in life.
Joseph is going thru his first big test. Like any good teacher God is equipping Joseph to pass the test. First the Lord is with Joseph, first and foremost to pass any test or stand firm in a trial God has to be with you. Second, God mad Joseph successful, we need to recognize that Dos is responsible for any success that we have. Thirdly, Joseph’s master saw that the Lord was with him, it must be evident to others that God is with you. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16) Fourthly, Joseph was made overseer of the house, God has a job for you do even if you are in a place you do not want to be think of Joseph and “bloom where you are planted”.
Joseph was handsome and form and appearance and this is where Satan sees a chance to tempt Joseph. The interesting thing is that Joseph was just seventeen when he left his home. By Joseph’s response we can safely assume that he had already decided before he was seventeen of how he would respond to a seductress woman. Joseph had a plan before he met the temptation. All of you are about the same age that Joseph was and if you do not have a plan on how to avoid temptations you need to get one now. Use Joseph’s response as a model.
Potipher’s wife was not subtle she was direct she wanted Joseph to lie with her and she said it. I know none of you would probably say what she did, but do you say other provocative things. Our culture is full of this, many commercials use provocative statement to sell their products.
Joseph understood the saying “Just Say No!” Joseph’s response was quick “he refused”. He didn’t reason with her, he didn’t worry about hurting her feelings, he said no. you might think that Potipher’s wife was old and not that attractive, but the opposite is probably true she was probably one of the most beautiful women in Egypt. This was probably a very tempting situation for Joseph especially being away from home. God gave Joseph a way of escape, he knew this was against God’s law and this gave him courage. Joseph said, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God” (Gen. 39:9) He didn’t do it because God said not to do it, end of discussion. I hope next time someone asks why you don’t do a certain thing, I hope you can say “I choose not to do certain things, so that I can please God, and not say “because if I do it, I’ll get in trouble.”
Joseph didn’t play with fire. He did what he could to stay away from temptation. All of us should pray the prayer ‘Lord, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil’ Joseph did not heed her, and he would not be with her. You can avoid many problems by just not being with someone, you can’t get into trouble with someone you’re not with.
Potipher’s wife schemed by knowing exactly where Joseph would be. She also mad sure they would be alone, it’s a lot easier to do something you might regret when you’re alone with someone.
Now Potipher’s wife had managed to get Joseph alone. She grabbed his garment and he fled and ran away, leaving his garment behind. Joseph followed the proverb talking about an immoral woman, “Run from her! Don’t go near her house, lest you fall to her temptation and lose your honor” (Prob 5:7). He also followed the instruction, “flee sexual immorality” (1 Cor 6:18).
After this Joseph is put in prison. But again God is with Joseph and blesses him. Do you feel like Joseph and you’re doing what is right, but it doesn’t seem to be paying off. Do not lose heart God is faithful, and He will lift you up, be patient like Joseph so your faith can grow. Things are going to turn around for Joseph, when Pharaoh had a dream and was unable to interpret it, someone told him that Joseph could interpret dreams. So the Pharaoh called for Joseph and this is what Joseph told him “it is not in me, God will give Pharaoh an answer” (Gen 41:16) Like Joseph do you give God the credit for the gifts He had given you or do you seek glory for yourself. Joseph’s motives were pure and he sought God’s glory.
After Joseph told the Pharaoh what to do to prepare for the famine this is what the Pharaoh said about Joseph, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.” This should be our desire that people even ungodly people will see the Spirit of God in us.
Now since there was a famine, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to get food so they will not die. In God’s sovereign plan Joseph meets his brothers, Joseph is full of forgiveness towards his brothers. Joseph has seen God’s hand at work in his life and this is what he says to his brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth and to save your lives by a great delieverance. So it was not you who sent me here, but God and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 45:6-8) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)

Mrs. Parker

better take notes…

p.s check this out…since it is going to rain all day long…
Mt. High is going to get SNOW all day long~
Weather Hour by Hour Mt. High
and Mammoth have the deep stuff 28″ powder

the time will be
01:02:03 04/05/06

did u realized what that mean??? it’s 1,2,3,4,5,6
this is only going to happen once in our life time!!!!!
(that means…wake up and take a pic) i’m doing it