The Trouble With Teens

          or Seventeen Days to Christmas

 

       At seventeen, I was in high school learning, at home reading, and at friend's houses hanging out.  My dad didn't want me to get a job so I could make sure my mom could get where she needed to go and things would get done that she wouldn't do.  It wasn't a thrilling life, but it was mine.  I had two sisters that lived at home with me and though we didn't hang out together at all (as far as I remember) we were civil to each other.  Sometimes when they would get into trouble and sent to their rooms, I would play the peace maker or send messages between the rooms.  My life wasn't as bad as some...

 

       At seventeen, Joe was sent by his dad to check up on his brothers working in the field.  They hated him very much (Gn. 37:8) because their dad liked Joe best (v.4), because he tattled on them (v.2), and because he had these wild ideas that they would all bow to him one day (v.7).  They hated him so much they threw him in a pit (v.24), then  sold him into slavery for twenty pieces of silver (v.28).  That's a lot of hate for brothers to have!

 

       Joe was sold to Potiphar, a high official in Pharaoh's service (39:1).  The Lord prospered Joe up until Potiphar's wife lied about Joe trying to have sex with her (v.7-18), and Joe was thrown into prison (v.20).  The Lord prospered Joe there, and he was able to interpreted dreams of some of the prisoners (ch.40).  When Pharaoh had a troubling dream, one of the men told him about Joe being able to interpret, and Pharaoh sent for him.  The next thing you know, Joe interprets (41:1-32), he gives wise advice (v.33-39) and Pharaoh makes him as a second ruler (v.40,43).

 

      A man of integrity, Joe serves Pharaoh well, increasing his wealth and saving the empire from famine (41:46+).  Eventually Joe's brothers come to buy food from him and they bow before him thus fulfilling the dream (42:6).  Joe toys with them for a while, then Pharaoh invites them to live in Egypt, in the best land and so Joe's family ends up living in Egypt with him.  Imagine that!  In the end, everybody wins (v.6-28).

 

       Wow, what a summary, what a life...  What can we learn from Joseph's life?  A lot, but some of the things that stick out are:  he is never shown as a complainer no matter what unfair things happened to him.  He didn't moan and groan, get all depressed, and give up living.  He kept his integrity and faith, worked hard, and used wisdom at whatever place he was in, including prison, and God blessed him and used him to save His people. 

 

Surely, God is sovereign and will allow things in our lives if they serve His purpose.  Now, if we could just be more like Joe...