A Talent For Handling Rejection

A Talent for Handling Rejection

Pastor Scott Voss

New Life Christian Center

Rector, Arkansas

Gen 37:3-11

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Of all the difficulties in life, I suppose that there is none harder to cope with than rejection.

If you live your life in an effort to please others, you will find that you and rejection are closer friends than you ever desired to become.

It is not a matter of choice, only of timing. You will experience rejection.

If you are going to live for God, you must have a talent for handling rejection!

When I began to study this subject some things became very clear to me. One of which is this. If you are going to seek the favor and anointing of God on your life, you are opening your self up to pain, sorrow, and rejection.

This is not to say that we should not seek his favor, for his favor is the only thing that will make your life complete.

But prepare yourself, you are going to experience rejection.

Joseph.

Look at his story today.

His father Jacob loved him more than all of his other children. He was the child of Jacob’s old age. He was proud that he could still produce children.

He doted over Joseph. Everywhere he went, Joseph was with him. He was given first choice of the good things. He was blessed with favor.

His father loved him so much that he made and gave to Joseph a coat of many colors. Just to be a testament of his love for the boy.

But his brothers hated him just for that reason. In fact the bible says that they could not talk peaceably to one another! Shouting matches, shoving, and scuffling went on continually.

And in the midst of all this, God’s favor began to be evidenced.

Not only was Joseph Jacob’s favorite, but it was obvious that God was going to do something great through this young man.

He began to dream of reigning and ruling. He recognized that he would one day lead his family.

Told dreams. Hatred grew.

Rejected.

More dreams, more hatred and rejection.

Go check on your brothers.

They saw him a long way away.

Can’t kill him, it would break father’s heart.

Just like the devil, wanting to destroy, but pretending not to want to hurt anyone.

That is the crux of the majority of church troubles. People that want control, or position, will pretend that they are not wanting to hurt anyone and the whole while they are seeking an opportunity to destroy whatever they need to.

(SAM?)

Threw him in the pit. Sold to slave traders.

Rejection?

But he had a talent.

Prospered in Potipher’s house. Elevated.

Became a leader of servants.

Then again. Potipher’s wife. Seducing, provocative, she pursued him. In fleeing he left his coat in her hands. She was so angry that she had been turned down, she lied. Back to prison.

Rejection.

Years of his life spent in prison for no reason.

Rejection.

He did not do anything! He just had the favor of God on his life ! He did not ask for a position. He did not ask to be elevated or blessed.

Yet with that blessing came the rejection.

You are going to experience some days of heartache, trial and confusion, merely because you are living for God!