Facing Opposition And Overcoming

In Genesis 37 we read about Joseph the second youngest of twelve brothers born to Jacob, He was only seventeen years old. His father loved him more than his other sons. One day he made a coat of many colours for Joseph.

His brothers hated him and did not speak very kindly to him. Joseph then has two dreams which he told his father and brothers, the dreams indicated his brothers would someday bow to him. This pushed the brothers right over the edge and made them very angry.

One day Joseph’s father sent him to visit his brothers while they were taking care of the sheep. His brothers then planned to get rid of him. They threw Joseph into an empty well. Midianite traders with their camels, passed by where they were, so they sold their brother as a slave. For 20 shekels of silver about $200, R3800 in South Africa. Really nice guys. They then tore his coat and dipped it in goat’s blood, and when they got home, they told Jacob his favourite son had been killed by wild animals.

Joseph was taken by the Midianites to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guards.

Genesis 39 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favour in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

Now as a household slave. Joseph was later falsely accused of attempting to rape Potiphar’s wife and he was thrown into prison. In prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, who were also in prison. When they were both released Joseph asked them to not forget about him. When Pharaoh had a dream, he could not understand the dreams and none of his magicians and wise men could interpret the dreams. The chief butler one of the servants whom Joseph had interpreted his dream told Pharaoh about Joseph. Joseph was called from prison. Joseph then interpreted Pharaoh’s dream in a powerful and accurate way.

Genesis 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream to predict seven good years of abundant harvest and then seven years of famine. He told Pharaoh that he must store grain in the seven good years. Pharoah then put Joseph in charge of the gathering of grain. There was so much grain saved it was more than the sand on the seashore. They stopped counting because it was immeasurable. During the famine, Joseph’s older brothers came to Egypt to buy food. It was twenty years after they sold him. They did not recognize Joseph.

Joseph then accused them of being spies. Joseph kept one brother in prison until the others brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, back to Egypt to prove they were not spies.

They brought Benjamin with them on a return trip, and the brothers now bowed down to Joseph. This was the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream of many years before. Joseph then told his brothers who he was. They were startled, to say the least. Joseph was then reunited with his father and God used Joseph to save his whole family and people from the famine.

Joseph told his brothers, “But now, do not, therefore, be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life”.

Many times, the opposition can come from your own family as with Joseph. It can come from your friends or colleagues at work. Depending on your position, dream, or where you feel God wants you to do something for Him. Opposition can come from total strangers.

David faced opposition from his older brother when he volunteered to kill Goliath. He told David.

1 Samuel 17:28-37 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men, and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”

Let us look at Nehemiah and his decision to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem he faced a lot of opposition. How we can learn from Nehemiah and the way he handled the threatened, jealous, negative people.