The Injustices Of Life

Today I want to talk about the injustices of life. Have you walked through a season when you couldn't seem to catch a break? Did you ever wonder if good days would ever return? Maybe you lost a job around the same time a loved one died. Or you were going through a painful divorce just as you also received troubling news from the doctor. Life can throw many hard things at us. We may even be tempted to let our hope in God fade. We want to scream, “Where is the justice?”

You may have seen the movies about Rocky Balboa. In the movie, Rocky said, “It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.”

For the past few weeks we have been looking at the life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. While Joseph never had the chance to see a Rocky film, there's a good chance that he would have been able to relate with that line. Today I hope that we will see how Joseph chose to press on, even though the days of disappointment continued.

As we move along a little further in Joseph's life God would want us to be encouraged that he will always see his children through. Remember that Jesus said, “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous ! I have conquered the world.” PRAYER

Last week we saw that Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph and he broke free and ran away but left his cloak in her hands. She made up a lie about Joseph and so Joseph was thrown into prison. Joseph didn't deserve to be jailed. As a result of the false allegations given by Potiphar's wife, he was an innocent man now forced into confinement. He now had nothing but time on his hands.

We wouldn't be surprised if Joseph, in those circumstances, was constantly tempted to be bitter and angry toward God and others. Instead, Joseph appeared to be living by the same principle that guided the apostle Paul when he said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.” We all would do so much better if we would adopt that attitude. Whatever situation God puts us in, we learn to be content.

Genesis 39: 21-22 – “But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. 22 The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there.”

It's amazing how these verses are so similar to verses 3-6 that we read last week. That is when Potiphar had promoted Joseph. The phrasing is almost identical and describing the rise of Joseph's position in a foreign place. The biblical writer wanted us to make a critical connection that the secret to Joseph's success was The sovereign favor of God. The Lord chose to be with Joseph and to shower this faithful young man with kindness. It wasn't Joseph's good looks, his strategic maneuvering, or top-shelf leadership skills that pushed him to the head of the pack. It was God going before him and opening up the doors.

At this point in Joseph's life he had been through many trials. But when you think about it, trials teach us how to endure hardship. Suffering is unwelcome in anyone's life. No one looks forward to the days of suffering, but Scripture is full of verses that challenge us as children of God to remain true no matter what trials come our way. Now for a moment, think about Joseph's life, and yours as well, in light of the following passages and what God is trying to tell us through Scripture:

- Psalm 34:19 – “One who is righteous has many adversities,

but the Lord rescues him from them all.”

- Romans 5:3-5 – “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

- James 1:2-4 – “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

Though all of these great passages of Scripture were written long after Joseph was buried, his life truly modeled these words of faith. Joseph was put in charge of the entire prison, and he chose to “bloom where he was planted,” even if it wasn't in the garden of his choosing. So right now, I want you to think of a trial that you are currently facing. What is it that you are concerned about right now? Now, ask God to use that trial to help you grow in faith and endurance.