When Life Is Unfair

Have you been betrayed by the people you trust? Have you been abandoned by your family? Are you a victim of false accusations and suffering injustice? Have you been punished by the crime that you did not committed?

We can surely relate to the story of Joseph after he handles the series of humiliating story of his life. At the end, he positively declares God’s goodness above every humiliating event in his life.

Gen 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house."

Gen 41:52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

There are three secrets on the character of Joseph that makes him overcome all the challenges and trials of his life

I. HE DID NOT LIVED BY THE PAIN OF THE PAST – (Manasseh)

Gen 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house

Considering the series and progression of sufferings and injustices that Joseph went through, but he did not allow bitterness and pain eat his heart. He overcomes the spirit of bitterness, resentment, pain and the desire to take vengeance. He rose above the valley of despair and proven himself victorious by the grace and mercy of God whom he serves faithfully.

a) He was a victim of maltreatment

Gen 37:4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

b) He was kidnapped and was thrown to a cistern

Gen 37:23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe-- the richly ornamented robe he was wearing--

Gen 37:24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

c) He was sold as slave to Ishmaelite

Gen 37:28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

d) He was sold again to Egyptian Potiphar

Gen 37:36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

e) He was falsely accused and put in prison

Gen 39:19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, This is how your slave treated me, he burned with anger.

Gen 39:20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,

Somebody stated it well; “We are product of the past but we are not slaves of it.” Joseph did not allow the series of negative circumstances to ruin his whole life. He did not live in the cave of self pity and join himself with crying party of the losers. He step and walk through those negative events in his life and use all the lessons he learned from them as he rise above every problems and sufferings.

Application 1: Pain can be your gain if you will not consider it a chain but for you to be trained.

II. HE CHERISHED THE BLESSING OF THE PRESENT – (Ephraim)

Gen 41:52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Other’s hearts may become callous and hard after the series of tragedy and misfortune but not Joseph. His heart remains fresh and pragmatic. His faith always focuses on the God whom he believed. Hence, he is able to appreciate the beauty of God’s vindication and splendor of His mercy and grace.

a) He recognize the presence of God while he work as slave

Gen 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Gen 39:3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.

Gen 39:4 So Joseph naturally became quite a favorite with him. Potiphar soon put Joseph in charge of his entire household and entrusted him with all his business dealings.

Gen 39:5 From the day Joseph was put in charge, the LORD began to bless Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs began to run smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

Gen 39:6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t have a worry in the world, except to decide what he wanted to eat! Now Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man.