Unjust Suffering
Joseph resisted temptation and then endured injustice. We expect punishment for doing wrong, but Joseph was punished for doing right. We may wonder why God would have allowed Joseph to be punished when his actions were righteous, but God’s higher purposes were at work.
Read Genesis 39:11-20
1. What other deceitful scheme was brought to bear in Joseph’s life and what resulted from the lie?
Read I Peter 3:12-17
2. What does Peter say about suffering for doing good?
Read Genesis 39:21-23
3. Describe the favor shown to Joseph in prison. Compare Genesis 39:3 with Genesis 39:23.
Read Judges 16:15-20
4. What did Samson do differently than Joseph when tempted? Of what was Samson unaware?
5. What do you think made the difference between Joseph and Samson in dealing with temptation?
God had given Samson supernatural strength that was dependent upon his obedience to God. He was not to cut his hair if he was to accomplish amazing feats of strength. God was his Source but satan sent temptation in the form of Delilah, who pressed him day after day just as Potiphar’s wife had done to Joseph. What was the difference between these two men? The Bible tells us that Samson got so tired of Delilah’s pressing him that he finally gave in and told her his secret to strength. Joseph never entertained his temptress but ran the other way. It’s sad to read that Samson did not know the Lord had departed from him. Yet, the Lord was with Joseph and made whatever he did to prosper.
To whom do we give credit for any successes in life? We know that our redemption is through Christ alone and his work on the Cross. But so is our strength to achieve and prosper. His Word confirms in I Corinthians 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” God is the Giver of Life. He is the Source of all things. We’re totally dependent on Him and lost without Him. It is God, not our natural abilities, who gives us the ability to flourish and succeed. Take a look at Joseph’s life and you will see that it was the Lord’s presence in His life that helped him prosper in what he did, as well as to resist temptation and endure unjust suffering. That’s a truth worth considering.
This story is really bad – when a sinful woman starts by making trouble for a person – Joseph had done nothing wrong and Joseph fled from the lying woman and she hung onto his coat – this was just so she could really tell a big lie on Joseph – just because he did not want to lie in sin with her – Joseph was a man of GOD and only wanted to live his life according to his real Master – the LORD – what a lie can do to another person’s life and how it really can damage their life – the husband believed his wife and put Joseph in prison with the other Kings prisoners.
Peter says the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous and HIS ears are open unto our prayers – but the LORD is against them that do evil – if we suffer for the sake of righteousness we are happy ad not afraid of the wicked people – let others speak evil of you – they will be ashamed that accuse our good conversation in CHRIST – It is so much better that we suffer for well doing.
Joseph was given special favor while in prison because they say that GOD was in all Joseph did – because of the favor of GOD on his life while in prison – the same thing is on our lives when we live close to the LORD – daily walking with HIM is so rewarding in our own lives.
Samson handled things much different than Joseph – Samson fell into the arms of a sinful woman and when Samson began talking – he told everything to this woman and she was just out to hurt Samson and find out really what was in his heart – being a silly man he told her everything and then Samson got weary and told Delilah everything and Samson lost everything in his life. Where Joseph did not want anything to do with the sinful woman – Joseph ran the other way from Potiphar’s wife who was trying to do him wrong and Joseph kept the LORD in his life – Joseph came out on top with the LORD still in his life. Oh what a wonderful lesson – we need to heed the words of GOD at all times in our daily lives – we need to hold him up at all times – obey HIS word at all times. I give all the credit for success in my life unto the LORD – I believe when we have the LORD completely in our lives HE will be the giver of everything good we do and help us in living for HIM each day of our lives. I just do not know where I would be without HIM in my life – HE is my everything and leads me in the right direction. It is such a blessing to be a CHILD OF GOD. Thanks – Karen – again for a wonderful lesson and we can apply these things to our everyday life.
Love this one Karen. Words of wisdom to chew on this week.
Thank you Karen for this one! 1 Peter 3:17 says ” it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” Usually if we suffer for doing evil that’s our punishment…Joseph fled from temptation, Samson stayed and toyed with it…Joseph had a heart for God, Samson told Delilah that from birth he was a Nazirite. His heritage not his heart was for God. So often we lean on who WE are and not WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE CAN DO!
I agree Debbie Baker. We often forget that there is a “bigger picture” and that ALL is for God’s glory!