3. The Pitfall of Injustice
Question 1:
When have you seen someone simply refuse to quit?
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
In Rocky Balboa (2006), 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.” While Joseph never had the chance to see a Rocky film, there’s a good chance he would have resonated with that line. In today’s session, we will see how Joseph chose to press on, even though the days of disappointment continued.
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.
As you read this part of Joseph’s story, be encouraged that the Lord will always see His children through. As Jesus said: “You will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
THE POINT
Press forward in spite of injustice.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Genesis 39:21-23
21 The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joseph didn’t deserve to be jailed; 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, however, Joseph appeared to be living by the principle that guided Paul: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11).
It’s striking how similar verses 21-23 are to verses 3-6 earlier in the chapter, when Potiphar had promoted Joseph. The phrasing is almost identical in describing the meteoric rise of Joseph in a foreign place. The biblical writer wanted us to make a critical connection: the secret to Joseph’s success was the sovereign favor of God. The Lord chose to be with Joseph and to shower the faithful young man with kindness. It wasn’t Joseph’s good looks, 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.
We continue to see hints of Jesus’ own life as we follow the Joseph narrative. This passage is often connected to Isaiah’s prophecy that says the Messiah “was numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). Just as Jesus was crucified along with prisoners, Joseph also suffered with the accused. In both Joseph’s and Jesus’ journeys, God would provide the strength to help them endure under severe circumstances. This is true of all God’s people who trust Him.
Question 2:
What can we learn from Joseph about doing good in the face of injustice?
Suffering is unwelcome in anyone’s life. No one looks forward to days of suffering, but Scripture is full of verses that challenge the children of God to remain true no matter what trials come their way. Though the Bible was written long after Joseph was buried, his life truly modeled biblical truth. 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.
It’s easy to let our circumstances get us down. We should be mindful that, just as the Lord was a warrior for Joseph, He fights for us as well. When we commit to trusting God through trials, our faith and character grow. It will all be worth it in the long run. When God brings disappointment, we must choose to trust Him and to keep moving forward. The way of faith is the only way.
Genesis 40:4-8
4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
Joseph may have been given a good position, but he was still in prison. He may have had some authority over the prisoners, but he worked in complete obscurity. Yet, as he continued to give his best in his menial work, the Lord was working behind the scenes in ways Joseph wouldn’t see for a few more years. The imprisonment of two figures would change the course of his life, though he had no idea at the time what the Lord is doing.
The two men were “the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt.” While we might understand that these men cooked and served Pharaoh his wine, what may be foreign to us is the significance of both roles. Someone with access to a leader’s food and drink could easily poison Pharaoh; therefore, the cupbearer and baker were trusted men.
We don’t know exactly why these two men in Pharaoh’s inner circle were imprisoned. Perhaps Pharaoh had gotten ill after a meal, which would have made these two men the prime suspects. The men were locked up while the matter was investigated. For all they knew, their days of influence were over, and they might remain in the dungeon for good.
PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 in your ability to take setbacks in stride.
Then offer a prayer to the Lord for His help.
1 = You rage and gnash your teeth when the pizza delivery is twenty minutes late.
10 = You have learned how to be content in all circumstances.
Are you a 3? 5? 7? Though it’s a difficult prayer to offer, the Lord desires to grow our patience and to train us to keep a cool head and kind demeanor even as hard times come. Meanwhile, we learn lessons that help us press ahead.
My Prayer:
_______________________________
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
PSALM 34:19
But then they had dreams. Notice how dreams once again play an important role in Joseph’s life. The baker and cupbearer were distraught by their dreams, and Joseph inquired as to the nature of them. In ancient times, dreams were a vehicle of divine revelations, and the Egyptians believed that a special tribe of magicians could provide the key to unlock their mysteries.
Joseph stood against the culture when he suggested that “Do not interpretations belong to God?” He pointed these men to God, the only One who has the power to rightly explain a dream. Joseph requested to hear the dreams because he hadn’t lost faith in God; in fact, he believed the Lord would help him interpret them. Joseph’s walk with the Lord remained strong throughout his suffering.
As we walk through great trials in life, we must follow Joseph’s example and trust that God is still at work in us. One of the strongest temptations in suffering is to wallow in self-pity. We turn inward and lose sight of all those around us who are also suffering. In seasons of loss, we should take our cues from Joseph and continue to point others to the Lord.
Question 3:
What are some appropriate ways to respond when we’ve been treated unfairly?
Genesis 40:20-23
20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— 22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
In verses 9-19, Joseph heard the dreams of the chief cupbearer and the baker—and he precisely interpreted the dreams. Joseph surely expected that he would soon be vindicated, and his time in the dungeon was about to come to a close. Yet, this was not the case. Even though Joseph delivered on his promise to interpret the dreams, the chief cupbearer let him down. The baker was executed as Joseph predicted from the dream, but the cupbearer was restored to his role. The cupbearer worked in close proximity to Pharaoh and could have easily spoken up for Joseph, but he didn’t. He simply forgot.
People often disappoint us. It hurts to be overlooked or outright forgotten by others. Joseph may have been forgotten by people including the cupbearer, but God never forgot him. Yet, two more years would pass before his season of suffering ended.
Question 4:
What can help us wait upon the Lord during periods of injustice?
Delays like this could leave any of us understandably discouraged. Joseph’s extended stay in the lonely prison was a major setback in his life, but he patiently endured. We might think he didn’t have a choice, but patience has to do with attitude. All we know of Joseph points to a character of calmly enduring and waiting on God to act.
We would acknowledge patience as a virtue, even though we want what we want now. Praying for God to give us patience is a courageous prayer. For this to happen, the Lord would likely make us wait for something we want now. In the process, we learn to walk through seasons of difficulties with a sense of calm that God is in control and will deliver.
The Lord’s plans are always perfect and always on time. Joseph had to continue being patient and long-suffering and trust that God was with him. May we learn the same.
Question 5:
How can our group help others in the midst of injustice?
LIVE IT OUT
Press forward in spite of injustice. Choose one of the following applications:
- Pray. Pray for patience. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit at work in your life. Pay attention to situations this week where you tend to lose your patience. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you endure patiently in these moments.
- Write. Write an inspiring Bible verse on a sticky note and attach it to your computer. Every time you’re tempted to whine about your circumstances, pray that verse.
- Read. Read through a great devotional book this month, like Experiencing God or The Pursuit of God. Draw from the well of others.
As a kid, my brothers and I enjoyed boxing those inflatable punching bags. We were no Rocky’s, but no matter how hard we hit that thing, the bag always returned to center. This is a visual picture of the life of Joseph. No matter how many times he was knocked over, he always came back to center and renewed his faith in God. Let’s be inspired to do the same!
Teacher Notes:
While Joseph never had the chance to see a Rocky
film, there’s a good chance he would have resonated with that line.
In today’s session, we will see how Joseph chose
to press on, even though the days of disappointment continued.
Genesis
39:21-23
21 The
Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of
the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in
the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The
warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was
with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
The
Lord’s presence in Joseph’s life did not guarantee escape from distress, but it
did provide protection through it.
When
have you felt God’s presence in a challenging season of life? How did that
affect the way you dealt with that situation?
It’s striking how similar verses 21-23 are to
verses 3-6 earlier in the chapter, when Potiphar had promoted Joseph. The
phrasing is almost identical in describing the meteoric rise of Joseph in a
foreign place. The biblical writer wanted us to make a critical connection: the
secret to Joseph’s success was the sovereign favor of God. The Lord chose to be
with Joseph and to shower the faithful young man with kindness. It wasn’t
Joseph’s good looks, 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.
1. Stay
the course.
Joseph
did not miss the opportunity to make the best of less than-ideal circumstances.
Many
people allow the unfairness of life to blind them to God’s favor. Instead of
focusing on your misfortune, focus on God. Despite your situation, God is still
sovereign, and He can still make you successful. You may no longer be on the
level you desire to be on. But whatever the level, God can make you successful,
if you look to Him.
Suffering is unwelcomed in anyone’s life. No one
looks forward to days of suffering, but Scripture is full of verses that
challenge the children of God to remain true no matter what trials come their
way. Though the Bible was written long after Joseph was buried, his life truly
modeled biblical truth. 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.
The
Point: Press forward in spite of injustice.
Genesis
40:4-8
4 The
captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they
had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men — the cupbearer and
the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison — had a dream the
same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 6 When Joseph came to them
the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s
officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look
so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to
interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to
God? Tell me your dreams.”
How
can times of injustice be an opportunity to point others to God?
How do
you typically interact with others when you’ve been treated unfairly?
Joseph continues to give his best in his menial
work, the Lord was working behind the scenes in ways Joseph wouldn’t see for a
few more years. The imprisonment of two figures would change the course of his
life, though he had no idea at the time what the Lord is doing.
Notice how dreams once again play an important
role in Joseph’s life. The baker and cupbearer were distraught by their dreams,
and Joseph inquired as to the nature of them. In ancient times, dreams were a
vehicle of divine revelations, and the Egyptians believed that a special tribe
of magicians could provide the key to unlock their mysteries.
As we walk through great trials in life, we must
follow Joseph’s example and trust that God is still at work in us. One of the
strongest temptations in suffering is to wallow in self-pity. We turn inward
and lose sight of all those around us who are also suffering. In seasons of
loss, we should take our cues from Joseph and continue to point others to the
Lord.
2. Don’t
take it out on others.
Joseph
had the gift of interpreting dreams. First Peter 4:10 says, “Just as each one
has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied
grace of God.” Joseph did not use “serving time” as an excuse for not serving
others. Before interpreting both the cupbearer’s and the baker’s dreams, Joseph
gave glory to God. The apostle Peter says when we exercise our gifts, it is
“…so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything” (1 Peter
4:11).
There
are no injustices that excuse us from using our gifts. Our gifts are not for
us, they are given to serve others (even our enemies) and bring glory to God,
regardless of our circumstances.
Proverbs
18:16 says, “A person’s gift opens doors for him and brings him before the
great.” Be faithful to your gifting. You never know the door it may open.
Joseph’s faithfulness eventually “opened prison doors” and brought him before
Pharaoh.
The
Point: Press forward in spite of injustice.
Genesis
40:20-23
20 Now
the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his
officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in
the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his
position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand — 22 but he
impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
What
repeated themes do you see as you study Joseph’s life?
What
truths from God’s Word can help us when we feel like God or other people have
forgotten all about us?
3. Don’t
get discouraged.
Delays
like this could leave any of us understandably discouraged. Joseph’s extended
stay in the lonely prison was a major setback in his life, but he patiently
endured. We might think he didn’t have a choice, but patience has to do with
attitude. All we know of Joseph points to a character of calmly enduring and
waiting on God to act.
Our
faithfulness to others is never based on their faithfulness to us. It is based
on our faithfulness to God. Despite Joseph faithfully serving and interpreting
the cupbearer’s dream, he forgot all about Joseph.
There
will be people who will forget about your faithfulness to them. Nevertheless,
do not let people who forget about you deter you from being faithful to them or
faithful to others. It’s God who rewards our faithfulness. When we
remain faithful even when others are unfaithful, we demonstrate God’s
faithfulness toward us.
The
Point: Press forward in spite of
injustice.
Conclusion: The
pitfall of injustice can cause us to throw a pity party. It’s your party and
you can cry if you want to, or you can dry your tears and perhaps you’ll begin
to see that even in unfavorable circumstances, God can move people to favor us
and make us successful. Regardless of the situation, we are called to be
faithful and leave the results to a “God who is good all the time!”
Despite
his faithfulness, Joseph is falsely accused of attempted rape and thrown into
prison. Faithfulness does not exempt us from false accusations nor life’s
unfairness. Jesus told His disciples, “No servant is greater than his master
(John 15:20).” If Jesus wasn’t exempt from false accusations and injustice,
should we expect exemption?
The
disciples rejoiced when they were treated shamefully for preaching about Jesus
because they considered it an honor to suffer for His name. The apostle Paul
declares, “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are
God’s children, and if children, also heirs — heirs of God and coheirs with
Christ — if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with
him” (Rom. 8:16-17).
However,
God is a God of justice. He justified Jesus’ faithfulness by raising him from
the dead. He justified the disciples’ faithfulness by releasing them from
prison. He justified Joseph’s faithfulness by making him successful in prison.
There’s
an old song that says: “Do not be disheartened, I have news for you. It is no
secret what God can do. What He's done for others He'll do for you.”
God will
justify our faithfulness as well. Press forward in spite of injustice.
“The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
PSALM 34:19
