The Family of Joseph

Introduction:
  I. The writers present the patriarchs with their mistakes
     and faults as well as their strengths.
 II. This objectivity on the part of the Old Testament
     writers demonstrates their unbaisedness and 
     inspiration.
III. A study of the family life of the patriarchs can 
     provide valuable lessons for our family life and not 
     just the physical family but also their spiritual 
     family.
 IV. Today, I would like for us to look at the family of
     Joseph, both faults and strong points.

Body:
 I. Faults of Joseph’s family.
    A. Jacob’s partiality.
       1. Genesis 37:3-4
       2. Gave Joseph a coat of many colors.
       3. Examples today:
          a. Successful athletes
          b. Step children or adopted children treated as
             Second-class citizens.
          c. Infants given too much attention at times 
             causing difficulties in the family.
       4. Our children are all going to have different
          strengths and weaknesses.
    B. Joseph’s boasting
       1. Genesis 37:4-11
       2. New Testament Scriptures.
          a. Romans 1:30, 32
          b. 2 Timothy 3:2, 5
          c. boastful (alazwn - alazon) – “an empty
             pretender, a boaster.” Thayer
       3. This is a desire to be seen of men and to have
          the pre-eminence.
          a. 3 John 9 - filoprwteuw (philopoteuw):
             (1) “to strive to be first” (Vine)
             (2) “the noun form – fond of being first, 
                 striving after first place…to aspire after 
                 pre-eminence, to desire to be fist. 
                 (Thayer)
          b. Matthew 23:5, 11-12
       4. The man who must toot horn is liable to be the
          only one playing in his band.
          a. Expressions like “Hot Stuff” on T-Shirts, etc.
    C. The Brother’s jealousy
       1. Scriptures:
          a. Genesis 37:4-11
          b. Acts 7:9
       2. New Testament:
          a. Romans 13:13 (envying (King James)(jealousy
             New American Standard)
          b. 1 Corinthians 3:3
          c. James 3:14-16
       3. Jealousy and zealousness come from the same root
          word according to Strong’s Concordance.
          a. the Greek word in Romans 13:13 and 1
             Corinthians 3:3 can mean either (1) zeal, 
             ardor in embracing, pursuing, defending 
             anything. (2) an envious and contentious 
             rivalry, jealousy” Thayer
       4. Appointing elders can cause trouble with jealous
          members.
       5. Jealous family members can cause trouble over an
          inheritance.
    D. The brother’s deceit.
       1. Genesis 37:30-35
       2. Jacob grieved a lifetime over this deceit.

II. The Strong Points
    A. Joseph was a godly man.
    B. Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife.
       1. Genesis 39:7-19
       2. 1 Corinthians 6:13-20
       3. According to one survey 70 to 80 per cent of
          people 21 and younger have engaged in premarital 
          sex.
       4. We need to teach young people to be pure.
    C. Joseph’s ability to forgive his brothers.
       1. Genesis 50:15-21
       2. Matthew 18:21-22, 35
       3. Ephesians 4:32
       4. Colossians 3:13

Conclusion: Let us carefully examine both our physical family 
and spiritual family life.  If we have the same problems that 
Joseph’s family had, let us strive to eliminate it from our 
lives.  If we are lacking the strong points, let us try to 
add them to our lives.