October 2018 - Karen Jurgens

Joseph’s story, although thousands of years old, could be a headline in today’s news: Powerful government official accused of sexual assault.

When Pharaoh ruled Egypt, laws didn’t defend the innocent until proven guilty. (In fact, countries whose laws do defend the innocent aren’t plentiful, even today.) So, no surprise about the instant condemnation that swiftly followed when Potiphar’s wife held up Joseph’s garment and screamed, “Guilty!” That innocent man landed in prison for years due to her lie of revenge, all because he refused her advances of seduction.

However, God was weaving a plan for Joseph’s life, and this unjust accusation was only one of many threads. Not only did God intend to deliver Joseph from prison and reunite him with his family, but He also planned to use him to deliver the nations from a coming famine.

How did God work this out?

Although doomed to serve out an unjust sentence, Joseph found favor with the keeper of the prison and immediately was given charge of all the prisoners. After a passage of time, Joseph met Pharaoh’s baker and butler, who had both been thrown into jail for insulting their master.

One night they each had a troubling dream and asked Joseph to interpret its meaning. Three days later the baker was hanged, but the butler was reinstated into Pharaoh’s service, just as Joseph had prophesied. As the butler was released, Joseph pleaded with him to ask Pharaoh to free him from his own unjust prison sentence.

Time passed. The butler forgot all about Joseph until two years later when Pharaoh dreamed two strange dreams on the same night. As no one in Egypt had the wisdom to interpret it, the butler finally remembered Joseph and advised his master. Immediately Joseph shaved, donned clean clothes, and came into Pharaoh’s presence.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.’ So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace’ ~ Genesis 41:15-16 NKJV.

After hearing the dreams, Joseph declared that both had the same meaning and gave the following interpretation:

God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land so the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass ~ Genesis 41: 28-32 NKJV.

Not only did God give wisdom to Joseph to correctly interpret those dreams, but He also gave him a plan for how to avert the coming disaster. When Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was discerning and wise, he set him over the land of Egypt as the second-in-command. Joseph saved one-fifth of all the bountiful Egyptian grain for seven years to offset the future years of famine.

But that wasn’t the end of the story. After his brothers happened to come to Egypt from Canaan to buy grain, God brought Joseph’s dreams to pass when his brothers bowed before him—the very dreams from his youth that had turned his jealous brothers against him.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, ‘Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.’

And his brothers said to him, ‘Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me’ ~ Genesis 37:5-9 NKJV.

Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth…Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them… ~ Genesis 42: 6, 9a NKJV.

The Takeaway

Joseph had a blessed ending in spite of his trial of unjust accusation. In addition to saving Egypt from starvation, he lived as an Egyptian ruler with a wife and children. His brothers and father moved to Goshen where Pharaoh gave them land for herding sheep.

God blessed Joseph and his family with rich abundance. But doesn’t it also make you wonder whatever happened to Potiphar’s wife? We’ll never know.

If we’re ever falsely accused, let’s remember Joseph’s story and be encouraged. God is always working to deliver us from our enemies and their lies. Let’s live by our faith and in obedience to God. At the perfect time, Almighty God will deliver us from our situation of suffering and promote us to live a blessed and peaceful life.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever ~ Psalm 23: 5-6.

Have you experienced God’s blessings through an unjust accusation?

Have you ever been unjustly accused? The story of Job brings us a behind-the-scenes-fly-on-the-wall view into God’s throne room. Let’s see how Job’s ancient story brings wisdom and understanding into our lives today.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil ~ Job 1:1 NKJV.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

We’re all familiar with this common complaint. To fully understand the reasons, let’s investigate Job’s story from God’s perspective.

According to Revelation 12:10, Satan is the accuser of the brethren. In the second chapter of Job, Satan brought accusation against Job after God pointed out Job’s godly character.

Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person’ ~ Job 1:8-12 NKJV.

Isn’t it interesting that Satan accused Job of serving God for the material benefits and spiritual blessings? It’s a safe bet that he also unjustly accuses every righteous believer before God.

Satan is the source of all unjust accusations.

Let’s switch back to Job’s perspective. In round one, Job suffered incredibly, losing his children, his flocks, and many of his servants. But he won that round, to Satan’s dismay. Through it all, Job didn’t blame God.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord’ ~ Job 1:20-21 NKJV.

As we again turn into a fly-on-the-wall in heaven, we hear God declare victory for His servant Job against the accuser.

Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life’ ~ Job 2:3-6 NKJV.

Now Job stepped into round two of his testing. Satan smote him with sore boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. From his wife to his three friends, Job heard no words of sympathy or consolation. Instead, his wife told him to curse God and die. His friends accused him of hidden sins for which he was being punished. But through it all, Job held fast to his integrity and didn’t sin with his lips. Instead, he said, Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? ~ Job 2:10b NKJV.

Keep on walking through the fire

Have there been times in your life when you feel like you’ve been tossed into a fiery furnace? You may feel God has forgotten you because He hasn’t come to your rescue. Your trial, undeserved, continues without relief or an end in sight. Are you tempted to walk away from God, convinced that the Christian life simply “doesn’t work?”

Just think—if Job’s faith had failed and he had quit believing, he would have missed the most amazing part of his journey.

A surprise meeting

Just when Job had reached the climax of his suffering and every “why” question possible had been voiced, God Himself showed up. What a meeting! God did the admonishing while Job did the listening.

Pause to read Job 38-41 and be amazed as God reveals His true character and sovereignty. We gain glimpses into the mysteries of God found nowhere else in the Bible. And we also come away, like Job, with a new sense of awe and reverence for the Lord’s wisdom, love, and power—spanning all His creation including our individual lives.

Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me.”‘I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes’ ~ Job 42:1-6 NKJV.

What is our takeaway?

First, Satan is every Christian’s accuser before God. If you belong to Jesus, you will be tested, but only by the permission and within the boundaries of God’s will. Satan cannot destroy you because God doesn’t allow it. God’s in control, we don’t have to fear.

Second, Job endured his suffering without blaming God. He may have cursed the day of his birth, but never God. He continued to praise and worship the Lord throughout his trials.

Third, Job asked honest questions and sought wisdom and understanding from God. He instructed his friends by quoting scripture from Psalm 111:10: ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’ ~ Job 28:28 NKJV. Seek God’s wisdom, discernment, understanding, and knowledge as you travel rocky paths.

Fourth, God answered Job by personally showing up. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me’ ~ Job 38:1-3 NKJV.

Today God still shows up personally. He comes to us through the power of His Holy Spirit which dwells inside the spirit of every believer. His spirit witnesses to ours that we are His children. Through prayer, praise, and worship, we commune with our Lord. Be still in His presence and listen for His still, small voice.

Last, Job was blessed more at the end of his life than at the beginning.

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.He also had seven sons and three daughters. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days ~ Job 42:10-13, 16-17 NKJV.

What vast rewards and blessings God brought to Job! The Lord is full of great mercies and compassion. His love never fails.

Have you been unjustly accused? Don’t despair. Satan is under our feet and has been defeated by Jesus at the cross. God’s got this! Remember, on the other side of every trial is great victory.

Can you share a story of being unjustly accused?