As a youngster, Joseph was overconfident. His natural self-assurance, increased by being Jacob’s favourite son and by knowing of God’s designs on his life, was unbearable to his ten older brothers, who eventually conspired against him.  But this self-assurance, moulded by pain and combined with a personal knowledge of God, allowed him to survive and prosper where most would have failed.  He added quiet wisdom to his confidence and won the hearts of everyone he met – Potiphar, the warden, other prisoners, the king, and after many years, even those ten brothers.

Perhaps you can identify with one or more of these hardships Joseph experienced: he was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing; he endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped. As you read his story, note what Joseph did in each case.  His positive response transformed each setback into a step forward.  He didn’t spend much time asking “Why?”  His approach was “What shall I do now?”  Those who met Joseph were aware that wherever he went and whatever he did, God was with him.  When you’re facing a setback, the beginning of a Joseph-like attitude is to acknowledge that God is with you.  There is nothing like his presence to shed new light on a dark situation.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Rose in power from slave to ruler of Egypt
• Was known for his personal integrity
• Was a man of spiritual sensitivity
• Prepared a nation to survive a famine

Weakness and mistake:

• His youthful pride caused friction with his brothers

Lessons from his life:

• What matters is not so much the events or circumstances of life, but your response to them
• With God’s help, any situation can be used for good, even when others intend it for evil

Vital statistics:

• Where: Canaan, Egypt
• Occupation: Shepherd, slave, convict, ruler
• Relatives: Parents: Jacob and Rachel. Eleven brothers and one sister named in the Bible.  Wife: Asenath.  Sons: Manasseh and Ephraim

Key verse: “So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, or in whom is the spirit of God?”  (Genesis 41.38).

Joseph’s story is told in Genesis 30-50. He is also mentioned in Hebrews 11.22.

We’re all selfish, but some of us seem to make a speciality out of the weakness. Laban’s whole life was stamped by self-centredness.  His chief goal was to look out for himself.  The way he treated others was controlled by that goal.  He made profitable arrangements for his sister Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac and used his daughters’ lives as bargaining chips.  Jacob eventually outmanoeuvred Laban, but the older man was unwilling to admit defeat.  His hold on Jacob was broken, but he still tried to maintain some kind of control by getting Jacob to promise to be gone for good.  He realised that Jacob and Jacob’s God were more than he could handle.

On the surface, we may find it difficult to identify with Laban. But his selfishness is one point we have in common.  Our “good” reasons for treating others the way we do may simply be a thin cover on our self-centred motives.  We may not even recognise our own selfishness.  One way to discover it is to examine our willingness to admit we’re wrong.  Laban could not bring himself to do this.  If you ever amaze yourself by what you say and do to avoid facing up to wrong actions, you are getting a glimpse of your selfishness in action.  Recognising selfishness is painful, but it is the first step on the road back to God.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Controlled two generations of marriages in the Abrahamic family (Rebekah, Rachel, Leah)
• Quick-witted

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Manipulated others for his own benefit
• Unwilling to admit wrongdoing
• Benefits financially by using Jacob, but never fully benefited spiritually by knowing and worshipping Jacob’s God

Lessons from his life:

• Those who set out to use people will eventually find themselves used
• God’s plan cannot be blocked

Vital statistics:

• Where: Haran
• Occupation: Wealthy sheep breeder
• Relatives: Father: Bethuel. Sister: Rebekah.  Brother-in-law: Isaac.  Daughters: Rachel and Leah.  Son-in-law: Jacob

Key verse: “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed.  But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you” (Genesis 31.42).

Laban’s story is told in Genesis 24.1-31.55.

Parents are usually the best judges of their children’s character. Jacob summarised the personality of his son Reuben by comparing him to water.  Except when frozen, water has no stable shape of its own.  It always shapes itself to its container or environment.  Reuben usually had good intentions, but he seemed unable to stand against a crowd.  His instability made him hard to trust.  He had both private and public values, but these contradicted each other.  He went along with his brothers in their action against Joseph while hoping to counteract the evil in private.  The plan failed.  Compromise has a way of destroying convictions.  Without convictions, lack of direction will destroy life.  Reuben’s sleeping with his father’s concubine showed how little he had left of the integrity he had displayed earlier in life.

How consistent are your public and private lives? We may want to think they are separate, but we can’t deny that they affect each other.  What convictions are present in your life at all times?  How closely does Jacob’s description of his son – “turbulent as the waters” – describe your life?

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Saved Joseph’s life by talking the other brothers out of murder
• Showed intense love for his father by offering his own sons as a guarantee that Benjamin’s life would be safe

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Gave in quickly to group pressure
• Did not directly protect Joseph from his brothers, although as oldest son he had the authority to do so
• Slept with his father’s concubine

Lessons from his life:

• Public and private integrity must be the same, or one will destroy the other
• Punishment for sin may not be immediate, but it is certain

Vital statistics:

• Where: Canaan, Egypt
• Occupation: Shepherd
• Relatives: Parents: Jacob and Leah. Eleven brothers, one sister

Key verses: “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honour, excelling in power.  Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it” (Genesis 49.3, 4).

Reuben’s story is told in Genesis 29 – 50.