Have you ever been rejected or betrayed? Your answer is likely yes. It’s tough to get through this life without experiencing some emotional pain inflicted by others. But what’s important about these difficult experiences is how we recover and thrive despite the challenges. When looking to overcome hardship there is no better place to find inspiration than the Torah. Within its pages are valuable life lessons from powerful figures. Through resilience and faith in God, these biblical heroes overcame the unthinkable and among them is Joseph.
Josephs Inspiring Story
Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was favored by his father who gave him a coat of many colors. Because of this Joseph’s brothers were jealous and sold him to Egypt where he was enslaved.
Despite this betrayal, Joseph thrived in his new environment and was highly respected for his ingenuity and hard work. His master, Potiphar chose Joseph to run his estate but that ended when he was betrayed a second time. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of making unwanted advances. Joseph was thrown in prison.
While in prison Joseph’s gift of dream interpretation shined when he predicted the fate of two fellow prisoners. He determined one would be put to death and the other forgiven. When that came to fruition the man who survived told the Pharoah about Joseph’s skill and he was called to interpret the Pharoah’s dream. He predicted 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine and encouraged the Pharoah to prepare by setting aside grain.
The Pharoah was highly impressed by Joseph and made him his assistant. When the famine came to pass Joseph’s brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt to request grain. They didn’t realize the man they were asking was the brother they sold into slavery more than 20 years ago. Joseph revealed his identity and forgave his brothers. The family then settled in Egypt near Joseph.
Life Lessons From the Story of Joseph
On my journey to Judaism, I rediscovered Joseph’s story in the Torah and instantly felt a strong connection to it. My life had taken a difficult turn. I had experienced rejection and betrayal and was left trying to put the pieces back together. Joseph’s tale of triumph over tragedy helped me to do that. Here are the three most important lessons I found woven throughout Joseph’s story:
Lesson 1: Always Remember God is With You
No matter what obstacles Joseph faced he maintained his faith. His family sold him into slavery yet he remained steadfast in his belief that God would never leave his side. False accusations that landed him in prison couldn’t even shake his faith and in return God saw him through his darkest days leading him to a life of abundance and prosperity.
When troubles find us it’s often instinctive to begin to worry and overthink. For years I struggled with this. The minute something went awry my brain would go straight to the negative. To this day I sometimes need to be reminded of God’s everlasting presence in my life and the story of Joseph does just that. God stood by Joseph during times of trouble and he’ll do the same for us.
Lesson 2: Be Courageous in the Face of Adversity
Joseph was met with devastating circumstances twice in this story. First when he was sold into slavery by his family and again when he was unfairly thrown in prison. In both situations, he courageously overcame unimaginable betrayals. Joseph didn’t flounder, he flourished.
Do you ever feel like hiding when life gets tough? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. I have been there and done that many times. But in the long run, it isn’t helpful. Joseph’s courage despite such devastation is a reminder to set fear aside and tackle problems head-on.
Lesson 3: Forgive
The pain Joseph experienced after being sold by his own family into slavery is unimaginable. Yet despite this betrayal, Joseph forgave his brothers years later when they came to him for help during the famine. He let go of the pain and found it in his heart to start a new life with those who had once hurt him so deeply.
Forgiveness is a difficult one for many of us. It’s easy to hang on to anger and bitterness instead of letting it go. I’ve had to work hard at forgiving but I also know that it’s an integral part of the healing process and it sets us free. Joseph’s story is an inspiring example of this. An entire family was restored through the power of forgiveness.
Conclusion
The Torah is a guide for navigating life’s most difficult circumstances and its heroes are examples of what it means to live the way God intended. I rediscovered Joseph’s story when I needed it the most. I felt rejected, betrayed, and broken but found the strength to overcome within the pages of the Torah. Joseph’s story reminded me that God is present even through the dark times, that I can face my pain with courage, and that forgiveness is necessary to become whole again. God Bless!
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