From all indications not only was he his father’s favorite but he was also a spoiled brat. After he received a vividly colored robe from his father, he decided it was good idea to show it off to his older brothers. They might have found a way to forgive him for rubbing it in their face he was the favorite. But the straw that broke the camel’s back when he shared with them a dream he had, actually two dreams - as if one wasn’t enough. Both dreams; one of crops and the other of heavenly bodies clearly pointed out their subservience to him. That was the end of it. His brothers had enough and began to plot a way to kill him. It was only after his oldest brother Reuben intervened that Joseph was not killed. But instead he was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt. One can only imagine what was going through this 17-year old’s mind as he went from favored child to lowly slave. It must have been an excruciating journey from Dothan to Egypt. But as the rest of Joseph’s life bears out , something changed in the midst of the caravan to Egypt and he arrived in Egypt a changed man. Joseph went from being a spoiled child of privilege to a man of integrity. We are given a glimpse into what happened in that dusty desert.
Joseph believed that the God of his fathers would be his God. He then and there gave himself fully to the Lord, and he prayed that the Keeper of Israel would be with him in the land of his exile. (E.G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, 214)
Joseph's integrity guided him. As a young lad he settled all the important issues of life. He gave his heart to the Lord and opened himself to God's revealed Word. He established the principle of always seeking to do the things that please the Father. That decision was a solid foundation on which his developing character could be built. All Joseph had to do was remain true to his convictions. (J. Phillips, Exploring Proverbs, Vol. 1, 263)
In the midst of that hot dusty desert, Joseph determined to be a man of God and as a result be a man of integrity. And yes - that integrity would be tested over the coming years. Joseph was tested as he was given more and more responsibility in Potiphar’s house , ultimately overseeing everything. He was tempted by the advances of Potiphar’s wife. He stayed true even amid rejection by first Potiphar and then Pharaoh’s butler. Joseph didn’t waver in his integrity even as Pharaoh made him 2nd in rank in Egypt. Even when dealing with the very brother that sold him into bondage, Joseph held true to his integrity. He forgave his siblings instead of punishing them and even invited them and his father to join him in Egypt.
From the age of 17 until his death nearly a century later, Joseph lived a life of integrity. It was this integrity that under lay his leadership in all areas of his existence. It is this integrity that undergirded his leadership in Potiphar’s home, at the right hand of Pharaoh and with his brothers. It is this integrity we will take a closer look at this month.
Conversation:
- What lessons about integrity do you see in the life of Joseph?
Recommended Book
Integrity—more than simple honesty, it's the key to success. A person with integrity has the ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances. Drawing on experiences from his work, Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist, leadership coach, corporate consultant and nationally syndicated radio host, shows how our character can keep us from achieving all we want to (or could) be.
In Integrity, Dr. Cloud explores the six qualities of character that define integrity, and how people with integrity:
- Are able to connect with others and build trust
- Are oriented toward reality
- Finish well
- Embrace the negative
- Are oriented toward increase
- Have an understanding of the transcendent
Integrity is not something that you either have or don't, but instead is an exciting growth path that all of us can engage in and enjoy.