Joseph: A Man Who Made Good Choices

Joseph was man of great gifting. He had the ability to interpret dreams and handle great leadership tasks with ease and accuracy. Early on in Joseph's life we find that he was the favorite son of his father Israel. (Genesis 37:3) This special treatment enraged his brothers, enough to prompt them to sell him into slavery. But God used this experience to move him to a strategic location for the preservation of the Hebrew people.

There are two character traits that propel Joseph to the forefront of our study of the great men in the Bible. First, he was a man of integrity. Integrity has been defined as a "firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values." Joseph demonstrated this in his relationship to his new master Potipher. Gensis 35: 5-10 recalls Joseph's view on integrity. He chose integrity even though it forced him to prison. He found favor with God and God used it to bring him into the presence of Pharaoh, which leads us into our second and final character trait forgiveness.

The second character trait is found in Genesis 45: 1-11. Here we find that Joseph was a man of forgiveness. After spending time as a slave and years in prison Joseph was made a great leader of Egypt, which in its day was the world superpower. So when Joseph's brothers came to beg for food Joseph could have made them slaves or even worse had them put to death. But Joseph chose again to honor God by choosing forgiveness.

As a man living in a world of many choices I must also make these kind of choices. To be a man of integrity and forgiveness is a difficult thing to do but it is the best thing to do. God has written in the Bible a plan for "higher" living so when we step back to view the forest of life choices we are without excuse. But do we always make the right choices? Sadly, I must admit we don't. But I am a firm believer in grace and mercy which is given from God to all who seek it out. So in light of Joseph I want to encourage you all with the life of Joseph. If you take the time to model your life after him you will always be making good choices.