Day 29, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Genesis 42–44
Tests of Genuine Character
Tests are never fun to take, but many academic institutions, employers, and the military consider them necessary measures of acquired knowledge and skills. What they do not measure, however, is character. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. once stated that “character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” Does someone we met have genuine character? How do we tell? Do we have genuine character?
Character tests
We may not be able to observe what a person does in private. So then, what are we to do? If we want to know how he will respond with some predictability, we test him. It is often wise to have a period of testing, not with paper, but with trials. Although these times are often unpleasant, a person’s real character is shown through them.
Joseph’s tests of faith
As we have read, God blessed Joseph, but he had many experiences that tested his faith. When he was seventeen, his brothers seized him, threw him down a dry well, and later sold him to traveling merchants. They did all this because they were jealous of Joseph and hated him. Joseph was then re-sold in Egypt as a slave to Potiphar, an official in Pharaoh’s court.
Potiphar liked Joseph and put him in charge of his whole household. Because he was handsome and well-built, Potiphar’s wife tried to get him to go to bed with her. He refused her constant advances, considering an affair to be a sin against God and her husband.
One day, when only he and she were in the house, she caught him by his cloak and demanded that he have sex with her. When he refused and fled, he left the cloak in her hand. Since she had his garment, she falsely accused him of attempted rape. When Potiphar heard the story, he put Joseph into prison.
Later, Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Chief Baker displeased him. He put them into the same prison as Joseph. One night they both had dreams. With God’s help, Joseph was able to interpret them—the Cupbearer returned to his duties, but the Chief Baker was hung. Joseph’s kindness to the Cupbearer, however, was forgotten.
Two years later, Pharaoh had troubling dreams which none of his wise-men or enchanters could understand. The Cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh that this prisoner could accurately interpret his and the Chief Baker’s dreams. At Pharaoh’s request, Joseph was called up from the prison, cleaned up, and shaved. After he was presented before Pharaoh, he shared his dream with Joseph. Pharaoh was so impressed with his interpretation and wisdom that he made Joseph second in the kingdom to prepare for the bad times prophesied in the night visions. Joseph passed a test of integrity and knowledge.
As we saw in our last Bible reading, there would soon be seven years of agricultural abundance followed by seven years of drought and blight. Joseph stored up massive amounts of grain in the bountiful years so that Egypt would have food to eat and to sell in the seven bad years.
In today’s Bible reading, the seven years of plenty are over, and the seven years of drought have begun. Jacob and his sons are also affected by the blight on their crops, so he sends them to get grain in Egypt.
Joseph tests his brothers
When Joseph meets them, he speaks harshly to them in an Egyptian tongue, accusing them of being spies (Genesis 42:7-9, 14-20).His brothers might expect this treatment of an Egyptian prince, but Joseph is really testing them to see if they have changed. They insist they are honest men, but he puts them all in prison for three days.
After three days, Joseph said to them,
“Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” (Genesis 42:20, NIV)
This they proceeded to do. They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us.”
Reuben replied, “Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” (Genesis 42:17-22, NIV)
The brothers don’t realize that Joseph understands them. From their conversation, he learns that they are genuinely sorry for their former actions against him.
A test of honesty
After Joseph tells them to bring their youngest brother back with them, he secretly returns their sacks of money paid for the grain. To their dismay, when they return home, the brothers discover coinage in all of their grain sacks.
Later, when they return with Benjamin, they demonstrate their integrity. They return double the amount in exchange for the grain, present Joseph with a gift, and tell the truth (Genesis 43:11-22).Has our honesty ever been tested? Assuming we were honest, how was that demonstrated?
A test of loyalty
After this test, there is another test: Joseph’s silver cup is secretly placed in Benjamin’s grain sack before Joseph’s brothers set out to return to their father. The results reveal that there is no longer jealousy against Rachel’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Their concern is for their father’s welfare, not their own. They don’t wish their father to die of grief should Benjamin not return with them. Their hearts have indeed changed (Genesis 44:17-31).What about our hearts; can people tell we have changed? Do people see that we are Christians characterized by love? Or, are we jealous and bitter? We shouldn’t let a root of bitterness eat us up and affect others (Hebrews 12:15). Let’s confess our sins and love one another. A real genuine character begins with humility and is possible through a personal relationship with God. He offers us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life. (more...).
End Note: brainyquote.com/authors
Discussion
What is one way we might determine if a person has genuine character? Is it effective or not? Why?
How do we know someone has truly repented of wrongs?
How should Christian character be shown?
Focus Verses
1Chronicles 29:17a (NIV) “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.”
1John 4:11-12 (NIV) “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
You can watch a video presentation of this lesson here. Begin at 1:32:28 and end at 1:42:41
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Looking Ahead: Joseph suffered a lot before God changed his circumstances. Then the LORD gave him A New Perspective and a Renewed Hope. How can God do the same for us? See the answer in our Next Lesson.
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