“Love does not suffer wrongs very long”

                                                                                        I Corinthians 13

Perhaps no one except Christ Himself had more control over anger (the #1 enemy of unconditional love) than Joseph of the Old Testament.  Joseph had an expected right to be angry and revengeful   with his family (Genesis 37:5, 10, 20), his Egyptian master’s wife (Genesis 30:7), the forgetful cupbearer (Genesis 40:21), and finally God Himself, for putting him through an undeserved seventeen-year gauntlet of rejection.    Therefore, the study of Joseph’s reactions to adverse circumstances serves as a parenting hallmark passage when training children how to control anger and achieve unconditional love.

Joseph’s great secret, as you and your children may discover, rested with his observable ability to demonstrate patience and confidence with God’s plan.  Two passages of Scripture that define Joseph’s walk best are in the books of Romans and Hebrews.  “All things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), certainly describes Joseph’s experience that began when he was sold by his own family into slavery, yet ended, incredibly, with Joseph’s attainment of the most important leadership position in the world and total family restoration.   “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrew 12:1-2), discloses how Joseph accomplished his goal of God’s will without revenge or anger.   He seemingly looked at life as a long race; one that would not be won in the first 50 yards, but in the final mile.   Because of this perspective he hardly gave attention to the hurts inflicted upon him throughout his life.  

A number of years ago, I ran a 26.2 mile race in Colorado called the Rawhide Marathon.   It was a grueling race that took months of endurance training.   As the race progressed there were signs of hope (mile 15, mile 20, mile 25) all along the way. As long as my focus stayed on the path, without being distracted by the many temptations to quit, I was okay.   Eventually, the finish line came into sight, and the race was completed.   The reward of having finished the race was well worth the effort.   Joseph must have had this focus on running his race.   The distractions of a disloyal family, unappreciative slave owner, or an undeserved confinement in jail did not distract him from finishing his race for God. In the midst of it all, he joyfully forgave his brothers in the process.   Now that’s unconditional love, and that was Joseph’s secret.  

Teachable Moments

Create a long distance race in which your whole family can run.   Pick a distance with a finish line that is a challenge, yet reasonable.   Before you run, discuss with your children the distractions that might keep them from finishing the race.   Then run the race and analyze how you did.   Make a comparison with the love God wants you to have for others.   Of course the finish line is the unconditional love for others.   Ask your children to list the distractions that would keep them from completing this race.   And then review Joseph’s report card on the next page.   Ask them to share about what kind of race Joseph must have run.  

Word of God

Genesis 37: 5  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more

Genesis 37:10  And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him

Genesis 37: 20   Come now therefore, and let us slay him,

Genies 39:7   And she space unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

Genesis 40:21 and he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again…. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forget him.

Romans 8 :28  And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.

Hebrews 12: 1-2  Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith…”