Joseph shows Character

January 1, 2012


Background Scripture: Genesis 37, 39
Lesson Passage: Genesis 39:7 – 21a

One’s character says who he really is. Some have said that character can be defined as who you are when no one else is watching. Others have said that character is what you do on your fourth and fifth attempts. Of course an English dictionary will define character as one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. So character can imply both good and bad attributes. If one assumes that the word means good and not bad—as it is used in the title of this lesson—then the word implies moral excellence and firmness in a person. Perhaps as we consider today’s lesson, we should consider all of these angles as it relates to discussing Joseph’s character. In the situation involving Joseph in our lesson, there is the need for moral excellence and firmness but especially when no one else is around to grade us on it. Joseph’s situation was such that he had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Yet, he withstood the test. I believe that true character can only emanate from within without any pressure or persuasion from without. Although we strive to live up to the standards that God has prescribed for us, this only becomes a part of our character when we are the only one to judge and hold ourselves accountable for our own behavior and thinking. Or put another way, we have to grade our own paper as it relates to character.

Joseph’s character was truly put to the test. This did not just happen on one occasion but day by day did Potiphar’s wife persist. Not only did Joseph stand up for what he believed to be right, there is no record that he sought to expose the corrupt nature of Potiphar’s wife’s character. He stood firm on his moral belief without exposing the immorality of others. No doubt Joseph understood that he was in a difficult situation and it eventually led to his imprisonment. Joseph was in prison for at least two years. It seems as though he had loss everything again. Nevertheless, this did not sway him from his conviction. One of the lessons that we can learn from Joseph’s situation is that in spite of all the good that we may never be recognized or rewarded for in this life, it only takes one bad thing, real or alleged, to cause severe punishment. A better lesson to learn is that God was with Joseph in all situations. Although it may seem as though we stand alone at times, children of God are never alone. That’s God’s promise to us. We should strive to have the character of Christ—including not resorting to private pity parties when we are punished or otherwise persecuted for it. When we are put to the test, can we handle it and will our character pass with flying colors? In spite of a difficult situation, Joseph showed character and God was with him.


Robert C. Hudson
December 21, 2011

The Lord Keeps His Promise

December 25, 2011


Background Scripture: Luke 1:26 – 2:7; Galatians 3:6 – 18
Lesson Passage: Luke 1:46 – 55, 2:1 – 7

Jesus informed a group of Jews one day that Abraham had seen the day that God’s promise of a deliverer would be fulfilled and had rejoiced because of it. This of course led to many of the Jews being offended at the notion of Jesus having such personal knowledge of Abraham who had been dead for hundreds of years and Jesus was not yet even fifty years of age. This apparent conflict between God’s promise and how man looks at time seems to be repeated many times over in our lives. God’s word is absolute. Whatever God says is so. There is no room for error or deviation from the word of God. One philosopher stated it this way: Prophesy is a mold that history is poured into. The Lord keeps His promise. This statement is so obvious to all but the woefully uninformed that it almost need not be said. Yet, there are those who still wrestle with the possibility of God not being as absolute as He has revealed to us. If it were possible for God to make a promise and not keep it then His words would only be mere sound. If God’s words could be reduced to only that then not only would our existence not be possible but all that comprise the material world as we know it could not exist. For all things are held together by the power of God’s word. All that exist was spoken into existence by God. God spoke and God saw what He had spoken until everything was created. That is absolute. Why then are we so surprised when what God has said comes to pass? Certainly we are constrained by time and not able to comprehend that which we call eternity. In eternity, time becomes inconsequential. So a thousand years can be as one day or a watch in the night for God. When God says that he is going to do something, whether it happens at that moment or two thousand years later is inconsequential within the scope of eternity. But thanks be to God that I don’t have to understand all there is to know about eternity to embrace the truth that God is a promise keeper. Abraham is my witness that through the eyes of faith that which is beyond the scope of one’s lifetime can be plainly seen. Therefore, Abraham was able to see Jesus’ day and rejoice. In today’s lesson, Mary is able to see that the message delivered to her by the angel Gabriel is a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. The baby that she would bear and the nature in which all of it will occur showed her clearly that this was without doubt an act of God. This would indeed be a very special child. She was instructed to name him Jesus (Jehovah saves) because he would save his people from their sin. God promised Abraham that He would send a deliverer and Mary learned that she was the vessel chosen by God for such a special task. She would be used by God to fulfill a promise not just to the Jews but to the whole world. Over the pass two thousand years, many have continued to live in expectation while others have rejoiced at that which has already occurred, but all can rest assured that the Lord keeps His promise.


Robert C. Hudson
December 19, 2011