How Suffering Prepared A Leader: The Story Of Joseph

How would you respond if your family despised you so much that they arranged for you to be sold to a slave trader? How would you feel if your boss, whom you had faithfully served with impeccable integrity, was quick to believe a lie about you and subsequently have you thrown into jail? How would you react if a comrade broke a promise and as a result, you spent several years in confinement?

Joseph experienced each of these circumstances. You can read the full account of his sufferings in Genesis 37–50.

God Had a Purpose for Allowing Joseph to Suffer

By Joseph’s own testimony, the sufferings of Joseph—physical, mental, and emotional agonies—had been allowed by God so that Joseph could fulfill God’s plan: to save many lives. “You thought evil against me: [Joseph’s brothers who had sold him into slavery many years previously], but God turned it into good, that he might exalt me, as at present you see, and might save many people.” (Genesis 50:20).

Joseph Rejected Bitterness and Chose to Forgive

As Joseph responded to suffering with faith, meekness, and humility, God molded and shaped a leader. And that leader would not only end up saving his betrayers’ lives, but he would fully forgive them and provide abundantly for their needs. Such is the potential when a man chooses to reject the empty revenge of bitterness and instead to embrace the benefits of suffering.

Why Did God Allow Bad Things to Happen to Joseph?

If Joseph asked you why God allowed him to be sold into slavery by his own brothers; to be torn from his family and home; to be falsely accused by the wife of Potiphar, to whom he had been loyal and devoted; and to be unjustly imprisoned and ignored, how might you answer?

Here are a few possible answers. There are many more.

To enable him to overcome a prideful attitude and learn humility (See Proverbs 15:33.)
To teach him how to serve (See Genesis 39:4, 22-23, 40:4; Matthew 20:26-28; and Mark 9:33-35.)
To train him to be faithful (See Genesis 39:2-6 and Matthew 25:21.)
To test him in moral purity (See Genesis 39:7-20 and Matthew 5:11-12.)
To prepare him to comfort others (See Genesis 50:21 and II Corinthians 1:3-5.)
To prepare him to lead his brothers to repentance (See Proverbs 16:6.)
To teach him patience (See Genesis 40:1-14, 23; and I Peter 5:10.)
To enable him to see God accomplish His purposes and fulfill His promises (See Genesis 37:5-11, 41:32, 42:1-5, 45:4-7, and 50:20.)
To teach him how jealousy can cause suffering (See Genesis 37:3-4 and 17-36.)
To save many lives (See Genesis 50:20.)
To let him experience the blessing of God’s favor (See Genesis 39:2-6 and 21-23.)
To place him in a position to tell Pharaoh of God’s power (See Genesis 41:15-16, 25, 28, 32-33, and 38-44.)

We Can Choose to Trust God, Even as Joseph Did

We are not to regard suffering as a strange occurrence, but rather as a sign of God’s work in our lives. (See I Peter 4:12-19 and Romans 9:14-24.) “Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps. Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:” (Proverbs 3:5-7).