Teen Articles
Joseph, A Young Teenager!
by Loren M. Chamberlain
It seems that some young people know exactly what they will accomplish in life. In Joseph's case, God gave him a vivid set of dreams that placed him in the role of ruler over his father and eleven brothers. His brothers naturally believed their younger brother was arrogant, rude, and silly.
Joseph was only seventeen. He had great confidence and self-assurance, which was increased by being his father's (Jacob), favorite son, but most of all by knowing of God's designs on his life. Do you know God's designs for your life? Being a favorite son of his father created an unbearable situation between Joseph and his older brothers, who eventually conspired against him. Their jealousy and anger grew to the point where they considered killing him, but decided instead to sell him into slavery. What his brothers didn't know was that they were actually working out God's plan.
Joseph was still a teenager when he found himself a slave in Egypt. Though now only a slave, Joseph did not give up his personal integrity and work ethic. By his own personal efforts, he earned the trust of others. No matter what life handed him, Joseph was determined to make a difference, and he worked at it. He put to use the many abilities and talents God had given him. Only a slave now, he worked to make a difference in his master's home. Though innocent and unfairly imprisoned, he made a difference in prison. Given an opportunity to serve, he made a difference in a nation.
By his efforts and with God's help Joseph established a massive preparation for a coming famine, which saved Egypt and her neighbors. Later, Joseph was to see his dream come true. His entire family bowed before him, not recognizing him as a brother but appreciating his generosity as the magistrate of Egypt.
Joseph knew God's hand was on his life. Never did his confidence in that fact diminish. His present circumstance never caused him to limit the power and ability of God to make a difference through his life. He was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing. He endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped. In spite of all these unfair things, his positive response transformed each setback into a step forward.
Finally in the end of the story Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me. So they came near. Then he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45: 4-8)
The vision you have of your future may not be as clear to you as Joseph's vision was to him, but that does not mean that God does not have plans for your life. Neither does this mean that your confidence in God should be less than Joseph's or diminished in anyway. The key is to remember, that faith doesn't rest on a vision, but on God. God is certainly big enough to work out His plans in your life, no matter what trials, tribulations, or obstacles you encounter. So develop a Joseph-like attitude that demonstrates that God is with you!
Check out these Scriptures: Genesis 37-50; Hebrews 11:21, 22.
by Loren M. Chamberlain
It seems that some young people know exactly what they will accomplish in life. In Joseph's case, God gave him a vivid set of dreams that placed him in the role of ruler over his father and eleven brothers. His brothers naturally believed their younger brother was arrogant, rude, and silly.
Joseph was only seventeen. He had great confidence and self-assurance, which was increased by being his father's (Jacob), favorite son, but most of all by knowing of God's designs on his life. Do you know God's designs for your life? Being a favorite son of his father created an unbearable situation between Joseph and his older brothers, who eventually conspired against him. Their jealousy and anger grew to the point where they considered killing him, but decided instead to sell him into slavery. What his brothers didn't know was that they were actually working out God's plan.
Joseph was still a teenager when he found himself a slave in Egypt. Though now only a slave, Joseph did not give up his personal integrity and work ethic. By his own personal efforts, he earned the trust of others. No matter what life handed him, Joseph was determined to make a difference, and he worked at it. He put to use the many abilities and talents God had given him. Only a slave now, he worked to make a difference in his master's home. Though innocent and unfairly imprisoned, he made a difference in prison. Given an opportunity to serve, he made a difference in a nation.
By his efforts and with God's help Joseph established a massive preparation for a coming famine, which saved Egypt and her neighbors. Later, Joseph was to see his dream come true. His entire family bowed before him, not recognizing him as a brother but appreciating his generosity as the magistrate of Egypt.
Joseph knew God's hand was on his life. Never did his confidence in that fact diminish. His present circumstance never caused him to limit the power and ability of God to make a difference through his life. He was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing. He endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped. In spite of all these unfair things, his positive response transformed each setback into a step forward.
Finally in the end of the story Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me. So they came near. Then he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 45: 4-8)
The vision you have of your future may not be as clear to you as Joseph's vision was to him, but that does not mean that God does not have plans for your life. Neither does this mean that your confidence in God should be less than Joseph's or diminished in anyway. The key is to remember, that faith doesn't rest on a vision, but on God. God is certainly big enough to work out His plans in your life, no matter what trials, tribulations, or obstacles you encounter. So develop a Joseph-like attitude that demonstrates that God is with you!
Check out these Scriptures: Genesis 37-50; Hebrews 11:21, 22.
Copyright 2008 
Church of God International. All rights
reserved.
sky@cgi.org
Church of God International. All rights
reserved.sky@cgi.org