Legacy of LeadersНамуна

Joseph | Integrity

Read: Genesis 37, 39-41

As we read the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis, a familiar pattern emerges: He was placed in dire circumstances yet chose integrity, and God blessed him. This set a precedent that continued for many years until he came into a position of blessing for himself with the authority to bless a nation.

Integrity has everything to do with a constant adherence to a code of conduct. In Joseph’s case and ours, that code is Jesus-focused and Bible-centered.

In Genesis 37, we see that because Joseph was their father’s favored son, his brothers’ jealousy, anger, and hatred drove them to sell him to Midianite traders for twenty pieces of silver (ten fewer than Judas got for the betrayal of Jesus). After their arrival in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. (Genesis 39:5)

Consider these questions:

• Did Joseph have a choice in what was happening in his life? No.

• Did Joseph have a choice in how he responded to what was happening in his life? Yes.

• Could Joseph have decided to live his life as a victim of his brothers’ evil? Yes.

• How might Joseph’s story have been different had he decided to trade his integrity for bitterness, hatred, and revenge?

But things only get worse. Joseph was falsely accused of coming on to Potiphar’s wife and was thrown into prison. But he was innocent. Yet again, out of tragedy his amazing attitude of integrity prevailed. And so did God’s blessings.

Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed. (Genesis 39:22–23)

By now, Joseph could have been a whiny, depressed, bitter, class-A jerk. But the consequences of his choice of integrity constantly changed his circumstances to the best they could be in his current situation. No matter the choices of others, Joseph chose the right path. Whatever he did, whether in word or action, he did it for the glory of God (see Colossians 3:17).

After years spent in prison, Joseph was finally summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. He successfully deciphered them and offered advice on how to prepare for the predicted coming famine, and the Egyptian leader responded in amazement.

Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” (Genesis 41:37–40)

Is there a relationship, place, or situation in your life where calling upon your highest level of integrity and upping your attitude could change everything to open up the opportunity for God to bless you? Being a man of integrity is not a quality or characteristic, but a choice.

Meditate and Journal

• My most difficult circumstance right now where I need God to help me choose integrity is:
• I have experienced God allowing me to bless others when I chose integrity in this situation:

“Heavenly Father, the pattern of Joseph was amazing, as he kept being thrown into bad situations but constantly maintained his integrity. He always chose You and Your ways over His own. Help me to view the tough obstacles in my life not as roadblocks but rather as on-ramps to growth that allow You to move and work in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Memory Verse

Write your name in the blank to personalize and memorize this adaptation of today's verse:

The Lord was with ________ and caused everything he did to succeed.

Genesis 39:23, adapted

Always choose the attitude of living in victory over the atrophy of living as a victim.

Being a man of integrity is not a quality or characteristic, but a choice.