Truth Magazine

By C.R. Wheeler

Hebrews 11:22  “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus …”

The Hebrew writer mentions Joseph because he trusted God to cause the exodus of his people from the land of Egypt to posses the land that he had promised to his great-grandfather Abraham. Joseph’s confidence was a great manifestation of his faith. However, this was only one incident from Joseph’s life. His life was the epitome of a life of faith.

Joseph entered the Old Testament narrative as a seventeen-year-old boy who angered his brothers when he gave an unfavorable report of their work. Joseph was the youngest of eleven brothers (Gen. 37:3). They came to despise him after he had two dreams that portrayed his reigning over them. They conspired to kill him, but Reuben, seeing an opportunity to curry favor with his father by rescuing Joseph, insisted that they merely abandon him in an empty cistern. In the end, Judah’s plan to sell him to a caravan of traders on their way to Egypt prevailed.

To conceal their treachery, they soaked Joseph’s cloak in goat’s blood and returned it to Jacob pretending not to know to whom it belonged. When Jacob saw the cloak, he immediately recognized it as Joseph’s. “And he said, Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son” (Gen. 37:35). Ten of his sons had lied to Jacob. He believed the lie. He could not have been any more distraught if Joseph were actually dead. A lie believed is a powerful thing.

In Egypt, Potiphar, an Egyptian officer who answered directly to Pharaoh, purchased Joseph. Potiphar quickly realized that the Lord was with Joseph because, “the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen. 39:3). To capitalize on Joseph’s favor with the Almighty, he appointed him to be his personal servant and the overseer of his household (Gen. 39:4).

Christians must realize that Abraham’s blessings did not Though a slave, Joseph came to enjoy relative ease in the house of Potiphar. His master had put him in charge of the other slaves and made him responsible for the day-to-day administration of the house. Joseph would have been content to live out his life as a servant. However, something happened that changed the course of history, not only for him, but for the entire nation of Israel. Genesis 39:7 records that one day while Joseph was about his duties, Potiphar’s wife ordered him to have sexual intercourse with her. He refused, but she was persistent. She grew even bolder and continued to tempt him “day by day” (Gen. 39:10). Finally, one day she took hold of his garment to force him to lie with her, and Joseph fled from her leaving his garment in her hands. When Potiphar came home, she accused Joseph of rape. Enraged, Potiphar cast the innocent Joseph into prison.

Joseph had every reason to commit fornication. His own family had rejected him because he believed the visions that God sent him. From that, he could have easily concluded that God had forsaken him. He was, by now, at the height of his sexual prime. He was living far from home where his parents could never discover what he had done. Henotheism, the doctrine of a god in each place, was common through out the ancient world. He could have reasoned that he was far enough away from home to escape Jehovah’s watchful eye. Jonah’s attempt to escape from God in a boat is a good example of that mentality (Jonah 1:3). Furthermore, he knew that Potiphar’s wife would cause him trouble if he did not obey her. Nevertheless, Joseph stood his ground.

He refused to commit adultery for two reasons. First, he appreciated the trust that Potiphar had in him. Potiphar had made him the chief servant and enjoyed relative ease. He could not betray his earthly lord. Second, Joseph understood that to commit adultery would be an abomination in God’s sight. (Gen. 39:8-9) He could not betray his heavenly Lord. From where did this devotion come? Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Joseph must have learned godliness from his parents. His answer is a tribute to Jacob’s teaching.

Pausing here to examine the authorship of the text is important. Joseph’s story begins in chapter 37, but chapter 38 tells an unrelated narrative. Chapter 39 picks up where chapter 37 leaves off. Liberal scholars, who contend that Moses was not the author of the Pentateuch, claim that this is a “textual insertion.”

However, scrutiny reveals that this is not so. Chapter 37 shows the separation of Joseph from his brothers. Chapter 38 tells the story of Judah and his three sons in Canaan. (Two of his sons were so wicked that the Lord killed them. Judah, him-self, had sex with a woman whom he believed to be a temple prostitute but who was really his daughter-in-law. Indeed, Genesis 38 does not record a sparkling moment in Jewish history.) Chapter 39 tells the story of Joseph and his life in Egypt.

Moses wrote Genesis 38 to show the contrast between Judah and Joseph. On the one hand, Moses portrays Judah living in his native land. He is free, wealthy, and married. In Genesis 39, Moses describes Joseph living alone with neither mate nor friend in exile. He is a slave tempted by a powerful woman. Yet Joseph displays faithful virtuous living while Judah commits sin. The message of the two chapters is clear. Wealth and surroundings do not determine righteousness. It is possible for us to sin even when we are among others of like holy faith. It is also possible for us to remain faithful in the face of overwhelming odds. Faithful living is a worthwhile endeavor even when it involves great personal loss. These are particularly appropriate lessons for Moses to give to his people at this time.

Though Potiphar cast Joseph into prison, he remained faithful. The Lord blessed him by giving him favor in the sight of the jailer. While in prison, he interpreted dreams for Pharaoh’s butler and baker. His interpretation came to pass. So when Pharaoh told the butler about his dream, the butler remembered Joseph and recommended that he tell the dream to him. Because Joseph understood Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh made Joseph his second in command. Joseph’s wise counsel enabled both the Egyptians and his own people to survive a horrible drought.

There is a sense in which Joseph’s story parallels the life of faithful men in every age  including our own. Joseph’s story is about prospering in exile. He wrestled with the conflict between assimilation into the immoral, cultural norms of the society around him and the ostracism that comes from standing apart as a servant of God.

This is the very same struggle that you and I face every day as we struggle to survive and prosper in a world that is not our own. There is a sense in which all spiritually minded Christians are living in exile because we are living far away from our home in heaven. Rightfully do we sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” Jesus said that we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-16). We have to balance our energies between being successful in this life and being prepared for the next.

Unlike most, Joseph found the balance between being in and being of the world. His faith in God was strong and he was able to forget his troubles and be fruitful in God’s service and the service of his fellow men. Hence he named his firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget) and his second-born Ephraim (I shall be doubly fruitful).

May God bless you and give you the courage to stand for what is right in the face of persecution and the faith to forget your troubles and live for God each day. May you have the strength of Joseph.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 7 p. 14-15
April 3, 1997

By Connie W. Adams

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Eph. 6:1-3). Those addressed here are children. The condition of obedience is “in the Lord.” That is obedience within the realm of all that would please the Lord. The simple reason given is “for this is right.” There is such a thing as right and wrong. To be disobedient to parents in the Lord is wrong. The promise given is “that it may be well with thee” and “thou mayest live long upon the earth.” This does not mean that none who is obedient to parents will ever die young. But the general rule is that those who grow up respecting and obeying parents in the Lord will be shielded from many dangers and that life will proceed in a more orderly and fulfilling manner than it will for those who are disrespectful and disobedient.

“Honor” means more than politeness, though that is included. It involves a manner of life that reflects favorably upon your parents. That principle holds true through life and even after your parents are dead. Jesus taught that honor for parents included requiting them  that is supplying their needs when they could not do so themselves (Matt. 15:4-6). The scribes and Pharisees argued that if they made a gift at the temple they were excused from providing for their parents. Jesus said “they honor not” the father and mother.

Obedience shows honor. While children are at home and directly under the supervision and control of parents, this obedience must be taught and enforced. When you leave home for college, marriage, work, or military service, and even when parents are old, or dead, your manner of life still reflects either honor or dishonor on the parents who brought you into the world and provided for you. “A good name is better than precious ointment” (Eccl. 7:1).

On the other hand, rebellion and disobedience will have far reaching effects. You will be affected. The more stubborn and rebellious you become, the harder you will make it for yourself. Others in society will be affected. You will be a pain in the neck for teachers, neighbors, schoolmates. If your rebellion takes you into unlawful action, many others will have to pay. Shop-lifting, for example, adds much cost to business for extra surveillance. Prices are raised to offset the cost. That affects you, your parents, and all other consumers. In the church disobedient children can destroy the work of elders, preachers, and other Christians. An elder is “one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity” (1 Tim. 3:4). Deacons are also to be found “ruling their children and their own houses well” (1 Tim. 3:12). The ungodly behavior of children has often undermined the effectiveness of gospel preachers. Rebellious young people sometimes become the means of tension and even division in churches. Such fruit does not come from those who obey their parents in the Lord.

Obedience brings contentment. When children are brought up to understand the limits of what is allowed, the boundaries of acceptable conduct, they are much happier than those who push as hard as they can to find out just how much they can do and still get may with it. A failure to set limits results in confusion. Many parents do not understand this. No child or teenager is truly happy being the center of a storm. That may get attention, but it does not reflect contentment. Obedient children contribute much to the orderly management of a home.

Obedience to parents shows trust. Parents must never betray that trust. Worthy examples fortify wise sounding speeches. Godly parents usually know what is best. The Lord did not put children in charge of families. Sometimes children resent having chores to do. That is one of the best remedies for the popular lament, “I’m bored.” Responsibility is good for children and children must learn to trust the judgment of parents about that. Young people often show immaturity in choices for dating, for pursuing education, for taking jobs that will hinder worship. Spiritually minded parents can see some things about these matters that young people cannot. Young people, when you don’t always see why, learn to trust the judgment of your parents. Parents need to be there to listen and take the time to offer sound, constructive help. An impatient “no” or “I don’t have time for this” will not be adequate to instill trust. The classic example of trust in the Old Testament was the case of Isaac who was not just a small boy when this incident occurred about the sacrifice. While Abraham fully trusted God, Isaac fully trusted Abraham.

Obedience to parents is the basis for learning obedience to God. Jesus was “subject” to his parents (Luke 2:51) though he pursued his “Father’s business.” He said, “for I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). He said also, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50).

The time comes in the life of every rational child when his conscience toward obedience to parents is expanded to an awareness of responsibility toward what God re-quires in obedience. A child who has not learned obedience for parents will be ill equipped to come to terms with obedience to the gospel. Children learn in the domestic circle the blessedness of obedience and the peaceful results. The time will come when that concept will grow to an understanding that God must be obeyed in order for all life to make sense and for it to proceed in an orderly and rewarding fashion.

An Appeal To Young People

If you have parents who work hard to provide what you need, who care who you are, what you become, where you are when away from home, what you are doing and with whom you are doing it, and when you will be home, then would you hug them, say “thanks” and “I love you” and then go into your bedroom, close the door and get down on your knees beside your bed and thank God for your parents.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 7 p. 3-4
April 3, 1997

By Robby Davis

The Bible gives some good examples of great people of faith. One of which is the story of Job. The story of Job is the story of faith, endurance, and patience winning out against amazing odds.

Job’s life proves that godliness is no defense against adversity. Although Job lived in a way that was pleasing to God, the Lord allowed Satan to test him. The most important aspect in Job’s life was his faith in God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Job had this faith and feared God (Job 1:1). The Bible tells us that he was “blameless” (“perfect,” KJV), “upright,” “fearing God,” and “turning away from evil.” In addition, Job had great prosperity. His sheep provided clothing and food; camels and donkeys provided transportation; and oxen provided food, milk, and the power for plowing. He even owned slaves (1:15-17; 31:13). It is interesting and very rare to see wealth and godliness in the same man. These two characteristics of Job’s life demonstrate how great a man he was.

Job was also concerned with the spiritual condition of the next generation (1:4-5). His godly character manifested itself in his concern for the spiritual welfare of his children. He offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord to atone for the sins, whether ignorantly or presumptuously committed, by his children.

All of the wonderful things that Job did adds to the irony of the things that the Lord allowed to happen to him. De-spite all the good things Job did, he had calamities as well.

Job was subjected to three tests. The first was to accept, without sinning, the loss of his possessions and offspring (1:6-22). The second was to endure the destruction of his health without blaming anything on God (2:1-10). The third was to endure false accusation. This is an example of God allowing one of his servants to be persecuted to prove the individual’s fidelity. In each test, the author displays two scenes, one in heaven and one on earth. In heaven, Satan is making a false accusation against Job; on earth, Satan is making a terrible assault against Job.

Job’s first test came when God allowed Satan to destroy all of his possessions. Satan reasoned that the only reason why Job worshiped God was to receive God’s material blessings. He thought that if he took every material blessing away Job would renounce God. God allowed Satan to do this, but Job remained faithful (1:22). Four messengers reported to Job what had happened. The first messenger said that a tribe called the Sabeans had executed his servants and carried away his animals (1:13-15). The second said that the fire of God fell from the sky and had consumed the sheep and more servants (v. 16). The third said that three raiding parties of the Chaldeans carried away his camels and executed more servants (v. 17). The fourth said his family had been killed because a strong wind caused his house to collapse on them (v. 19).

Most men would respond to this situation by blaming these evils on God’s inaction. But, Job showed humility in the sight of God. He tore his robe, shaved his head, fell down, and worshiped God (v. 20). After all of the tragedies that had befallen Job, he never sinned before God.

Job’s second test came when his flesh was tormented by Satan. Satan now figured that Job’s faithfulness remained because he had not afflicted his physical body. God allowed Satan to touch his flesh, but not to kill his body (2:6). Satan struck Job with boils from the “sole of his feet to the top of his head” (2:7). No one believed that he would ever recover so Job’s wife lost all hope for Job and insisted that he curse God and die (2:9). But, Job refused to speak against the Lord and declared his wife a foolish woman.

The third test Job endured was the torment of his three “friends” (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite) who accused Job of being a willful sinner. At first they went to Job and comforted him, but when they saw him, they could hardly recognize him.

They began to weep aloud, tore their robes, and sat with Job for seven days in complete silence (2:13). Then Job cursed the day of his birth and wished he had never been born. His three friends, although well-meaning, tormented Job instead of helping him by demanding that he confess the sins that brought these terrible curses upon him.

Job has now reached the depth of human suffering. He has been robbed of his possessions, his family, and his health. His wife wishes him dead. He is charged of heinous evil by his closest friends. His dignity is gone. His strength is poured out like water, his heart melted like wax. His feeble body sits in ashes wondering why. He has no explanation for the fate that has befallen him. God has spoken nothing.

As Job three friends debated Job’s proper course of action, Jehovah manifested himself. In chapter 38 the Lord speaks from a whirlwind. The Lord asked various questions that demonstrated his knowledge and great power. Job replied in chapter 42 that he recognized God as the true God. He despised himself and repented (42:6). The Lord spoke to Eliphaz in anger for him and his two friends because they spoke falsehood about God. He commanded a sacrifice be made of seven bulls and seven rams for them-selves (42:7, 8). Job prayed for these three friends and the Lord accepted his prayer. After this, Job’s possessions were given back to him twofold. He had 14,000 sheep, 6, 000 camels, 1000 oxen, 1000 donkeys, seven sons, and three daughters (42:12, 13).

Job’s life is an example for Christians everywhere. There are many lessons that Christians can learn from the story of Job. Here are a few:

1. Serving God is a lifelong job (1:1-5). Christians need to sacrifice and pray every single day of their lives in order to go on to perfection. We can also help others by praying for them like Job did. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (Jas. 5:16).

2. The righteous are not exempt from suffering. Just because someone is poor or ill does not mean that he is a sinner. We must not confuse wealth with approval from God or illness with sin. See Matthew 9:21-22 and John 9:2-3.

3. Suffering can come “overnight” (1:13-19). No one knows what will be on the morrow. Christians need to be ready for trials. James 4:14 says, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

4. Suffering can be devastating (2:1-8). Be humble in the sight of the Lord and in regard to your ability to endure.

5. Friends and family cannot be relied upon in the end (2:9-13). The importance of individual faith needs to be emphasized in the lives of Christians everywhere. Each individual is accountable for his own life. Well-meaning friends and family may give bad advice, but obedience to the Lord’s commandments will ultimately always be right.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 7 p. 10-11
April 3, 1997

By Richie Thetford

Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Syria was said to be a “great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper” (2 Kings 5:1). Naaman wished that he could be rid of this awful leprosy and it came about that Elisha, the man of God sent a messenger to Naaman and said, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). What would you have done if you would have heard this news from the man of God instructing you to wash in the Jordan seven times and you would be healed? Would you quickly run toward the Jordan to obey the word of God?

When Naaman heard this command, he became furious because he had already preconceived in his mind what he thought Elisha should do, to come and stand and call on the name of the Lord and wave his hand over the place to heal his leprosy! He even became upset that he should go to the “dirty” Jordan river to do such a thing claiming that the Abanah and Pharpar rivers of Damascus are better than all the waters of Israel. He even asks why couldn’t he wash in them and be clean  then turns and goes away in a rage! You may be saying “what a response to God’s command!” In verse 13 his own servants came to Naaman and said “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, `Wash, and be clean’?” Then Naaman went and dipped seven times in the Jordan river and his leprosy was cured. We can learn many lessons from this story.

Blessings Only Obtained By Obedience

It is only when we decide to obey the commandments of God that we will be blessed. We may have some pre-conceived idea of how we “think” God wants us to do something, but it is not until we actually do what he has instructed for us to do that we will receive the blessing that he promised us. He promised Naaman that he would be cleansed of his leprosy if he would wash seven times in the Jordan river. This rules out every other river and it rules out any number of times except seven! It was only when he did “exactly” as God instructed that he was cleansed! The inspired apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For what-ever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” We need to have the faith that is required to fully understand and know that this is true. God has given us an example of Naaman to show us how we must respond to his commandments to us today. Are we ready to obey God or do we think that we have a better plan?

God’s Instructions to Cleanse Us Today

Man is filled with sin just like Naaman was filled with leprosy. Naaman longed to be cleansed from his leprosy and God provided a way for him to purify himself. Man needs to be cleansed from his sin and God has provided a way for man to wash away all his sins. But we must do what God instructs for us to do, in order to have all of our sins washed away. We may not always under-stand why God has told us what to do, but the fact remains that God has told us plainly and simply what we must do.

The question is, Are we ready to obey God? To be cleansed of sin we must first be willing to hear God’s plan for us and be willing to do as he instructs us (Rom 10:17). After hearing of God’s plan we must believe it and believe in his Son Jesus Christ (Heb 11:6; John 8:24). God then asks us to repent of our sins, being ready to let go of the ways of the world and be determined to serve him for the rest of our life (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31). We then are asked to confess Jesus Christ as being the Son of God (Rom 10:9-10; Acts 8:37; Matt 10:32). After making this commitment we then need to be baptized into Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of our sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Rom 6:3-5; Gal 3:27; 1 Pet 3:21). We are cleansed from all of our sins only when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as God has commanded! Are we ready to obey God to be cleansed from our sins?

Guardian of Truth XLI: 6 p. 22
March 20, 1997