Joseph was a happy teenager, very much loved by his father who made for him a coat of many colours. He was a dreamer and quite talkative, I suppose. He freely shared his dreams of becoming great with his family. His heart was full of love - love for God, and love for man.
As innocent and pure as his heart was, he hated no one and expected same. But we live in a wicked world, where evil people dwell, and who can and may scheme against us. Joseph disregarded the truth that certain people harboured jealousy and enviness in their hearts. He learnt this painful truth when his own brothers tried to kill him, and eventually sold him as a slave.
As a slave, he learnt how cruel man could be as he laboured away in slavery chores. He also got to know God's faithful love and favour as he enjoyed preferential treatment by Potiphar. Not long after this, life threw another ugly blow. Through Potiphar's wife, he learnt how people could freely embrace sin, and the lies and betrayal in the hearts of human beings.
He continued to enjoy God's constant love as he languished in prison for a wrong he did not do. He became the favourite of the prison warden. He was also used by God to interpret dreams that came true. And yet he had to learn the unfaithfulness of man. The King's butler forgot to fulfil his promise to make mention of him to help set him free.
Joseph had been there, seen it all, and got the 'T shirt.' He no longer trusted in man. Jeremiah 17:5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
Just when Joseph let go trusting man, God came through for him. By unusual circumstances, he rose from a prisoner to the position of second in command of all Egypt. He wielded great power. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is where Joseph begun the second phase of his lesson on letting go.
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