Joseph - My Hero

Aside from Megumi and Jesus, my other hero is Joseph. These days I have been feeling a bit discouraged and entitled to a lot of different things. And then I think of Joseph, who is considered by many to be the Jesus of the Old Testament (see below). Having been robbed of the best years of his life, Joseph remained faithful to God's will and plan for his life, despite being mistreated, tempted, forgetten, and betrayed. He teaches me to run away from evil regardless how enticing sin appears. Joseph also teaches me about pursuing excellence and faithfulness in the current moment. "What shall I do now?" was his approach and consequently, everyone around him was drawn to him. He teaches all of us what matters most are not the events and circumstances of life but rather our responses to them. Joseph also shows us that with God's help, any situation can be used for the good, even when others intended it for evil. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good." - Genesis 50:50

Update: The Human Resources (HR) came back to me today and shared with me disappointing news about my work situation. Although this was discouraging given the different news shared last week, I am at peace today because of Joseph's story. You can read it in Genesis 37-50.

Joseph - the OT Jesus? The parallels (which I found in my NLT Study Bible):
- their fathers loved them dearly
- shepherds of their father's sheep
- sent by fathers to brothers
- hated by brothers
- others plotted to harm them
- tempted
- taken to Egypt
- robes taken from them
- sold for a price of a slave
- bound in chains
- falsely accused
- placed with two other prisoners, one who was saved, and the other lost
- both 30 years old at teh beginning of public recognition
- exalted after suffering
- saved their nation
- what people did to hurt them God turned to good