Samson vs. Joseph – Part 2

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 1 Corinthians 10:11

In brief, Joseph had his head screwed on most of the time. He wasn’t perfect, but we can certainly learn from the way he dealt with misfortune and rejection (compared to Samson’s set up in life), temptation (compared to Samson’s head-firstness), and his attitude.

If you’re at all familiar with their stories, you would have noticed that Samson had everything going for him, while Joseph…didn’t. He didn’t get off to a great start; his brothers didn’t like the favor God had for him, and they sold him into slavery. But Joseph forgave them, acted in faith that God was with him and ended up helping out his family big time during famine.

He also resisted temptation, turning down a married woman multiple times. He lived with determination to stay on track with God (Genesis 39:9). Yet it was because of this rejection that the married woman falsely accused him – and it was this that landed him in prison… where he became one of the leaders (God was with this boy).

Comparison time: Samson has a position of authority… Joseph ends up in prison. Samson goes for the girl his lust tells him to (and it ends badly)… Joseph resists temptation, and through his hard times never turns his back on God…who had plans for Joseph to end up as Prime Minister. Samson lived out of his own strength, turning to God when times got hard. Joseph lived trusting in God despite his situations, with massively different results.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, although sometimes I may act like Samson and sometimes like Joseph – help me to act more like You more and more each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen