Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Joseph and Social Injustice:  Lessons for Society Today

Joseph and Social Injustice: Lessons for Society Today

The Bible tells us that the stories of the Old Testament were recorded “as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Corinthians 10:6 NIV84). And perhaps no story contrasts more effectively the differences between the methods of God and the methods of this sinful world than the story of Joseph.

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, two antagonistic principles have been contending for the supremacy of every human heart and mind: God’s methods of truth, love, and freedom have been warring against Satan’s lies, fear-driven selfishness, and coercion.

These Bible stories reveal that without God’s love working in our hearts, fear and selfishness (sin) corrupts us and will lead us to betray and exploit others, even those closest to us—our own families. These stories reveal the unavoidable results of sin—which is anti-love, selfishness, and fear, the survival drives.

These stories document that it is sin, not God, that destroys and how that destruction happens. Further, they reveal that the only solution to sin is God’s law of love, His methods and principles applied to the life.

Tale of Injustice

Joseph’s brothers allowed their fear, selfishness, and jealousy to take control of their hearts, minds, and actions. Had they truly loved Joseph, they would have celebrated him and rejoiced when their father honored him. But they loved themselves more. So they sold him as a slave and misled their father into believing Joseph had been killed by wild animals.

Joseph suffered terrible injustice from his own brothers. His human rights were violated. He was not treated as an individual but as property. He was taken by slave traders and sold in a slave market to Potiphar.

There is no question that what happened to Joseph was wrong; it was sin; it was unjust. Yet, Joseph had no ability to stop it. He could not control the choices of others. Thus, Joseph had to decide how he would, in governance of self, deal with the many injustices. Would he become resentful, bitter, hateful? Would he fantasize about getting even with his brothers? Would he pray to God to take vengeance upon the Egyptians? Would he seek to sabotage and injure those who treated him as a slave?

Or would Joseph surrender his life to God? Would he seek God’s presence, God’s methods, God’s law, God’s purpose in his life? Would he trust God to right the wrongs done to him? Would he refuse to become bitter and angry? Would he refuse to let selfishness corrupt his character? Would Joseph, in the face of corruption, become corrupt himself—or would he become more just, more righteous, through the living out of God’s methods in his life?

Joseph chose to trust God and apply God’s methods, the law of love, in his life. And how did Joseph treat Potiphar? He was a faithful, loyal, reliable, diligent, true, dedicated, and honest worker, and he carried out all of his slave duties with integrity. This is incredible, going against every notion of human justice in our contemporary worldly culture.

Why would Joseph behave this way? Potiphar was an Egyptian. He wasn’t a member of Joseph’s family. He wasn’t a descendant of Abraham. He wasn’t a worshiper of Yahweh. He was a pagan, an idol worshipper, and worst of all—he was a slave owner! He must be a corrupt person, and certainly his buying of Joseph and owning him as a slave made Potiphar undeserving of Joseph’s loyalty—right?

Was Joseph loyal to Potiphar because Potiphar deserved it, or was Joseph loyal because Joseph deserved it—that is, because Joseph was innocent and Joseph didn’t deserve to have his character corrupted by hate, bitterness, and evil? So Joseph, as a loyal subject of the Creator, sought to honor God by living out His law of love even in the face of injustice.

How Satan Ensnares

One of Satan’s most effective traps is to incite real injustice and then get people to seek justice through the application of Satan’s methods, his laws, his principles of inflicted punishments and retaliation—because such evildoers “deserve” it. “It is right,” Satan says, “for us to be resentful and to harbor fantasies of suffering toward our enemies.” It is right in the world’s system to use whatever means necessary to ensure that the evil get what they deserve.

Therefore, it is just to riot, to destroy the properties of others, to shoplift, to disrupt traffic, to drag people out of their cars and beat them, as long as doing so is to “right” some “wrong”—to do “justice.” Oh, how Satan rejoices.

In contrast, Joseph didn’t seek to undermine his slave master. Yet despite Joseph’s high moral standard, his faithful and loyal service, he suffered even more injustice. Joseph was accused of sexual assault and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. What an outrage—falsely accused, falsely imprisoned after years of loyal and faithful service! Certainly, it was now right and just for Joseph to be bitter and to seek justice.

But again, how did Joseph actually respond? Did he become bitter and hateful? Did he seek to retaliate? Did he fantasize about getting even? No, he lived out God’s law of love in governance of himself. And eventually, through God’s miraculous interventions, Joseph was elevated to the second most powerful position in the world—second only to Pharaoh himself.

And once Joseph had such power, what did he do? He had the authority to right all past injustices against him. He could have punished Potiphar’s wife and Potiphar if he had wanted. By today’s standards, it would have been just and right to put them in prison, fine them, and make them pay reparations.

So why didn’t Joseph do it when he had the power to do so?

Corruption Begets Corruption

What would have happened to Joseph—to his heart, mind, and character—if he had practiced the methods of this sinful world in seeking “justice”? What kind of person would he have become had he harbored resentment and bitterness, longing to retaliate eye for eye?

What happens to the hearts of people today when they focus on past wrongs (real wrongs, like Joseph experienced), either to them or to their ancestors, and they hold to bitterness and resentment and seek to use the governments of this world to make others pay? But from whom? Whom do rioters injure? Those who practiced Jim Crow?  Those who actually held slaves? And what of those who did nothing to deserve their businesses being looted yet suffered under mob justice? Won’t they now have their own personal injustice to resolve? And if not handled with godly grace, won’t they seek the government or other means to punish those who just injured them … and the cycle continues?

Do you see how all the kingdoms of this world are Satan’s and that using human governments to inflict punishment to make others pay only spreads sin, causes more hatred, division, conflict, and impairs the gospel from advancing?

If Joseph would have applied the philosophy of today’s world and rebelled against Potiphar in overt or covert ways—say, actually had an affair with his wife—what would have been the likely outcome? Chances are, Joseph would have been executed. He wouldn’t have been there to protect his family during the famine, and Satan would have succeeded in terminating the family line that would bring the Messiah.

God cannot win His cause through people whose hearts harbor resentment, bitterness, and desire for retaliation, people who long to inflict punishment on others or seek to force reparations. God can win His cause only through people who trust Him and allow Him to eliminate fear, selfishness, bitterness, jealousy, and the desire for retaliation from their hearts and minds and to restore in them His love, His character, so that they love their enemies as Christ loves us. Then our enemies become our friends. This is the only way forward.

The so-called social-justice movements of the world today are traps of Satan designed to inflame selfishness, incite division, and cause more hostility between people. Only God’s laws of love, truth, and liberty will heal and unite humanity. Only as we trust God with our lives, our futures, the outcomes, and stay faithful in governing ourselves in harmony with His principles can we overcome Satan and the powers of this world. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV84).

I invite you to seek the justice of God, the rightness of a new heart and right spirit within, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and then, like Joseph, love your neighbor as yourself, even those neighbors who do injustice.

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 21

I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 3

My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, USA