proclaiming the gospel to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Shalom and welcome to the Everlasting Nation, a radio ministry of International Board of Jewish Missions. I'm your host, Aaron Brodgen, and I wanna thank you for joining me. Today, I'd like to share with you another Hebrew nugget. This material is provided by our dear friend and ministry, Jackie Powell. You can find this transcript as well as other valuable Hebrew study resources at her website, lightforisrael.org. Now then, let's dig into part two of the lesson entitled, Overcome Evil with Good. Last time we were together we saw how God gave favor and grace to Joseph despite numerous tests with his family when he was eventually sold as a slave to Egypt. However, events would take an even greater turn for the worse for him. The next test for Joseph was integrity. His master Potiphar had a wife who tempted Joseph to be unfaithful. However, Joseph was a man of integrity. He would not yield to her temptations and so she had to get rid of him. She lied about Joseph's character. Most lies are told because a person is trying to hide their own bad behavior by pinning a crime on someone else. God hates lying though. Proverbs 6 verses 16-19 tells us, These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him. a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren. Potiphar put Joseph into an Egyptian prison for a crime that he did not commit. Slaves have no human rights. They cannot defend themselves. It was Joseph's word against the word of Potiphar's wife. No one would believe Joseph. However, everyone, except Joseph, forgot that God always knows the truth. Even while in prison, God was with Joseph and gave him favor with the captain of the guard. Next for Joseph was the test of humility. Pharaoh's chief butler and the chief baker offended him in some way and placed them in the prison. Now, remember that this was not just an ordinary prison, but as the Bible says in Genesis, this was a place where the king's prisoners were bound. Each of these two men had a dream. Now, Joseph did not say, well, I'm pretty good with dreams. Rather, he said, do not interpretations belong to God? Joseph was careful to give all credit to God and to not take any for himself. You see, Joseph was a humble man. Finally, Joseph had a test of patience. Joseph asked the chief butler to remember him and tell Pharaoh that he was an innocent man. But of course, when the chief butler was released from prison, he forgot about Joseph. Like most people today, he only used Joseph to help him but did not take the time to help Joseph in return. Two more years passed with Joseph in prison for a crime he did not commit. It seems that the more that Joseph lived for the Lord, the worse trouble he got into. Sold into slavery for obeying his father and bringing a truthful report. Being very faithful to his new master Potiphar, he ended up in prison for a crime he did not commit, and now he is serving what seems to be an endless prison term. Joseph did not realize that what seemed to be evil engulfing his life was simply God preparing him for his life's work. God had a great work for Joseph to do, but he had to pass through the fire first. Joseph was going to be the one brother to preserve the whole family of Jacob. In God's perfect timing, God brought Joseph out of prison and before Pharaoh in one day. Pharaoh elevated Joseph to prime minister of Egypt in that self same day, from the pit to the palace. God needed a truthful man of integrity. who was humble and patient to be the prime minister and to save the tiny people of Israel. Joseph was the man. Joseph truly is an amazing person. He suffered greatly. However, Joseph trusted God to exonerate him and God did so in due time. And God gave him a double blessing. The other brothers who lied and jockeyed for their positions of power received nothing extra. At the end of Joseph's life, Joseph could trace God's divine hand of grace in all of his trials as he told his brothers, Now I want to thank you for joining me today as we've been having this discussion for this Hebrew nugget. Join us again next time as we will hear the conclusion of this lesson on the life of Joseph. Now if you'd like to hear this program again or any of our other archive programs regarding Israel and the Jewish people, simply visit us at ibjm.org. You've been listening to the Everlasting Nation, a ministry of International Board of Jewish Missions. For more information, you can contact us at 423-876-8150 or go online to ibjm.org. Until next time, may God bless and Shalom!