CHAPTER SEVEN
LESSONS OF LIFE FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST MEN.
History presents many illustrations of the outcomes of true education. It presents many noble
examples of men whose lives were a blessing to their fellow men, and who transformed the
course of this world. Men who have gone down to the grave and their stories continue to
inspire countless people. Among them are those who changed sacred history and those who
had an impact in the secular history.
The Bible gives a strong reason why most of the lives of its characters were recorded. Paul
wrote “For whatever things were writ-ten before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scrip-tures might have hope.” The sacred history was
recorded that people will continue to draw valuable lessons for their lives and continue to be
inspired in the journey of life.
Sacred History.
One of the most inspiring stories for the young people today is that of the biblical Joseph, the
son of Jacob. His story reveals the impact of true education, it reveals how to overcome life’s
devastating challenges and what true greatness really means. His life is a testament that
dreams can be fulfilled. Many young people got dreams that they are tempted sometimes to
think that they cannot be realized, but the story of Joseph illustrates that all dreams are
achievable depending on how consistent you are in perusing them.
Joseph was a son of Rachel, the most beloved wife of Jacob. He was a son boned to him at
his old age and because of this, He was the most beloved of the sons of Jacob.
Due to the father’s segregative love, Joseph spent most of his time at the tent with his father
learning the early dealings of the Lord with the father during his flight to exile.
Because of his dear love towards joseph, Jacob made for him a coat of many colors. This coat
ignited the hatred of the other sons towards the young boy.
Furthermore, in the story of Joseph, the bible records that God gave him dreams of greatness.
Entailing that he would be a great man at one time in the future. The bible records the dream
as follows “Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even
more. So, he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were,
binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed,
your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
Today, many young people are having dreams and goals like Joseph. And as a result, others
are hated for them. Learn not to always share your goals and dreams with everyone especially
with those who may not like them. Some people are enemies of progress and their
enviousness can sabotage what you aspire to be.
Because of the hatred of his brothers, Joseph was sold to Egypt as a slave at the age of 17.
You can imagine the kind of mental anguish he was going through. Ellen White describes his
experience on the way to Egypt thus “Meanwhile, Joseph with his captors was on the way to
Egypt. As the caravan journeyed southward toward the borders of Canaan, the boy could
discern in the distance the hills among which lay his father’s tents. Bitterly he wept at thought
of that loving father in his loneliness and affliction. Again, the scene at Dothan came up
before him. He saw his angry brothers and felt their fierce glances bent upon him. The
stinging, insulting words that had met his agonized entreaties were ringing in his ears. With a
trembling heart he looked forward to the future. What a change in situation—from the
tenderly cherished son to the despised and helpless slave! Alone and friendless, what would
be his lot in the strange land to which he was going? For a time, Joseph gave himself up to
uncontrolled grief and terror.”
The experience was not an easy one for a 17-year-old boy. But as young as he was, he
quickly stopped crying over spilt milk and took control of the situation. Sometimes we give
ourselves to uncontrolled grief in situations we cannot reverse. Joseph realized that the deed
was done, he was sold into slavery and there is nothing he can. He knew that his tears could
not take him back to his father’s house. He was already out of his comfort zone.
For Joseph to be sold was God’s plan. God teaches his children the hard way. God well knew
that If Joseph continued at his father’s house, he would not learn some great lessons of
hardship in life. Ellen White affirms “But, in the providence of God, even this experience was
to be a blessing to him. He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise
have taught him. His father, strong and tender as his love had been, had done him wrong by
his partiality and indulgence.”
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar to work as a slave. In his stay in Potiphar’s house, it
was noticed that all Joseph was doing prospered. The biblical record proves it “And his
master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his
hand.” This prosperity did not happen miraculously. It came as a result of Joseph’s diligent
work and thoughtfulness. If you desire success, you must be a hard worker. Success at
anything doesn’t come by chance. It is a result of persistent work. All that Joseph did prosper
because he did it to the best of his ability.
Many church goers think that they can accomplish all they desire through prayers alone. God
doesn’t work that way. Success has a simple formula that is exemplified in the life of Joseph.
Divine inspiration reveals the secret of success elsewhere thus “The secret of success is the
union of divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those
who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm.” This statement explains the prosperity of
Joseph in the house of Potiphar. Young people can also achieve much through the same
method.
While serving as a slave in Egypt, Joseph spent some of his free time to educate himself. He
came in contact with Egypt’s greatest and learned men and he acquired for himself a
knowledge needed for all his services. History reveals that he learned a lot even the Egyptian
languages. This knowledge was a preparation for his role as the future prime minister.
As a young person, you should always strive to acquire knowledge at all costs. Learn a skill
at for survival. There is no such thing as wasted knowledge. Everything you learn in life will
have a place for use in the future. So, therefore, wherever life has put you in, try to always
educate yourself. This kind of self-education was the one practiced by Joseph.
During his tenure of service in the house of Potiphar, Joseph went through many challenges
and temptations. The biblical narrative reveals that the wife of Potiphar admired Joseph
because of his handsomeness and fine qualities. Therefore, she often requested to sleep with
Joseph. This temptation was so fierce and seductive to the young man. His entire destiny
depended on the decision he would make.
Joseph had the opportunity to have intercourse with her if he wished. But as a godly
gentleman, he refused and objected the idea. Ellen White explains how perplexing this
temptation was. She noted “but this temptation, so sudden, so strong, so seductive—how
should it be met? Joseph knew well what would be the consequence of resistance. On the one
hand were con- cealment, favor, and rewards; on the other, disgrace, imprisonment, perhaps
death. His whole future life depended upon the decision of the moment. Would principle
triumph? Would Joseph still be true to God? With inexpressible anxiety, angels looked upon
the scene.”
The answer of Joseph to this temptation reveals how a firm character grounded in the fear of
the Lord withstands peril in times of temptations. His response was simple and decisive.
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” joseph was more concerned
of sinning against God. The first thing that came to his thoughts was God. In times of such
sexual temptations, what comes to your mind first? Are you more concerned of contracting
STDs? Or are you afraid of pregnancies? Many young people are moral not because they fear
God, but just because they fear being caught, they fear acquiring diseases and others are just
paranoid with pregnancies. Our moral compass should come from the fact we fear God.
Can you be able to remain moral when no else sees like Joseph? Who are you when no one
sees? Plato the philosopher in his Socratic dialogue, the republic used the gold ring of Gyges
as a mythical artifact for illustration. The ring granted the owner to become invisible at will.
With this image Plato considers whether an intelligent person would be moral if he did not
have to fear being caught or punished. The question is posed whether anyone would be so
virtuous that he or she could actually resist the temptation of being able to perform any act
without being known or discovered.
As morally oriented people, you should be upright in your ways regardless of being caught or
not. The fear of God breeds reverence for his divine laws regardless of societal requirements.
The results of Joseph’s refusal to sin dragged him to prison. His master’s wife made up a
story that made Joseph suffer behind bars. However, Potiphar did not accept the cooked story
otherwise Joseph would be sentenced to death. Potiphar kept Joseph in prison to protect his
family reputation. Your character should speak for you. A virtuous character does not go
unnoticed even when tarnished. It was the upright character of Joseph that saved him from
death, otherwise if his master had believed that Joseph attempted to rape his wife, Joseph
would be dead.
Joseph served for a long time in prison until when he was called to the palace to interpret the
dreams of Pharoah. The dreams of Pharoah marked a turning point in his life. Imagine! From
prison to the palace. That’s how God works.
After interpreting the dreams revealing to the Egyptians that there will be seven years of
plenty followed by seven years of severe drought and famine, Joseph therefore gave a
recommendation. The bible reads ““Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise
man, and set him over the land of Egypt. “Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 1officers
over the land, ato collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful
years. “And alet them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up
grain under the 1authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. “Then that food
shall be as a 1reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of
Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”
The advice of Joseph seemed appropriate in the eyes of the king and he went about the entire
Egyptian realms looking for a wise man to put in charge of the agricultural project. All his
search was in vain until he came back to joseph and told him “And Pharaoh said to his ser-
vants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man ain whom is the Spirit of God?” according to
Pharoah, there was no one as wise as Joseph in Egypt.
The king further told Joseph “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you
all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.” The wisdom that Joseph acquired was
during his slavery years. It was during the time he associated himself with the men of wisdom
and rank in Egypt that he may acquire knowledge. Every little knowledge gained does not go
wasted. It pays off. Joseph was so knowledgeable that he stood without a peer in Egypt the
most civilized nation of the world at the time.
The education of Joseph provided a solution to the problem that was overwhelming. What
kind of problems does your education solve? Education is enhanced to solve community
problems. If your education cannot solve a single problem then it ceases to be education. The
world today doesn’t need beautiful and handsome young people but problem solvers. The
world needs young people who will see a need in the society and be able to use their wisdom
and knowledge to solve.
Joseph at last became a prime minster and a great ruler in Egypt. There is no short cut to
success. Joseph passed through numerous challenges as a means to attain that great position.
Imagine him spending 13 years in slavery and prison.
The story of Joseph teaches that those who remain faithful to divine precepts and loyal to him
will always succeed in life. Some of the obstacles hindering our success are our
unfaithfulness to God and his word.
Secular History.