EPISODE 30: Six Lessons From Joseph on Living as a Global Goer
In This Episode:
I've been doing a deep study of the life of Joseph in Genesis, and I've realized he's my favorite Old Testament character. He's the one I want to revere. We admire Moses, but he murdered someone. David committed adultery and murder. Joshua killed babies and pregnant women in war. Joseph is the one who entered another culture, not by his own choice, and held himself up with righteousness the whole way through.
In this episode I'm sharing six lessons I've learned from studying Joseph's life, all about what it looks like to enter another culture well:
He became Egyptian. He took a new name, an Egyptian wife, and Egyptian customs, and he never asked to go home. My line for this is, if it's not sin, do it their way. And Joseph lived that out, except for the one line he wouldn't cross.
He didn't look for the exit. He never tried to escape or plan his way back home, even when things got hard. I tell on myself a little here about my own first months in India.
He learned humility. He wasn't born humble. He was pretty arrogant as a teenager, bragging to his brothers about his dreams. Egypt is where that got stripped out of him.
His view of God was solid. He trusted God before he ever got an explanation. Two full years in prison, no answers, and he never got bitter.
He was emotionally healthy. He wept, openly and often, even as the second most powerful man in Egypt. That's health, not weakness.
He had a heart for the nations, just like God does. Joseph's success fed his own family, and Egypt and the surrounding nations too.
If you are in another culture right now, or wrestling with whether to go, or feeling betrayed by the people you're trying to reach, I think Joseph has something for you.
Resources Mentioned:
- Free Video Training: Three Ways to Share Jesus Naturally with Your Neighbors and the Nations: www.jeanniemarieacademy.com/freevideotraining
- Book: Across the Street and Around the World:
www.jeanniemarieacademy.com/book
What's Next
Coming up next time, I'm talking about what to do as a church for your Global Sunday or your Global Series of the year!
Connect with Jeannie Marie
Website: www.jeanniemarieacademy.com
Instagram: @jeanniemmarie
Email: [email protected]
