No. 10 - BROKENNESS — THE POSTSCRIPT

Genesis 37:1-11

A definition of brokenness.

“Brokenness is the condition whereby our will is brought into full submission to his will so that when he speaks, we put up no argument, make no rationalizations, offer no excuses, and register no blame, but instead, instantly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit as he guides us.”

After brokenness, what then? There are certain Bible characters of whom there is little or no explanation. We have to take them at “face value,” as it is said. But there are others, like Joseph, that have considerable details about what they were like, from birth to death.

Joseph and Daniel are spoken of very highly in the Bible. There is not a single blemish on their testimony.

Follow the life of Joseph. If Joseph had a handicap it was in an over-indulgent father who made him the favorite of the family. Much of Joseph’s trouble started when Jacob had given Joseph a special coat. It incensed the other sons. Then Joseph told his family about his dreams, explaining his future greatness and exaltation. What Joseph did not know at the time was, the way to blessedness is brokenness.

Reflect on all the brokenness Joseph experienced.

Resented by his brothers

Sold into slavery at age 17, Genesis 37:27-28.

Bought by Potiphar, Genesis 39:1.

Accused by Potiphar’s wife, Genesis 39:7-12.

Thrown into prison, Genesis 39:20.

Forgotten by his cell-mates, Genesis 40:23.

Why did things go so wrong, for so long? For 13 years things had gone from bad to better to worse to better to worse. Bad, sold...better, Potiphar… worse, Potiphar’s wife lied and threw him into prison...better, in charge in the prison...worse, forgotten by the butler.

Now, here is what we know that Joseph did not know. If God assigns you a big job to do for Him, it requires a big breaking. Maximum breaking results in maximum usefulness.

What is the postscript after brokenness? In Joseph we get an idea, a hint, a hope, a sense of direction, of what we can expect after God breaks us.

1. After Brokenness Comes Awareness.

Joseph was aware of God’s presence. The overriding statement in it all was “the Lord was with him,” 39:2, 21, 23. Brokenness opens our eyes to the Lord being with us. Even, other sees it, Genesis 41:38. When a person is thoroughly broken they are concerned about their image or reputation or popularity.

Joseph was aware of God’s Purity, Genesis 39:9. Joseph had all the sexual passions of any healthy young man, and we may presume Potiphar’s wife was attractive. He tells us why he didn’t fall into this trap of temptation. He said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph knew that all sin is ultimately against the holiness of God. When we are broken before God sin is not something we want in our lives.

Joseph was also aware of God’s Power, Genesis 41:16. When Joseph was standing for Pharaoh, the world’s single-most powerful man, he confessed, “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” When we understand who we are in light of who God is, then God can plug us into His power. As long as we are content to work within of limited power then we will never know God’s unlimited power. If you feel the task God is calling you to is so great that you want to say, “I could never do that,” then you are in a position to see what God can do through you.

Joseph was aware of God’s Purposes, Genesis 45:5,7,8; 50:20. It is only after being broken before God that we come to understand at least some of what God is up to—His purposes. Yes, the brothers were a sorry bunch. Yes, Potiphar’s wife was a lying witch in rich robes. Yes, Potiphar should have trusted Josepl..yes, the butler was a no good rascal. Joseph could have been negative and bitter and angry, but those are the responses of an unbroken person.

When Joseph turns around and see behind him he sees God’s hand and God’s heart. “God did send me before you to preserve life.” “God meant it unto good.”

One of the brothers Joseph saved was Judah. Why was that important? Because through Judah came Jesus! Jesus came through Joseph’s brokenness!

Later Israel would become slaves in Egypt and placed under hard bondage. What was the purpose of that? God was getting them ready for His purposes. They were going to be doing a lot of walking and would need to be in the best of physical condition. God knows what He is doing.

2. After Brokenness Comes Advancement.

Through brokenness, because of brokenness, after brokenness Joseph experience great advancements.

Joseph Advanced Spiritually. In Scripture there is no one more like Christ, in person and experience, than Joseph. Think of the parallels.

(1) Well-beloved of His father.

(2) Send by the father and was perfectly obedient.

(3) Hated without a cause by his own brethren.

(4) His brethren plotted against him.

(5) He was falsely accused.

(6) He was put in a dungeon of death.

(7) He was raised out of death and exalted.

Joseph advanced spiritually through brokenness. Surely one reason churches are on kindergarten level is because we have resisted brokenness. No one advances without brokenness. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble,” James 4:16.

Joseph also Advances Socially. Joseph moved from the pit to Potiphar’s house to the prison to the palace. J. Oswald Sanders says, “Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity.” Joseph stand next the Pharaoh without a tinge of pride because he has been on the other side of brokenness.

Vance Havner told of an old cowboy who was window shopping in town and saw an expensive leopard skin coat. The cowboy remarked, “That ol’ cat was a whole lot better off before he was worth so much.”

And Joseph Advanced in Service. Pharaoh asked Joseph, “How would you like to save a nation and be of service to me?” Joseph said, “Sure.” Joseph was “here” because he had been “there.”

When you are at the bottom, and you’re bruised and bleeding and broken, don’t forget after brokenness is advancement. You’ve going to have to decide if you are willing to be broken today so you can be prepared for tomorrow.

3. After Brokenness Comes Approachableness.

Do people come to you? Do they seek you out? Or, are you hard to get to? Distant? Difficult to reach?

Look at how brokenness refined the heart and life of Joseph.

rokenness gave Joseph a Teachable Spirit. Why is it easier to learn when we have been broken? Because when we are unbroken God’s truth is sifted through our carnal mind, our selfish will, our fickly emotions, and we send back what we don’t like. I have found something almost always true: what we don’t want to hear, we need to hear real bad! When unbroken we respond: is this convenient? It is too difficult? What will this cost me?

When we have ben broken truth comes directly and immediately to our spirit. It comes unchallenged, untarnished, and welcomed.

Brokenness gave Joseph a Tender Spirit, Genesis 42:24; 43:30; 45:1-2, 14-15. Joseph was a man of tears and weeping. When we are broken we will not be ashamed of our tears, nor will we have to manufacture them. How is a thing made tender? How do you tenderize a piece of beef steak? You pound on it, break it until it is tender.

Those who are unbroken only feel through their five senses. Those who are broken feel on a much deeper level.

Also, through brokenness Joseph developed a Tolerant Spirit, 50:15-21. By this time, Joseph was in his mid-fifties. Almost 40 years had passed since his brothers had sold him. They had been in Egypt for 15 years. Joseph might well have said, “I’ve got you now.” Anyone but a broken man would have been revengeful, hateful, bitter, resentful.

But Joseph is forgiving. If you are an unforgiving person you are an unbroken person!

Forgiving others is not just our duty, it should become our delight — one sinner forgiving another sinner. Joseph “comforted them, and spake kindly unto them,” Genesis 50:12. It is one thing to do the “paper work” of forgiveness; it is another thing to actively love those people afterwards who hurt you. Real victory is not holding your tongue from saying something bad. Real victory is blessing those who have burdened you.

People have asked me, “Can I forgive people to whom I am not reconciled?” Joseph had forgiven his brothers years before. Remember Joseph’s firborn. His name was Manasseh, which means “God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house,” Genesis 41:51. God had given Joseph victory over his hurt through his forgiveness of his brothers, although his brothers had not sought his forgiveness. Forgiveness is not just something you do for someone else; it is something you do for yourself.

In brokenness we learn that we cannot control what other people do to us, but we can control our response toward them.