“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:46 NIV)

This one line in Scripture describes a pinnacle for an extraordinarily courageous man of God. Let’s venture back more than a decade when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He was betrayed and deserted by his own family. What a lonely, frightening and hopeless situation.

Yet, God had big plans for this young man, even when bound by the constraints of captivity. “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:2 NIV)

He was so favored that his master, Potiphar, “put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.” (Genesis 39:4 NIV)

You see, God extended incredible grace to this young man and developed him into a person of godly character. That’s why he rose in the servant ranks.

Enter Potiphar’s wife. This wily woman tried to seduce Joseph day after day while Potiphar wasn’t looking or was off on some escapade. Can you imagine the temptation Joseph faced? The Bible says that he was propositioned day after day. The woman was relentless.

But Joseph had the courage not to compromise. Finally, he spoke plainly to his temptress. “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9 NIV)

Potiphar’s wife was so angry with Joseph that she twisted the truth, telling her husband that Joseph was trying to seduce her. As a result, Joseph landed in prison, where I’m sure his courage was tested day after day.

Years later, Joseph found himself standing in the presence of the top dog, Pharaoh king of Egypt. If that’s not amazing enough, Pharaoh was asking Joseph, a servant, for help in distress! The ruler was troubled by a dream and asked Joseph to interpret it for him. So he did.

As a reward, Joseph was given a dream job.

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’” (Genesis 41:41 NIV)

Joseph’s courage was tested again more than a decade later. Famine had come to the land of Egypt, extending to Canaan, where Joseph’s father and brothers lived. His brothers came to Egypt to buy grain and found themselves face to face with their brother, the one who would make the decision about selling grain to them. Their lives were in his hands.

Joseph could have enacted revenge with one word. Instead, out of a deep love for the very men who had betrayed him, he called his brothers into a private meeting and “wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.” (Genesis 45:2 NIV) Then he revealed his identity to his siblings.

Joseph’s next act revealed a man of impeccable character who didn’t compromise God’s standards. Instead of taking the easy road by imprisoning or killing his brothers, he acted courageously by extending grace. He arranged for land to be granted to his entire family. What a way to cap off this reunion.

For Joseph, hardship produced courage. Responsibility produced courage. Life itself produced courage.

Hold on to God every single day, just as Joseph did. The Lord will build courage in you to act rightly when the temptation to compromise tests your godly character.

(From my new Devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Courage. Available on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback).