Why do the wicked
prosper? (Gen. 37)
1) Why do the wicked prosper?
2) This was a question that Jeremiah put to God in Jer. 12:1.
3) This is also the issue that is raised in Ps. 73.
4) Before I deal with Gen. 37 (our text) I want to read Ps. 73:1-12.
5) The writer of this psalm came to God and he complained.
6) He accused God of blessing the wicked and not punishing those who deserved it.
7) If you are turning to Ps. 73 you might mark it because we will return to it later in the lesson.
8) Ps. 73:1-12.
a) The wicked were full of pride and violence but they didn’t suffer.
b) Evil was committed on a regular basis but those who committed it didn’t pay.
c) In every way this Psalmist saw the wicked doing well and enjoying life.
d) We may not use the language of Ps. 73 or Jer. 12 but we may have these same thoughts.
e) We can name several who goof off at school or work and they are never bothered.
f) They can do what they want and no every says anything.
g) If we on the other hand step over the line just a little were are instantly corrected.
h) We get whacked for small infractions while others get away with murder.
9) IN GEN. 37 THESE THOUGHTS MAY HAVE BEEN DOING THROUGH THE MIND OF A YOUNG TEENAGER NAMED JOSEPH.
a) Joseph was a young man who was a good person. He was obedient to his father.
b) Though he was a good young man he wasn’t liked. His brothers hated him.
c) In fact, his brothers devised a plan to kill him, Gen. 37:18.
d) His brother Reuben intervened and it was decided to put Joseph into a pit, verse 24.
e) Some believe that he was put into this pit so he would starve to death.
f) If we were a teenager who believed in God what would we be thinking at a time like this?
g) Our thoughts might be something like, “God, where are you?”
h) “The bad guys are up there. They’re eating lunch while I am in this pit.
i) Why am I being punished?”
j) Joseph was finally taken from the pit – verse 28.
k) The young man’s life was spared but he was sold to foreigners.
l)
He was taken to a new country (
m) At this point he has lost his freedom and he was far away from his family.
n) This chapter ends by saying that Joseph was sold again (verse 36).
o) His brothers go home and he is being traded like an animal.
p) He may have been wondering, “Why isn’t God doing something?”
q) If we skip to chapter 30 we find that things did get better for Joseph.
r) His new home was pretty good and “God was with him” – 39:2.
s) Verses 5 and 6 of Gen. 39 further show that Joseph was doing very well.
t) Perhaps at this point Joseph was thinking, “Things did turn out pretty well.”
u) “My brothers did not treat me correctly but God has turned things around.”
v) After some time passed Joseph again found himself in trouble.
w) His master’s wife made a false allegation (verses 14-16).
x) This accusation caused Joseph to be put in prison – verse 20 (Gen. 39).
y) As we think about Joseph in prison consider this point.
z) Jacob was previously been wronged by his brothers. They prospered while he suffered.
aa) They were able to go back home and continue on with life while he was serving as a slave.
bb) Now Potiphar’s wife has made a false accusation. A wicked woman lied.
cc) Who paid the price for this woman’s lie? Joseph. He was the one who went to prison.
dd) He was the one who was stripped of his privileges and liberties.
ee) He was the one who was had to leave behind the good life for prison.
ff) Though Joseph went to an unpleasant place things did improve for him – verses 21-22 (Gen. 39).
gg) In spite of the improvements Joseph was very mindful that he had not been treated fairly, 40:15.
hh) Joseph remembered his ill treatment for a long time - Gen. 41:51b-52.
ii) Joseph knew he had suffered while the wicked had prospered.
jj) Back in Gen. 40 we learn that Joseph suffered another disappointment.
kk) The king’s butler and baker were eventually sent to the prison where Joseph was.
ll) Joseph helped both of these men and the butler promised to help him.
mm) The butler said that he would talk to the king about Joseph.
nn) The butler didn’t keep his word (verse 23).
10) Joseph was a man who tried to do what was right but it appears that the wicked and the forgetful were blessed while he went from one crisis to another.
a) Joseph’s predicament lasted for a long time – 41:1.
b) Joseph was in prison for at least two years.
11) LET’S
STEP AWAY FROM JOSEPH FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH HIS
FAMILY.
a) This part of our study begins with Gen. 37:28.
b) Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave.
c) These people did a foul deed and they got paid for it. Their sin resulted in financial gain.
d) The sons then took Joseph’s coat, dipped it in blood, and presented it to Jacob.
e) They tricked their father into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
f) In addition to receiving money for their crime they successfully concealed the truth.
g) Other verses in this chapter show that life continued on for Joseph’s brothers.
h) Judah (who was a son) got married (38:2) and had children (verses 3-5).
i) For a while the sons who had wronged Joseph did prosper.
j) Such is still true in our society.
k) As we look around we can find examples of liars, cheaters, and thieves, adulterers, and others who seem to prosper.
l) They don’t get caught and they appear to be very happy.
m) While these prosper Christian families struggle to pay their bills and make it through daily life.
n) The wicked seem to always have money for entertainment and no cares or troubles.
o) In some respects this reminds me of the rich man and Lazarus.
p) There is no proof that the rich man was wicked.
q) However, his level of kindness was certainly not extreme because Lazarus was hungry.
r) The rich man had plenty of everything. He ate the best food everyday. He wore the finest clothing.
s) This man had money and he knew how to spend it.
t) Lazarus was a beggar. He couldn’t afford medical care. He couldn’t afford food.
u) He had to rely upon others to carry him to a gate that led to a rich man’s house.
v) Lazarus may have raised the same questions as Joseph.
w) “Lord, I have tried to be a good and Godly man. I have tried to do what is right.”
x) “Why have you blessed that stingy rich man and continue to overlook me?”
12) Long before the church was established these kinds of questions were asked.
13) Good people were oppressed while the wicked seemed to have it all.
a) THOUGH THE UNGODLY APPEAR TO DO WELL, THE IMAGE OF PROSPERITY IS TEMPORARY.
b) We know what happened to the rich man and Lazarus.
c) The man who had it all said, “I am in anguish in this flame.” His prosperity was gone.
d) Lazarus was taken to a place where he was comforted and blessed.
e) Joseph’s brother’s also lost their prosperity – Gen. 42:1-2.
f) They went to Egypt and were accused of being spies (42:9).
g) They were told that their youngest brother had to be brought to Egypt (verse 16).
h) Joseph’s brothers were taken into custody for three days (verse 17).
i) The pangs of guilt were finally being fully experienced as well, verse 21.
14) The wicked are eventually punished.
a) This is a fact that is sometimes hard to grasp.
b) If we are trying to live right and are suffering, watching the wicked prosper is difficult.
c) It doesn’t seem fair. It may seem like God has fallen down on the job.
d) This is the struggle described by the writer of Ps. 73.
e) I now want to return to this psalm and start reading with verse 17.
f) Remember how in the first twelve verses this man was complaining?
g) The wicked were firm and prosperous (verses 3-4).
h) The evil people he saw didn’t have a lot of problems (verse 5).
i) Those who were living contrary to God had more than they could use (verse 7).
j) These people used terrible speech and were corrupt (verse 8).
k) What did the writer of this psalm finally come to understand?
l) Verses 18-19.
m) God would punish those who seemed to prosper.
n) As the rich man in Lk. 16 was eventually punished so these people would be punished.
o) These evil people would be punished just like Joseph’s brothers were.
p) God is still doing the same thing in our time.
q) He may not do it in the way that we want.
r) He may not do it on our timetable.
s) He may not do it in a way that we see or understand. However, He does do it.
t) When all is said and done the wicked to not prosper.
u) When the psalmist realized that his complaints were way out of line he did something.
v) He repented. He confessed to God that his complaints about the wicked were out of line.
w) His
apology is in verses 20-22.
x) This writer understood he was so wrong he called himself a “beast” before God.
y) What he had thought and said sounded like something that came from a dumb animal.
15) If you are a Christian who has never said to yourself or God, “Why do the wicked prosper?”,
16) You are probably in the minority.
17) Most wonder about or ask this question at some point in their spiritual life.
18) Great men like Jeremiah have pondered this matter.
19) The answer to this is in the life of Joseph.
20) The wicked do not prosper. They escape punishment for a little while but they are caught & judged.
21) Playing by the rules and living as a Christian are the only worthwhile choices.
22) Is this how we are living?
23) Have we come to realize that the wicked and unrighteous will eventually be judged?
24) This realization means that we are going to live a different kind of life.