Text: 2 TIMOTHY 3:4
By: EYANRIN, SUNDAY (EVANG.)
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TEXT
2 TIMOTHY 3: 4 – Traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, NKJV
DEFINITION
WHO IS A TRAITOR?
TRAITORS: Are those who actively work against the interests of their so-called friends and allies. It is also known as “Betrayal”: An abandonment or violation of trust by someone close to you. (e.g. A husband betrayed by his wife).
Our message for discussion today is another important lesson of the Perilous
Times that has crept into the Church. ”Traitors” and acts of betrayal are themes that recur throughout the Bible, resonating deeply within the narratives of both the Old and New Testaments. From the most infamous betrayal by Judas Iscariot to more subtle acts of treachery,
These stories reveal human frailty, the consequences of disloyalty, and profound moral lessons. By exploring these biblical passages, we can gain a clearer understanding of the nature of betrayal and its implications.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT BETRAYAL?
Betrayal in the Bible is part of the scripture’s narrative along with its painful consequences. Betrayal is painful to grasp and is never sought, desired, or welcomed whether in Bible times or today. But betrayal happens to everyone. We have been betrayed or betrayed someone.
To drive this message home, we will be looking at Two Biblical events of Traitors from the Old and New Testaments.
- A SUMMARY OF THE BETRAYAL OF JOSEPH – 37- 50
- SUMMARY OF THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS
A SUMMARY OF THE BETRAYAL OF JOSEPH – GEN. 37- 50
The book of Genesis tells us that Jacob, the ancestor of the nation of Israel, had twelve sons in total. His favourite son was Joseph, the firstborn son of his beloved wife Rachel. However, the teenage Joseph was not popular with his other brothers.
This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. “[Joseph] brought their father a bad report about his [brothers].”
Joseph is 17 years old when the story begins, and the story begins with him tattling on his brothers. This also provide foreshadowing of what his brothers would do to him.
(37:3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons.” Jacob (Israel) grew up in a house just like this. His father loved Esau more than Jacob, and his mother loved Jacob more than Esau. Jacob learned this poisonous parenting style from his family of origin, and now, he was passing it down to his children.
Furthermore, Jacob favored his wives in this exact same way, and this led to incredible discord in his family (Gen. 29:30). (37:4) When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. This is the result of parental favoritism: hatred and bitterness in the household.
Joseph has a dream about how his brothers would one day bow down to him. Perhaps oblivious to the fact that his brothers already hate him, Joseph tells the brothers the dreams he has. This further grows their hatred for him. It gets so bad that his brothers plan to kill Joseph when he comes to check on them.
Then they decide that it actually makes more sense to sell him into slavery instead, because then they would get rid of him and benefit financially from the ordeal. Then they decide that it actually makes more sense to sell him into slavery instead, because then they would get rid of him and benefit financially from the ordeal.
The brothers then took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat, and dripped the robe in blood. They returned to their father and lied about Joseph’s death by wild beast. Meanwhile, Joseph gets brought to Egypt and is sold to an officer of Pharoah, Potiphar, who was the captain of the guard.
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.”
God was with Joseph when he was in the good — at the center of his father’s love at home; God remains with Joseph when he is in the bad — sold into slavery in a foreign land. God was with Joseph when he was in the good — at the center of his father’s love at home; God remains with Joseph when he is in the bad — sold into slavery in a foreign land.
Joseph’s faithfulness during this time is made evident from his interaction with Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar’s wife noticed the youthful handsome Joseph and invited him to sleep with her. Joseph refused to have sexual relations with his master’s wife. His reasoning ?How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?
Joseph in Prison:
Genesis 39–40 – Joseph runs away from Potiphar’s wife, who grabs onto his garment. Joseph left his garment in her hands and fled. Enraged, the woman lies and accuses Joseph of being the one who was harassing her. Potiphar, hearing his wife’s complaints, decides in his anger to throw Joseph in prison.
While in prison, two men have dreams that Joseph interprets. Through God’s wisdom, Joseph tells the two men the meanings of their dreams: the baker would suffer death and the cup-bearer would be restored to Pharoah. Joseph asks the cup-bearer to remember him when he is restored. The events transpired just as Joseph told these two men, but alas the cupbearer forgot him.
Pharoah’s dreams: Genesis 41
God was with Joseph in both the good and the bad. Two years later, Pharoah had two dream which frightened him.
In the first dream, seven plump cows get eaten by seven thin ones; in the second, there were seven full ears of grain and seven thin ears of grain. He knew these dreams meant something, but was unable to find anyone who could interpret them. It is here that the cup-bearer finally remembered Joseph. He tells Pharoah of Joseph, and Joseph is called out from prison.
By God’s power, Joseph interprets the dreams to Pharoah: there are to be seven good years of harvest, followed by seven years of horrible famine. Joseph suggests that Pharoah finds someone wise and capable to gather food during the seven years of plenty so that there would be enough in reserve to sustain everyone during the seven years of famine.
This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
Joseph and his brothers: Genesis 42–50
After the famine begins, Jacob sends his sons to buy food from Egypt, where he hears there is much in reserve. Jacob only leaves his youngest, Benjamin, to stay with him. As soon as they arrive in Egypt, Joseph recognizes them. Joseph’s anger is not kindled; he does not kill them or imprison them immediately.
Instead, Joseph tests the brothers in two ways to see if they have changed. First, Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies to see if they could be trusted to bring their youngest brother Benjamin safely to Egypt. Jacob is not happy with this when the brothers return, but the food eventually runs out, and Jacob has no choice but to send the brothers back with Benjamin.
Second, Joseph secretly places a silver cup into Benjamin’s bag of food to see if the brothers would defend the youngest or simply sell him off into slavery, like they did to Joseph many years ago. After the cup was “discovered” by Joseph’s soldiers in Benjamin’s bag, the brothers all returned and begged Joseph to take them instead. Joseph reveals to his brothers that he is Joseph. He told them to go back home and bring their father and all their children back to Egypt so that Joseph could take care of them all during the remainder of the famine. And so it happened.
Conclusion
The brothers did great evil against Joseph, yet Joseph chose to forgive them and provide blessings for them. They did not deserve this grace. The story of Joseph is indeed a powerful study into how believers ought to live in both the good and the bad times.
The narrative teaches us that
- God is present in both the good and the bad times
- Man must be faithful to God in both the good and bad times.
- God blesses the faithful in both the good and the bad times.
SUMMARY OF THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS
The Betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot was the greatest historical event that chook the world, but brought Salvation to the entire human race. The gospels keep identifying Judas as one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
A Summary of how it happened – Mark 14:17-21
17 And when it was evening, he came with the Twelve. 18 And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.
19 They began to be grieved and to say to him, one by one, “It is not I, is it?” 21 But he said to them, “One of the Twelve, one who dips into the bowl with me. For the ‘son of man’ goes, just as it is written concerning him; but woe to that man through whom the ‘son of man’ is betrayed. Better for him if that man had not been born.”
Mark 14:43-46 – 43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, “Master!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him.
Matthew 27:3-5 – 3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 He said “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. Behold the Lord was crucified.
CONCLUSION
WHAT CAN WE DO?
The only consolation is to apply 1Thes.5;17 – Pray without ceasing.
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