Joseph was mistreated by his brothers; first thrown into a cistern and then sold to merchants on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:18-28). Joseph, although mistreated by his brothers, became a trusted and devoted servant to Potiphar (Genesis 39:2-4), and when he was thrown in prison after Potiphar’s wife falsely claimed that Joseph wanted to sleep with her (Genesis 39:14), he became a reliable charge to the prison guard (Genesis 39:20-23). The chief cupbearer had an opportunity to help Joseph, although he forgot about what Joseph did for him by interpreting his dream (Genesis 40:23).
There is no indication in scripture that Joseph complained and became bitter about the maltreatment he suffered. After years of mistreatment, when God revealed the interpretation of the king’s dream to Joseph and he was put in charge of all the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:41), he treated his brothers with kindness, assuaging their guilt by letting them know God sent him ahead in order to preserve their lives (Genesis 45:4-8). Throughout his life, Joseph demonstrated resilience and kindness regardless of his situation and the circumstances that brought him to that point.
Daniel was made one of three ministers over all Babylon under King Darius. The other ministers and satraps conspired to bring Daniel into disfavor with the king (Daniel 6:2-6). Even though Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for praying to God (Daniel 6:17), he maintained his respect and servitude to the king as evidenced by his answer to the king the morning after spending the night in the lion’s den. “As he [King Darius] approached the den, he cried to Daniel in a mournful voice; the king said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was the God whom you served so regularly able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel then talked to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, who shut the mouths of the lions so that they did not injure me, inasmuch as I was found innocent by Him, nor have I, O king, done you any injury.” (Daniel 6:21-23, Tanakh)
Jesus, the Son of God, came to bring salvation to all mankind by becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Religious rulers of the day were jealous of him and didn’t want to believe he was the Son of God. To believe Jesus was the Son of God they would have had to relinquish their powerful hold over the people. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence by way of miracles, healing and deliverance from demonic possession, they still found fault with him for eating with sinners (Luke 5:30), not performing the ceremonial hand washing (Matthew 15:2), and healing on Shabbat (Sabbath).
“Yeshua was teaching in one of the synagogues on Shabbat. A woman came up who had a spirit which had crippled her for eighteen years; she was bent double and unable to stand erect at all. On seeing her, Yeshua called her and said to her, “Lady, you have been set free from your weakness!” He put his hands on her, and at once she stood upright and began to glorify God. But the president of the synagogue, indignant that Yeshua had healed on Shabbat, spoke up and said to the congregation, “There are six days in the week for working; so come during those days to be healed, not on Shabbat!” (Luke 13:10-14, Complete Jewish Bible)
Jesus was not only crucified but mocked and beaten before being handed over to be put to death. “Then some began spitting at him; and after blindfolding him, they started pounding him with their fists and saying to him, “Let’s see you prophesy!” And as the guards took him, they beat him too.” (Mark 14:65, Complete Jewish Bible)
Regardless of his circumstances, Jesus was submissive to his Father’s will (Mark 14:36), and when Jesus was brought before the high priest, he answered only that he was the Messiah. “The cohen hagadol [high priest] stood up in front and asked Yeshua [Jesus], “Have you nothing to say to the accusations these men are making?” But he remained silent and made no reply. Again the cohen hagadol questioned him: “Are you the Mashiach, Ben-HaM’vorakh [Messiah, Son of God]?” “I AM,” answered Yeshua. Moreover, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of HaG’vurah [The Power, God] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” (Mark 14:60-62, Complete Jewish Bible)
Jesus was not angry or upset by the mistreatment, and his humility was on display throughout his earthly ministry. “When he was insulted, he didn’t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but handed them over to him who judges justly.” (I Peter 2:23, Complete Jewish Bible) Jesus gave us an example to follow.
And then there’s Paul: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (II Timothy, 4:18, Complete Jewish Bible)
Second Timothy is believed to be the last letter written by Paul before his beheading, and in chapter four Paul is aware of his fate. His words seem almost incomprehensible given they are recorded just before being killed. He did not value his life on this earth, did not fear what man could do to him, and only focused on his future in heaven with God the Father and his Savior and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. There is no fear or complaining with Paul. He cared very little about this earthly life, “…And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!” (II Corinthians 6:9-10, Complete Jewish Bible)
“Go in through the narrow gate…it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life…” (Matthew 7:13-14, Complete Jewish Bible) The road may be hard, although as we now see, the journey can be joyful and made without complaining.