The Root & Fruit of Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

• Settled hostility that poisons the inner man.

James 3:6 the tongue is a fire, a world of inquity
8 But the tongue can no man tame
10 Out of the mouth prceedeth blessing and cursing
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts...

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Joseph is a leader and example of true forgiveness

There are more chapters in the Bible on his life than any other OT person.

Unlike David, there was no preparatory victory in Joseph's life.
Saul seemed to fear Samuel; whereas Joseph feared God.
God raised Moses in a palace and used him in a desert; He raised up Jospeph in a desert and used him in a palace.

He was a magnet for betrayal: his brothers, his master's wife and the butler who forgot him.

Joseph made himself vulnerable. We sometimes build up rock-solid defenses surrounded by impenetrable motes. We sometimes fear showing other our true selves.

Helen Keller said, "We would never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world."