Last month, I took the time to read through the book of Genesis. I should not have been surprised at the new things I saw in some of the chapters that I had read several times before. However, I was taken aback by how much I had missed in my prior readings. There were some things that caught my heart’s attention, and for several mornings I found myself in deep contemplation as I meditated upon various elements of Joseph’s life. At times I was moved to tears, other times my eyes widened as I thought about the scenario that threw this young Israelite into opposition from his brothers, into a land that was unknown to him, and among a people that had prejudices against him because he came from a line of shepherds (Gen 43:32; 46:34). Consider for a moment how you would feel if that were your life. What would you do if your family turned against you and sold you into slavery? Would you continue to trust God if you were in a country that was anything but godly? Would you choose to love the very people who treated you like you were unclean, simply because you looked different than they or because of your lowly job status? Let us examine the way Joseph handled himself in those situations, and let us allow God to open our eyes to His love and grace.
The grace of God reached down into Joseph’s heart and life in the most extraordinary way, as it has reached into your heart and mine. Joseph did not use the best tact when he told his brothers about his dreams, and he suffered for it. In his first dream his brothers’ sheaves gathered around his sheaf and bowed down to it; next, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him also (Gen 37). This caused his brothers much consternation and they were not happy. The fact that they were aware that Jacob, their father, had a deeper love for Joseph (Gen 37:3-4) only made matters worse. It was under those circumstances that Joseph was kidnapped by his brothers and sold into slavery. Being sold into slavery was the lesser of the two evils; the other was death. His older brother, Reuben, had intended to secretly rescue Joseph, but it is highly unlikely that the others would have allowed this.
Fast forward to Potiphar’s palace where Joseph worked, and as God would have it, has now gained Potiphar’s admiration and respect, which then led to Joseph being promoted to Potiphar’s personal attendant and household manager. Why? Because the LORD was with him. The word LORD there refers to God’s personal name (cf. Exod 3:14). God was with Joseph. The LORD was with Joseph when he was sold to the slave traders. The LORD was with Joseph when he was working for Potiphar. The LORD was with Joseph when Potiphar’s wife lied about him. The LORD was with Joseph during his time in prison. The LORD was with Joseph when he revealed the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. The LORD was with Joseph when he stood before Pharaoh and explained his dreams. The LORD was with Joseph when he devised a plan to store up enough food for the famine to come. The LORD was with Joseph when Pharaoh gave his relatives a personal invitation to make Egypt their home, provided wagons for their move, and guaranteed them the best that Egypt had to offer. The LORD was with Joseph when he settled his relatives in the land of Goshen and Pharaoh approved of it. The LORD was with Joseph when he requested leave of office to go and bury his father in Canaan and Pharaoh not only approved it, but made available the senior courtiers of his household, the senior officials of the land, chariots and horsemen, to accompany Joseph. My friend, it was no coincidence that Joseph was sold to an Egyptian and not someone else. God had enacted a divine plan to provide for His people.
Have you noticed that your life has taken twists and turns that you never, in your wildest dreams would have thought possible? Have you noticed that God has been there all along, setting things in order, bringing people in and out of your life to help you? Do you know that nothing that happens to you is out of God’s ability to control? God desires to teach us lessons, lessons that will move us to deeper dependence on Him. His ultimate goal for Joseph was that His grace and His glory would be made manifest. His ultimate goal is the same for you and me today.
There are three messages that I see in the story of Joseph’s life. I see the message of hope, the message of deliverance, and the message of forgiveness. When Joseph was thrown into that caravan of slave traders, he must have prayed. When he was sold to Potiphar, Joseph must have placed his trust in Yahweh for safekeeping and protection. When Joseph began working in Potiphar’s house and saw all the fine things and the delicious foods, he kept honesty at the forefront of all he did. I submit to you that Joseph did not have a pity party or go into deep depression. He decided to hope in God and God delivered him in a great way. Joseph’s deliverance began in Potiphar’s palace even though it was partly thwarted by his imprisonment. But God delivered Joseph out of prison also. I see irony and poetic justice in the fact that God allowed Joseph to have leadership over people who would not have chosen him. God delivered the slave boy into Pharaoh’s inner circle and placed him over people who detested his heritage. For whatever the reasons, Egyptians did not eat with Jews, but Joseph, who was Jewish, was Pharaoh’s right hand man and his background did not prevent him from excelling. God can take you anywhere He wants you to go and He can cause you to find favor with whomever he deems (Prov 21:1). God turned Pharaoh’s heart toward Joseph and Joseph turned his heart toward God. He accepted the challenges and promotions with grace and gratitude. He did not allow his background to impede his progress among the Egyptians. Don’t let your past get in the way of your future.
I also believe that he did not allow himself to be overcome with bitterness and unforgiveness. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness, and had he fostered both, they would have hindered his ability to hope, progress, and excel. God cannot do the things He wants to do in us and for us if we hold on to bitterness and anger. No matter what has been done to you, give it to the Lord. Let Him soothe you, and in time He will mend the brokenness. Letting go of unforgiveness is a matter of our will. There are some things that our flesh will not do, but we can determine that we are going to do it just because it is what God says we should do. If the Word declares it, do it! When we begin to take God at His word, He will make even our enemies become peaceful toward us (Prov 16:7). Joseph must have thought of his dear father and longed to see him. Tears must have come to his eyes when he remembered how his brothers pulled his coat off of him, taunted and jeered him, and handled him like an enemy rather than like a brother. Yet, I believe he forgave them in his heart. After Jacob was buried, his brothers were worried about their future but Joseph assured them that they were forgiven (Gen 50:15-21). When the bad memories come into your mind, cry if you want to, but don’t let the thoughts linger. Turn them over to God and thank Him for the way He has provided for you and continues to keep you. Thankfulness will always drive away bitterness.
We get to see Joseph’s life in one big sweep, but for him, it was a daily trust in Yahweh with no knowledge of how things were going to turn out. Joseph did what was right although he was among strangers. No matter where you or I find ourselves in the future, let us do what is right. If your house burns down tonight, trust God. If you lose your job because someone lied about you, trust God. If your family speaks ill of you and puts you down, trust God. When you trust God and do what is right, He will always deliver you. The Psalmist David attests to that. Use the right words even when you are being mishandled. Maintain your gaze on the One who keeps heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be shaken nor make you a laughing stock to the ungodly. Do not worry about the limitations that people may try to place on you. Get a grasp of how God has gifted you, recognize who you are in Christ, and follow Him with all your heart.
Daniel B Towner wrote: Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, anywhere He leads me in this world below; anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade, anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid. Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone, other friends may fail me—He is still my own, Tho His hand may lead me over dreary ways, anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise.
May that be true for you and me for the rest of our lives.