Joseph
Open Your Bible
Genesis 37:1-13, Genesis 37:18-28, Acts 7:9-16, Genesis 50:15-21
BY Claire Gibson
Sibling relationships are tough. For the entirety of my childhood, I skittered around my older sisters’ bedrooms, pilfering makeup, borrowing clothes, and denying that I’d done anything of the sort. We tattled on each other constantly. And when one of my sisters finally got her driver’s license, she was annoyed to discover that meant she would have to drive me to school every day. I wanted my sisters to like me, and yet try as I might, I was always a little bit annoying.
Joseph was a little annoying too. Scripture tells us he had a habit of tattling on his brothers (Genesis 37:2). And later, when he had vivid dreams of his future glory, he didn’t tuck those dreams away to contemplate in private. Instead, he went on blabbing them to everyone! Even his father got a little tired of 17-year-old Joseph’s big head (v.10).
Joseph’s story is the very last story in Genesis. It’s a hard story, one of sibling rivalry and deceit and near-murder. After all, when his brothers sold him into slavery, they had no idea how Joseph would fare in the hands of his captors. Would he survive? Did they care?
Though today’s assigned Scripture gives the bookended view of Joseph’s story, it’s worth taking time to read what happened in between. In the years after his brothers sold Joseph into slavery, he was sold again, accused of rape, and then thrown into prison, where he festered for more than two years. When Pharaoh finally summoned Joseph from the dungeon to interpret his terrifying dreams (Genesis 41), Joseph’s own dreams could have easily faded into nothing in his memory. Where was the God who had promised to give him power and influence?
The truth is, Joseph’s life was far worse and far better than what he’d seen in those dreams. God had a plan for him, but that plan included much suffering. That plan included brothers that plotted evil against him. It included time in a dungeon. It included trembling before a king that could have killed him on sight. And it included rising to a position of power that ultimately saved his entire family—and the region—from starvation. What they planned for evil, God used for good (Genesis 50:20).
Because we have the rest of Scripture, we know that Joseph’s role in the redemption of the world was only the beginning. After all, that large family that arrived in Egypt to escape starvation ultimately became the nation of slaves at the beginning of Exodus—the ones crying out for a savior. There was more suffering to come. And more saving.
Joseph’s life was central to God’s plan for the world. But just because we’re living out God’s plan for our life doesn’t mean there won’t be pain. We can rest assured that even what others plan for evil, God can use for good.
27 thoughts on "Joseph"
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Yet another reminder that what others have planned for evil, God can use for good.
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Kathy~ That is beautifully stated. I need that right now. Thank you and thanks to God for putting your comment right at the top when I needed to see it most.
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This story makes me think of Job 23:8-14.
“Behold I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips,
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.”How many times have I found myself right where I know God wants me, doing what He has called me to do, but it doesn’t look anything like what I expected it to look. It’s hard and messy. There are days where I flounder and wonder if I’ve heard wrong, but God uses all of that to refine me and make me as gold. I read that when gold is being refined the refiner knows that it’s ready when he or she can see their reflection in the gold. This tells me two things the refiner is right there in the heat. They have to be close to the gold to see their reflection. The other thing is that they stay there until they know the gold is ready.
These verses are a reminder to me that God sees me. He knows the way that I take. What He asks of me is that I will hold fast to Him. That I will keep doing His will, treasure His word, and trust His sovereignty.
Have a blessed Tuesday!-
Thank you Kathy. This is beautiful. ❤️
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Yesterday was the funeral for my godly mother-in-law. It was a beautiful day, spent not-so-much remembering the wonderful things about Mary…instead it was spent praising Jesus for who He is. Her life, like each of ours, is a part of a puzzle that God created, pieces interlocking with each other. Sometimes I try to force pieces where they do not belong and other times I find exactly the right piece that snaps in perfectly and with little effort. Some of the pieces are light and others dark in contrast. Joseph’s puzzle was certainly full of both light and dark pieces, and yet the picture was created by God. He used the pieces of Joseph’s puzzle toward’s the survival of many people. And how mind blowing is it that Joseph’s puzzle even fits fully into our puzzle…it is not just the present friends, family, and people God is working together in His plan throughout all time. And in the middle of that puzzle God created, He placed his Son, Jesus Christ. The tragic, dark pieces of Jesus’ sacrifice for our lives are lined with a glittering silver/gold that shines brighter than any other part, spreading His brilliant Light through the ages. Creating peace, hope, and love for all eternity. In the good or bad, light or dark, God has a plan. Lord give us wisdom for our little pieces of your massive puzzle, devoted love and worship towards you-growing stronger every day. Instead of trying to force pieces where they do not belong, give us the courage to place the pieces, light or dark where they snap in perfectly. For you are our God and we long to worship you.
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I just had my second daughter. Previously I would have read a lot of this in the context of my relationship with God and my relationship with my siblings. This morning I find myself reading and thinking about how to reconcile the world’s brokkenness with God’s perfection and how I can help them see His perfect plan. Yikes! What a huge task, but one I know He has prepared for me and my girls.
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There are so many thi gs to say about Joseph’s story — but today, in light of a conversation I had with a friend last night — what stuck out is how Joseph’s heart did not turn to bitterness and hatred toward his brothers. Forgiveness is such a miracle from God for both the person forgiving and the one forgiven. In light of the hatred and abuse Joseph endured, and his brothers’ continued jealousy, even after God showed His mighty hand and used Joseph to provide for the nation/s during the plague, this miracle in Joseph’s heart is even more stunning to me. What a beautiful example of God’s heart toward us. ❤
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Forgiveness is a miracle from God ❤️❤️❤️. Thank you for sharing this Becky. My heart is clinging to some anger and bitterness, and you’ve just helped it let go a little bit more.
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Joseph’s life was full of suffering but God had a plan for his life. As God also has a plan for my life, what will my response to suffering and pain be? Will I choose to trust Him? To respond in a way that glorifies him? Will I thank him for the trials?
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My siblings. Love them. Totally get it. Thank god for family for iron sharpens iron.
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